Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, S.D. Illinois
7 approved rates from 3 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Aug 11, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Fewer than 5 approved rates for any one role in the last two years. Each ruling is listed below.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 3 of 7 timekeepers (43%).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent S.D. Illinois rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Trustees of the Local 309 Electrical Health and Welfare Fund, No. 3:25-cv-01870 (S.D. Ill. Aug. 11, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $225 for an attorney; $125 for a paralegal); Plonka v. Silver Star Protection Group, LLC, No. 3:25-cv-02047 (S.D. Ill. June 10, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $575 for an attorney with 11 years' experience; $225 for an associate; $125 for a paralegal); Mueller v. City of East St. Louis, Illinois, No. 3:24-cv-02321 (S.D. Ill. Feb. 10, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $715 for an attorney).
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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Trustees of the Local 309 Electrical Health and Welfare Fund et al
Aug 11, 2026 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $225 $225 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
The claimed attorney's fees represent 38.9 hours of work on the part of three attorneys, billed at a rate of $225 per hour
four hours of work by a paralegal at a rate of $125 per hour
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Plonka v. Silver Star Protection Group, LLC
Jun 10, 2026 · Wage and hour
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 11 years $575 $575 Associate $475 $225 Paralegal $195 $125 other $125 $90 The court's words
The Court is satisfied that a rate of $575 per hour is reasonable for Mr. Lampert’s legal work in this case.
The Court finds that a rate of $225 per hour is reasonable for Mr. Ahmad’s legal work in this case.
It believes that a reasonable rate for these individuals is $125 per hour for the firm’s paralegals
and $90 per hour for the firm’s filing clerk.
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Mueller et al v. City of East St. Louis, Illinois et al
Feb 10, 2026 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $715 $715 The court's words
counsel expended 2.1 hours preparing and filing the initial Motion to Compel and Motion for Attorney's Fees, at a rate of $715 per hour
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Nov 6, 2025 · Other · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 The court's words
Such a reduction is further reasonable in light of the excessive hourly rate ($400.00 per hour) of Bayerlein’s counsel and the performance of some secretary or paralegal duties by counsel.
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Apr 19, 2024 · Prisoner rights · Statutory rate, not in medians · Older than two years, not in medians · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $750 $229 Paralegal $125 other $70 The court's words
Reed asks the Court to use Attorney Pliura’s usual and customary hourly legal rate of $750.00/hour when awarding attorney’s fees.
Paralegal: 23.5 hours X $125.00/hour
Secretary: 8.1 hours X $70.00/hour
FAQ
How often does the S.D. Illinois cut a requested hourly rate?
For 3 of 7 timekeepers (43%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the S.D. Illinois?
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.