Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, S.D. Indiana
14 approved rates from 8 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Jun 10, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $250 | $225 to $450 | 7 |
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 0 of 14 timekeepers (0%).
Cite these rates
$250/hr
In S.D. Indiana fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $250 an hour (7 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent S.D. Indiana rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
INDIANA/KENTUCKY/OHIO REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS PENSION FUND v. EXCLUSIVE FINISHES, LLC, No. 1:23-cv-01733 (S.D. Ind. June 10, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $250 for an attorney); MORIARTY v. WRIGHT & ASSOCIATES, P.C., No. 1:25-cv-00281 (S.D. Ind. May 18, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $450 for an attorney with 10 years' experience); MID CENTRAL OPERATING ENGINEERS HEALTH AND WELFARE FUND v. SOLAR FOUNDATIONS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, No. 2:25-cv-00291 (S.D. Ind. Apr. 17, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $230 for an attorney); SCUTERI v. INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, No. 2:23-cv-00103 (S.D. Ind. Mar. 20, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $225 for an attorney; $125 for a paralegal); INDIANA/KENTUCKY/OHIO REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS PENSION FUND v. B SQUARED CONSTRUCTION SERVICE, LLC, No. 1:24-cv-01848 (S.D. Ind. Oct. 21, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $240 to $335 for attorneys); HUFF v. DOHRN TRANSFER COMPANY, LLC, No. 1:24-cv-02063 (S.D. Ind. July 21, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $515 for a partner; $450 for an associate); EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION v. EXCHANGE PUB + KITCHEN, No. 4:24-mc-00001 (S.D. Ind. June 25, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $125 for a paralegal); TRUSTEES OF THE INDIANA ELECTRICAL WORKERS PENSION TRUST FUND, IBEW v. SUMMIT ELECTRICAL COMPANY LLC, No. 1:24-cv-01384 (S.D. Ind. Apr. 2, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $255 for a partner; $235 for an associate; $125 for a paralegal).
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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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Sep 16, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $255 $255 The court's words
That calculation arrives at a maximum statutory hourly rate of greater than the $255 rate agreed upon by counsel. ... the Court finds that the agreed rate of $255 does not exceed the prevailing market rate
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Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable
Jun 29, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $1,000 $217 Associate $800 $217 The court's words
BDVS seeks fees at hourly rates of $1,000 for Ms. Weinstock and $800 and $500 for two associates.
BDVS seeks fees at hourly rates of $1,000 for Ms. Weinstock and $800 and $500 for two associates.
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Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable
Jun 24, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $1,000 $300 Associate $800 $300 The court's words
Mr. Campos Leon seeks fees at hourly rates of $1,000 for Ms. Weinstock and $800 for her associate.
Mr. Campos Leon seeks fees at hourly rates of $1,000 for Ms. Weinstock and $800 for her associate.
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Jun 10, 2026 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $250 $250 The court's words
Attorney Decker's general hourly rate of $250 is also reasonable for similar work in the Indianapolis legal market.
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MORIARTY v. WRIGHT & ASSOCIATES, P.C. et al
May 18, 2026 · Wage and hour
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 10 years $450 $450 The court's words
Hunt represents that he worked 12.4 hours on this matter at a billing rate of $450/hour, for a total of $5,580.00.
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Apr 17, 2026 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $230 $230 The court's words
they have provided a declaration from Plaintiffs' counsel Daniel Bowman explaining that he charges $230.00 per hour and expended 758.75 in costs.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Apr 15, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $233 $233 Attorney $239 $239 Attorney $243 $243 Paralegal $130 $130 The court's words
For the attorney hours, Claimant's attorneys billed 3.5 hours in 2023 at the rate of $232.99 per hour
49.6 hours in 2024 at the rate of $239.26 per hour
and in 2025, 1.9 hours at $242.59 per hour
The paralegal rates were $129.96 per hour.
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SCUTERI v. INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS et al
Mar 20, 2026 · Prisoner rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $225 $225 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Plaintiff requests that his attorney be awarded $225.00 per hour for 25.4 hours of legal work on the contempt motion
that his attorney's paralegal be awarded $125.00 per hour for 2.5 hours of paralegal work
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Dec 29, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $248 $248 The court's words
That calculation arrives at a maximum statutory hourly rate of greater than the $248.49 rate agreed upon by counsel. The Court finds that this rate does not exceed the prevailing market rate in the community
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Oct 21, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $240 $240 Attorney $310 $310 Attorney $335 $335 The court's words
The three attorneys billed a total of 27.2 hours, at rates of $240.00, $310.00, and $335.00.
The three attorneys billed a total of 27.2 hours, at rates of $240.00, $310.00, and $335.00.
The three attorneys billed a total of 27.2 hours, at rates of $240.00, $310.00, and $335.00.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Sep 30, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $244 $244 The court's words
That CPI was 296.688/151.7 (Midwest Urban CPI for March 1996, when the EAJA was enacted) = 1.9557 * $125 (EAJA base rate) = $244.47 adjusted hourly rate.
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HUFF v. DOHRN TRANSFER COMPANY, LLC
Jul 21, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $515 $515 Associate $450 $450 The court's words
Mallatt's 'hourly rate for time spent working on this matter is $515.00 per hour, billed in six-minute increments'
associate Kate Trinkle's 'hourly rate for time spent working on this matter is $450 per hour, billed in six-minute increments.'
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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION v. EXCHANGE PUB + KITCHEN
Jun 25, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Dutkanych also avers that his firm pays paralegals the EEOC's requested hourly rate of $125.
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Apr 2, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $255 $255 Associate $235 $235 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
at the following hourly rates: (up to) $255.00 for partners; $235.00 for associates; and $125.00 for paralegals—which rates are commensurate to rates charged by other firms for this type of work.
at the following hourly rates: (up to) $255.00 for partners; $235.00 for associates; and $125.00 for paralegals—which rates are commensurate to rates charged by other firms for this type of work.
at the following hourly rates: (up to) $255.00 for partners; $235.00 for associates; and $125.00 for paralegals—which rates are commensurate to rates charged by other firms for this type of work.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Mar 3, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $233 $233 The court's words
Plaintiff has submitted a time log showing that her counsel billed 43.6 attorney hours (at $232.99/hour) and 1.1 paralegal hours (at $127.00/hour) in connection with representation in this court.
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| CRAMER v. TRUTH TREATMENT CENTERS LLC et al | Jul 23, 2024 | Attorney $325 |
| WEST v. KHI SOLUTIONS, INC. et al | May 15, 2024 | Attorney $300 |
| FITZMARK, LLC v. ROGERS et al | Feb 23, 2024 | Partner $570, Partner $495 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Feb 6, 2024 | Attorney $221 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Feb 5, 2024 | Attorney $221 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Jan 8, 2024 | Attorney $226, Attorney $240, other $100 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the S.D. Indiana approve for attorneys?
A median of $250 an hour across 7 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
How often does the S.D. Indiana cut a requested hourly rate?
For 0 of 14 timekeepers (0%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the S.D. Indiana?
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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