Legal trends

How Much Should I Charge as a Lawyer in Mississippi?

Compare hourly rates in Mississippi to national averages and other states.

Average hourly rates for lawyers, non-lawyers, and law firms in Mississippi are based on aggregated and anonymized data from tens of thousands of legal professionals across the U.S. This data is updated annually and published with additional research and analysis in Clio’s Legal Trends Report.

Key Takeaways

  • As of 2026, the average hourly rate for a lawyer in Mississippi is $250, compared to $362 in the US. Based on practice area, rates in Mississippi can range from $173 to $485.
  • As of 2026, the average hourly rate for non-lawyers in Mississippi is $142, compared to $194 in the US. Nationally, non-lawyer rates range from $116 to $320 depending on practice area.
  • The average hourly rate that law firms charge in Mississippi is $228 (compared to $323 in the US), which is a blended rate that takes into account both lawyer and non-lawyer rates. Nationally, law firm rates range from $132 to $451 depending on practice area.
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Read the latest Legal Trends Report

All of Clio’s research is published annually in the Legal Trends Report, which features in-depth analysis on the latest trends in AI technology and adoption, consumer perspectives on legal services, and this year, a first-of-its kind neurological study of legal professionals.

Hourly rates for legal services in Mississippi

Compare average hourly rates for lawyers, non-lawyers, and law firms in Mississippi. “Non-lawyer” rates refer to non-licensed legal professionals like paralegals and other firm administrative staff. “Law firm” rates are a blended average of lawyer and non-lawyer rates.

Average Average lawyer hourly rate Average non-lawyer hourly rate Average law firm hourly rate
Mississippi average $250 $142 $228
Highest state average $506 $260 $464
Lowest state average $205 $123 $195
U.S. average $362 $194 $323

Updated October 2026.

Hourly rates for legal services by practice area in Mississippi

In Mississippi, hourly rates differ based on the types of services and practice areas offered by lawyers and their law firms.

Practice area Average lawyer hourly rate
Administrative Law $189
Appellate $350
Bankruptcy $327
Business Formation / Compliance $303
Civil Litigation $241
Civil Rights / Constitutional Law Currently unavailable
Collections & Debt $244
Commercial / Sale of Goods $265
Construction $297
Contracts $278
Corporate Litigation $301
Criminal $261
Elder Law $271
Employment / Labor $338
Family Currently unavailable
Government $173
Immigration Currently unavailable
Insurance $355
Intellectual Property $387
Juvenile Currently unavailable
Mediation / Arbitration Currently unavailable
Medical Malpractice $236
Other $301
Personal Injury $197
Real Estate Currently unavailable
Small Claims Currently unavailable
Tax Currently unavailable
Traffic Offenses $485
Trusts $399
Wills & Estates $292
Workers’ Compensation $175

Updated October 2026.

Key performance indicators in Mississippi

Key performance indicators (KPIs) offer valuable insights into a firm’s performance in Mississippi. This information helps lawyers understand how they and their employees are contributing to revenue generation, and can be instrumental in identifying areas for continuous improvement.

Measure Utilization rate Realization rate Collection rate
What is it? How many hours individual lawyers put towards revenue-generating work. How much revenue-generating work is billed to a client after discounts or canceled fees. How much invoiced work gets paid to a law firm.
Mississippi average 35% 79% 88%
U.S. average 42% 90% 92%

Updated October 2026.

Historical hourly rates in Mississippi

Year Average lawyer hourly rate Average non-lawyer hourly rate Average law firm hourly rate
2026 $250 $142 $228
2025 $243 $142 $223
2024 $242 $158 $228
2023 $217 $127 $199
2022 $225 $123 $205

Updated October 2026.

Adjusted hourly rates in Mississippi

In addition to hourly rates, cost of living standards in Mississippi can affect overall purchasing power. Adjusted hourly rates take into account average consumer prices, and are calculated as follows.

Year Adjusted lawyer hourly rate Adjusted non-lawyer hourly rate Adjusted law firm hourly rate
2026 $288 $164 $262
2025 $280 $164 $257
2024 $277 $181 $261
2023 $251 $147 $229
2022 $259 $142 $240

Updated October 2026.

FAQ

Lawyer hourly rates in Mississippi

What is the hourly rate of a lawyer in Mississippi?

The hourly rate for a lawyer in Mississippi is between $173 and $485 per hour, with the average being $250.

How much does a civil litigation lawyer charge in Mississippi?

The average hourly rate for a civil litigation lawyer in Mississippi is $241 per hour.

How much does a criminal lawyer charge in Mississippi?

The average hourly rate for a criminal lawyer in Mississippi is $261 per hour.

What is the highest paid type of lawyer in Mississippi?

Traffic Offenses attorneys are the highest paid type of lawyer in Mississippi, earning $485 per hour on average.

What is the lowest paid type of lawyer in Mississippi?

Government attorneys are the lowest paid type of lawyer in Mississippi, earning $173 per hour on average.

Explore detailed lawyer rates by state

About the Legal Trends Report

The Legal Trends Report, published by Clio, provides information on the most important issues faced within the legal profession. By analyzing aggregated and anonymized data from tens of thousands of legal professionals in the U.S., supported by extensive survey research, this report offers unique insights into law firm efficiencies, hourly rates, and other key metrics for success.