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

Legal Trends Report

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.

Read the Legal Trends Report

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.