Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, N.D. Ohio
33 approved rates from 13 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Oct 2, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $325 | $245 to $445 | $190 to $595 | 20 |
| Paralegal | $130 | $100 to $210 | 5 |
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 1 of 33 timekeepers (3%).
Cite these rates
$325/hr
In N.D. Ohio fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $325 an hour (20 rates).
$130/hr
In N.D. Ohio fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved paralegal rate was $130 an hour (5 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent N.D. Ohio rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Garcia v. Grbac Enterprises LLC, No. 1:24-cv-00509 (N.D. Ohio Oct. 2, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $595 for an attorney with 35 years' experience); C.R.H Industrial Water, LLC v. Eiermann, No. 1:23-cv-01805 (N.D. Ohio Mar. 3, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $690 for a partner with 29 years' experience; $475 for an associate with 10 years' experience; $130 for a paralegal); Wagner v. Hari Aum LLC, No. 1:25-cv-01026 (N.D. Ohio Mar. 2, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney); Garrett v. Morgan County Sheriff's Office, No. 1:23-cv-02011 (N.D. Ohio Feb. 9, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $200 to $445 for attorneys; $95 for another timekeeper); Firestone Financial, LLC v. Globe Transport Inc., No. 1:24-cv-02232 (N.D. Ohio Dec. 4, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $230 to $295 for attorneys); Kramer v. FUT, LLC, No. 1:25-cv-00797 (N.D. Ohio Nov. 19, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $115 for a paralegal); Martin v. Cleveland City Council, No. 1:23-cv-02312 (N.D. Ohio Mar. 31, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $250 for an attorney with 3 years' experience; $300 for an attorney with 7 years' experience); Pal v. Deliberato, No. 1:23-cv-01233 (N.D. Ohio Mar. 25, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $415 to $595 for attorneys; $275 for an associate with 6 years' experience); West Bend Mutual Insurance Company v. Osmic, Inc, No. 1:21-cv-00593 (N.D. Ohio Feb. 19, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $210 for a paralegal; $255 to $300 for associates; $300 for a partner); Little Mountain Precision, LLC v. DR Guns LLC, No. 1:22-cv-01471 (N.D. Ohio Jan. 29, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $465 for an attorney; $170 for a paralegal; $135 for another timekeeper); Painting Industry Funds v. Industrial Painting and Rigging, Inc., No. 1:24-cv-00886 (N.D. Ohio Dec. 11, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $190 to $195 for attorneys; $100 for a paralegal); BMO Harris Bank N.A. v. Stacy, No. 5:22-cv-00613 (N.D. Ohio Oct. 28, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $195 to $445 for attorneys).
Rulings
Rates turn on experience, practice area, and the work done. Use these as a starting point and cite the rulings, not this page, in a fee petition.
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Garcia et al. v. Grbac Enterprises LLC et al.
Oct 2, 2026 · Wage and hour
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 35 years $595 $595 The court's words
During that time, his hourly rate was $595 per hour. (Id. at 221.) Given Mr. Voudris's 35 years of experience (id.), the Court finds that rate to be reasonable as well.
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Calhoun v. Commissioner of Social Security
Sep 25, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $246 $246 Attorney $254 $254 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Calhoun’s counsel also indicates an attorney billing rate of $245.91 per hour for CY 2025 (id.) and an attorney billing rate of $253.91 per hour for CY 2026 (id.)
Calhoun’s counsel also indicates an attorney billing rate of $245.91 per hour for CY 2025 (id.) and an attorney billing rate of $253.91 per hour for CY 2026 (id.)
Calhoun’s counsel indicates paralegal billing rates of $125.00 per hour.
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Barrett v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Jul 31, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $245 $245 Attorney $253 $253 The court's words
Plaintiff's counsel indicates attorney billing rates of $245.41 per hour in 2025, and $253.19 in 2026 (see generally id.), which is an upward departure from the $125.00 statutory cap
Plaintiff's counsel indicates attorney billing rates of $245.41 per hour in 2025, and $253.19 in 2026 (see generally id.), which is an upward departure from the $125.00 statutory cap
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Zarlingo v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Jul 27, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $245 $245 The court's words
Plaintiff’s counsel indicates an attorney billing rate of $245.41 per hour (id.), which is an upward departure from the $125.00 statutory cap set by Congress in March 1996.
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Arrington v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Apr 7, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $246 $246 The court's words
she requested payment of $4,797.00 for 19.50 hours of work at an hourly rate of $246.00
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Crowell v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Apr 1, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $246 $246 Attorney $249 $249 The court's words
Plaintiff's counsel indicates an attorney billing rate of $245.91 per hour in 2025 and $249.29 per hour in 2026 (id.), which is an upward departure from the $125.00 statutory cap
Plaintiff's counsel indicates an attorney billing rate of $245.91 per hour in 2025 and $249.29 per hour in 2026 (id.), which is an upward departure from the $125.00 statutory cap
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Smith v. Commissioner of Social Security
Mar 13, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $261 $261 The court's words
Plaintiff's counsel indicated a billing rate of $261.12 per hour. (Doc. No. 10, at 2.) The parties arrived at this figure by adjusting the maximum $125 per hour statutory rate by the Consumer Price Index
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Archer v. Commissioner of Social Security
Mar 9, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $247 Paralegal $120 $80 The court's words
Thus, multiplying the 1.9729 value by $125, the hourly rate is $246.61.
Accounting for 9.2 hours of paralegal work at either a $120 hourly rate (the rate requested by Plaintiff) or a reduced $80 hourly rate (a rate other courts in this district have found reasonable)
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C.R.H Industrial Water, LLC et al v. Eiermann et al
Mar 3, 2026 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 29 years $690 $690 Associate 10 years $475 $475 Paralegal $330 $130 The court's words
$690 for Mr. Mitchell, who is a partner at the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP (“Taft”) with 29 years of legal experience.
$475 for Ms. Kemp, who was an associate at Taft during the relevant period and who has 10 years of legal experience.
$330 for Mr. Jones, a paralegal at Taft whose experience is not further described.
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Mar 2, 2026 · Disability access
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 The court's words
Plaintiff seeks $9,292.50 in attorney’s fees, which is based on 26.55 hours of work at an hourly rate of $350.00.
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Garrett v. Morgan County Sheriff's Office et al.
Feb 9, 2026 · FOIA
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $445 $445 Attorney $200 $200 other $95 $95 The court's words
it appears from this Court’s review of the chart that (1) JRL’s (i.e., Attorney Liber’s) hourly rate is $445.00
(2) CRL’s (i.e., Attorney Elko’s) hourly rate is $200.00
(3) BNT’s hourly rate is $95.00
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Westover v. Commissioner of Social Security
Jan 8, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $239 $239 Attorney $244 $244 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Plaintiff's counsel also indicates attorney billing rates of $239.26 per hour in 2024 and $244.37 per hour in 2025
Plaintiff's counsel also indicates attorney billing rates of $239.26 per hour in 2024 and $244.37 per hour in 2025
Plaintiff's counsel indicates paralegal billing rates of $125.00 per hour.
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Firestone Financial, LLC v. Globe Transport Inc. et al.
Dec 4, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $295 $295 Attorney $295 $295 Attorney $230 $230 The court's words
Attorney Keller billed 13.60 hours in this matter at an hourly rate of $295.00, for a total of $4,012.00 in attorney’s fees.
Attorney Bernlohr billed 2.1 hours at an hourly rate of $295.00, for a total of $619.50 in attorney’s fees.
Attorney Kaut billed 26.3 hours at an hourly rate of $230.00, for a total of $6,049.00 in attorney’s fees.
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Nov 19, 2025 · Disability access
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal $115 $115 The court's words
She also requests paralegal fees for 1.60 hours of work at a rate of $115.00 per hour, totaling $184.00.
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Stewart v. Commissioner of Social Security
Apr 30, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $239 $239 Paralegal $80 $80 The court's words
The negotiated award reflects an hourly rate of $239.26 for attorney services performed, which represents an upward departure from the $125 statutory cap
the hourly rate of $80.00 for work performed by paralegals
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| Martin v. Cleveland City Council, et al. | Mar 31, 2025 | Attorney $250, Attorney $300 |
| Pal et al v. Deliberato et al | Mar 25, 2025 | Attorney $500, Attorney $595, Attorney $415, Attorney $440, Associate $275 |
| West Bend Mutual Insurance Company v. Osmic, Inc, et al | Feb 19, 2025 | Paralegal $210, Associate $255, Associate $300, Partner $300 |
| Little Mountain Precision, LLC v. DR Guns LLC, et al | Jan 29, 2025 | Attorney $465, Paralegal $170, other $135 |
| Painting Industry Funds v. Industrial Painting and Rigging, Inc. | Dec 11, 2024 | Attorney $190, Attorney $195, Paralegal $100 |
| BMO Harris Bank N.A. v. Stacy et al | Oct 28, 2024 | Attorney $195, Attorney $375, Attorney $445 |
| Pandora Distribution, LLC v. Ottawa OH, LLC et al | Oct 21, 2024 | Attorney $295 |
| Rohaley and Son Automotive, Inc. v. Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America | Sep 3, 2024 | Associate $200, Attorney $200, Partner $220 |
| Washington v. Lenzy Family Institute, Inc. et al | Aug 19, 2024 | Attorney $250, Attorney $225, Paralegal $85 |
| Rauh v. Zheng et al. | Jul 9, 2024 | Attorney $480, Attorney $385, Attorney $405, Attorney $345, Paralegal $260 |
| Reymann v. Commissioner of Social Security | Jun 11, 2024 | Attorney $228 |
| Bojicic et al v. DeWine et al | May 15, 2024 | Attorney $64, Partner $185, Associate $165 |
| Grohl v. Commissioner of Social Security | May 6, 2024 | Attorney $210 |
| McAfee v. Commissioner of Social Security | Apr 30, 2024 | Attorney $210 |
| Williams v. CG-HHC, INC. | Apr 8, 2024 | Attorney $600, Attorney $500, Attorney $475 |
| Clemmons v. Deacon 10, LLC | Mar 22, 2024 | Attorney $475, Attorney $450 |
| Best Process Solutions, Inc. v. Blue Phoenix Inashco USA, Inc. | Mar 15, 2024 | Attorney $465, Attorney $365, Attorney $465 |
| CajunLand Pizza, LLC et al v. Marco's Franchising, LLC et al | Mar 8, 2024 | Attorney $450, Attorney $450 |
| Ulm et al v. Artemis Care LLC et al | Jan 12, 2024 | Attorney $500, Attorney $425, Attorney $400 |
| Ayala v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration | Jan 9, 2024 | Attorney $224, Attorney $230 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the N.D. Ohio approve for attorneys?
A median of $325 an hour across 20 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $245 to $445.
What hourly rate does the N.D. Ohio approve for paralegals?
A median of $130 an hour across 5 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
How often does the N.D. Ohio cut a requested hourly rate?
For 1 of 33 timekeepers (3%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the N.D. Ohio?
With evidence beyond your own declaration, usually recent awards in the same district for lawyers of similar experience. The rulings on this page can be cited directly; use the citation block to copy them.
The data is free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "LegalTime Fee Cut Tracker" with a link to this page. Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.
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