Court-approved attorney hourly rates: W.D. Michigan | LegalTime AI

Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, W.D. Michigan

3 approved rates from 2 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Jan 27, 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.

Copy these rulings as citations

Recent W.D. Michigan rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.

Ruiz Gonzalez v. Taqueria El Texano LLC, No. 1:24-cv-00967 (W.D. Mich. Jan. 27, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $450 for an attorney; $135 for a paralegal); PNC Bank, National Association v. Andy's Excavation LLC, No. 1:24-cv-01154 (W.D. Mich. Oct. 6, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $295 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.

  • Daniel v. Commissioner of Social Security

    Sep 10, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $249 $249
    Paralegal $100 $100
    The court's words
    Plaintiff's counsel requests attorney fees at a rate of $248.51 per hour and paralegal fees at a rate of $100.00 per hour. The Court agrees with the Plaintiff's suggested hourly rates.
    Plaintiff's counsel also seeks paralegal fees at a rate of $100 per hour. In the opinion of the undersigned, this rate is reasonable.

  • Madsen v. Commissioner of Social Security

    Mar 31, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $260 $205
    Paralegal $120
    The court's words
    The total billable time amounts to 25.3 hours, with 18.3 attorney hours at $260 per hour ($4,758.00) and 7 paralegal hours at $120.00 per hour ($840.00) (ECF No. 17-2).
    The total billable time amounts to 25.3 hours, with 18.3 attorney hours at $260 per hour ($4,758.00) and 7 paralegal hours at $120.00 per hour ($840.00) (ECF No. 17-2).

  • Madsen v. Commissioner of Social Security

    Mar 16, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $260
    Paralegal $120
    The court's words
    18.3 attorney hours at $260 per hour ($4,758.00)
    7 paralegal hours at $120.00 per hour ($840.00)

  • Vick v. Commissioner of Social Security

    Mar 12, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $244 $244
    Paralegal $100 $100
    The court's words
    Plaintiff’s counsel requests attorney fees at a rate of $244.37 per hour and paralegal fees at a rate of $100.00 per hour. The undersigned agrees with the Plaintiff’s suggested hourly rates.
    Plaintiff’s counsel also seeks paralegal fees at a rate of $100 per hour. In the opinion of the undersigned, this rate is reasonable.

  • Woods v. Commissioner of Social Security

    Feb 26, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $247 $205
    The court's words
    Counsel requests to be compensated at an hourly rate of $246.75 for 22.95 hours of work. While the number of hours expended in this matter is reasonable, the Court finds the hourly rate requested by counsel to be unjustified.

  • Vick v. Commissioner of Social Security

    Feb 24, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $244 $244
    Paralegal $100 $100
    The court's words
    Plaintiff's counsel requests attorney fees at a rate of $244.37 per hour and paralegal fees at a rate of $100.00 per hour. The undersigned agrees with the Plaintiff's suggested hourly rates.
    Plaintiff's counsel also seeks paralegal fees at a rate of $100 per hour. In the opinion of the undersigned, this rate is reasonable.

  • Bradford v. Commissioner of Social Security

    Feb 18, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $205 $205
    Paralegal $113 $113
    The court's words
    Plaintiff seeks attorney fees at an hourly rate of $204.75, which is consistent with this Court's past orders (PageID.1338).
    Plaintiff also seeks fees for multiple paralegals at an hourly rate of $112.50 per hour. The Court considers this rate reasonable.

  • Bradford v. Commissioner of Social Security

    Feb 2, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $205 $205
    Paralegal $113 $113
    The court's words
    Plaintiff seeks attorney fees at an hourly rate of $204.75, which is consistent with this Court's past orders (PageID.1338).
    Plaintiff also seeks fees for multiple paralegals at an hourly rate of $112.50 per hour. The Court considers this rate reasonable.

  • Ruiz Gonzalez et al v. Taqueria El Texano LLC et al

    Jan 27, 2026 · Wage and hour

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $450 $450
    Paralegal $135 $135
    The court's words
    Plaintiff seeks hourly rates of $450.00 for their attorney and $135.00 for a paralegal. The Court finds both of these rates reasonable.
    The Court also finds reasonable the $135.00 hourly rate for the paralegal, particularly in light of a lack of opposition from Defendants.

  • Rentfrow v. Commissioner of Social Security

    Jan 13, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $248 $205
    Paralegal $100 $100
    The court's words
    Counsel requests to be compensated at an hourly rate of $247.81 for 34.87 hours of work. Neither the requested hourly rates nor the time expended on this matter are reasonable.
    The $564.00 requested for 5.64 hours of paralegal work at an hourly rate of $100 is reasonable and compensable.

  • PNC Bank, National Association v. Andy's Excavation LLC et al

    Oct 6, 2025 · Commercial

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $295 $295
    The court's words
    Randall Woolley attaches an affidavit of his hourly rate and the hours expended on this matter; he avers that he spent 8.2 hours on this matter and charges an hourly rate of $295.00 for a total of $2,149.50.

  • Vankersen v. Commissioner of Socal Security

    Jun 16, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $205 $205
    Paralegal $60 $60
    The court's words
    this Court has determined that the appropriate hourly rate for Social Security Appeals is $204.75. The submitted record supports an award of attorney fees in the amount of $8,435.70 (41.2 hours x $204.75)
    paralegal fees in the amount of $12.00 (.2 hours x $60.00)

  • Garrod v. Commissioner of Social Security

    May 28, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $251 $205
    Paralegal $120 $120
    The court's words
    Plaintiff's counsel has submitted a time sheet showing that two attorneys spent a total of 56.2 hours working on this case at an hourly rate of $251.25.
    A paralegal spent 3 hours working on this case at an hourly rate of $120.00.

  • Gulembo v. Commissioner of Social Security

    Jan 31, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $205 $205
    The court's words
    Plaintiff’s counsel now seeks $3,685.50 in fees – based on eighteen hours of work at an hourly rate of $204.75.

  • St. Vincent Catholic Charities v. Ingham County Board of Commissioners

    Aug 26, 2024 · Civil rights · Older than two years, not in medians

    RoleExperienceRequestedApproved
    Attorney $1,300 $600
    Paralegal $95
    The court's words
    The DC rates for the Becket Fund attorneys who were involved in this litigation range from $600 to $1,300 per hour.
    The undersigned also recommends that the Court use the $95 hourly rate for the Becket Fund paralegals.

Earlier rulings

CaseDateApproved rates
St. Vincent Catholic Charities v. Ingham County Board of Commissioners Aug 23, 2024 Attorney $600, Paralegal $95
Precision Wire Forms, Inc. v. Lincoln Electric Automation, Inc. May 13, 2024 Attorney $329, Attorney $284
Pierce v. Commissioner of Social Security Mar 28, 2024 Attorney $205
Barnes v. Commissioner of Social Security Mar 28, 2024 Attorney $205, Paralegal $104
St. Vincent Catholic Charities v. Ingham County Board of Commissioners Feb 13, 2024 Attorney $600, Attorney $600, Paralegal $95

FAQ

How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the W.D. Michigan?

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.

All districts · Attorney fee motions in Michigan federal courts · National rates research