How much do lawyers charge in California?
The typical lawyer in California charges between $90 and $483 per hour. Costs vary depending on the type of lawyer, so review our lawyer rates table to find out the average cost to hire an attorney in California.
Practice Type | Average Hourly Rate |
---|---|
Administrative | $325 |
Appellate | $391 |
Bankruptcy | $430 |
Business | $367 |
Civil Litigation | $351 |
Civil Rights/Constitutional Law | $404 |
Collections | $336 |
Commercial/Sale of Goods | $385 |
Construction | $259 |
Contracts | $343 |
Corporate | $412 |
Criminal | $288 |
Elder Law | $318 |
Employment/Labor | $364 |
Family | $349 |
Government | $328 |
Immigration | $303 |
Insurance | $324 |
Intellectual Property | $420 |
Juvenile | $90 |
Mediation/Arbitration | $373 |
Medical Malpractice | $219 |
Personal Injury | $287 |
Real Estate | $390 |
Small Claims | $240 |
Tax | $483 |
Traffic Offenses | $262 |
Trusts | $361 |
Wills & Estates | $375 |
Worker's Compensation | $188 |

About Clio’s Hourly Rate Data for Lawyers (Updated 2022)
Clio's hourly rate data is based on aggregated and anonymized data from tens of thousands of legal professionals using Clio. Each year, this data is analyzed and published within the Legal Trends Report, which provides ongoing, in-depth research into the most pressing issues faced by legal professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate of a lawyer in California?
The average hourly rate for a lawyer in California is between $90 and $483 per hour.
How much does a family lawyer charge in California?
The average hourly rate for a family lawyer in California is $349 per hour.
How much does a civil litigation lawyer charge in California?
The average hourly rate for a civil litigation lawyer in California is $351 per hour.
What is the highest paid type of lawyer in California?
Tax attorneys are the highest paid type of lawyer in California, earning $483 per hour on average.
What is the lowest paid type of lawyer in California?
Juvenile attorneys are the lowest paid type of lawyer in California, earning $90 per hour on average.