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Although no one wants to be in a situation where they have to consult an attorney, they are more often than not well worth the expense. From filing a claim to getting the proper and professional defense and protection you need, legal counsel is also often a necessary step.
Although attorney fees vary from state to state and according to the type of defense you need (typically a criminal defense attorney will cost more than a family law lawyer), the popularity of the attorney (well-known lawyers usually cost more), these fees do vary from state to state, based on the cost of living in each state.
On average, attorney fees range from $100 per hour to $500 per hour, but if you hire a leading criminal attorney in D.C. (which is ranked the highest average at nearly $400 per hour in 2020) you’re going to most likely pay more than if you hire an estate or family lawyer in a more rural place like Illinois or Alaska, which typically costs $100-$150 per hour.
Sometimes an attorney will charge a specific fee for a service (such as will) or will require a retainer fee, which is sometimes a guarantee that the attorney will take your case or be available on an “as-needed” basis. An attorney may also charge a contingency fee. In this case, the attorney will be paid “contingent upon” your recovery, which is usually based upon a percentage of your recovery. On average, the attorney takes ⅓ or 33% of your recovery.
State | Attorney Fees (High Avg.) | Attorney Fees (Low Avg.) |
---|---|---|
Illinois | $550 | $80 |
Texas | $495 | $175 |
New Jersey | $450 | $90 |
Pennsylvania | $450 | $150 |
Virginia | $450 | $120 |
California | $420 | $150 |
Connecticut | $400 | $250 |
Delaware | $400 | $250 |
District of Columbia | $400 | $250 |
Florida | $400 | $195 |
Hawaii | $400 | $250 |
Idaho | $400 | $195 |
New York | $400 | $100 |
Georgia | $350 | $200 |
Kansas | $350 | $195 |
Kentucky | $350 | $250 |
Massachusetts | $350 | $150 |
Michigan | $350 | $200 |
Minnesota | $350 | $150 |
Missouri | $350 | $300 |
Montana | $350 | $150 |
Nebraska | $350 | $150 |
Nevada | $350 | $150 |
New Hampshire | $350 | $250 |
New Mexico | $350 | $150 |
North Dakota | $350 | $150 |
Oklahoma | $350 | $150 |
Oregon | $350 | $150 |
Rhode Island | $350 | $150 |
South Carolina | $350 | $150 |
South Dakota | $350 | $150 |
Vermont | $350 | $150 |
Alabama | $300 | $200 |
Alaska | $300 | $150 |
Arizona | $300 | $150 |
Arkansas | $300 | $150 |
Indiana | $300 | $195 |
Iowa | $300 | $195 |
Maryland | $300 | $150 |
Mississippi | $300 | $150 |
North Carolina | $300 | $250 |
Ohio | $300 | $95 |
Washington | $300 | $100 |
West Virginia | $300 | $100 |
Wisconsin | $300 | $100 |
Wyoming | $300 | $100 |
Colorado | $295 | $200 |
Tennessee | $285 | $150 |
Utah | $275 | $150 |
United States | $353 | $167 |