Legal trends
How Much Should I Charge as a Lawyer in South Dakota?
Compare hourly rates in South Dakota to national averages and other states.
Average hourly rates for lawyers, non-lawyers, and law firms in South Dakota 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 South Dakota is $256, compared to $362 in the US. Based on practice area, rates in South Dakota can range from $140 to $361.
- As of 2026, the average hourly rate for non-lawyers in South Dakota is $139, 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 South Dakota is $240 (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.
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 South Dakota
Compare average hourly rates for lawyers, non-lawyers, and law firms in South Dakota. “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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota average | $256 | $139 | $240 |
| 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 South Dakota
In South Dakota, 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 | $302 |
| Appellate | Currently unavailable |
| Bankruptcy | Currently unavailable |
| Business Formation / Compliance | $301 |
| Civil Litigation | $293 |
| Civil Rights / Constitutional Law | Currently unavailable |
| Collections & Debt | Currently unavailable |
| Commercial / Sale of Goods | $318 |
| Construction | $259 |
| Contracts | $271 |
| Corporate Litigation | Currently unavailable |
| Criminal | $174 |
| Elder Law | $281 |
| Employment / Labor | $356 |
| Family | $284 |
| Government | $243 |
| Immigration | Currently unavailable |
| Insurance | $272 |
| Intellectual Property | Currently unavailable |
| Juvenile | $140 |
| Mediation / Arbitration | $293 |
| Medical Malpractice | Currently unavailable |
| Other | $225 |
| Personal Injury | $323 |
| Real Estate | $320 |
| Small Claims | Currently unavailable |
| Tax | $266 |
| Traffic Offenses | Currently unavailable |
| Trusts | $361 |
| Wills & Estates | $305 |
| Workers’ Compensation | Currently unavailable |
Updated October 2026.
Key performance indicators in South Dakota
Key performance indicators (KPIs) offer valuable insights into a firm’s performance in South Dakota. 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. |
| South Dakota average | 44% | 86% | 95% |
| U.S. average | 42% | 90% | 92% |
Updated October 2026.
Historical hourly rates in South Dakota
| Year | Average lawyer hourly rate | Average non-lawyer hourly rate | Average law firm hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $256 | $139 | $240 |
| 2025 | $252 | $148 | $241 |
| 2024 | $245 | $154 | $237 |
| 2023 | $199 | $158 | $195 |
| 2022 | $189 | $119 | $181 |
Updated October 2026.
Adjusted hourly rates in South Dakota
In addition to hourly rates, cost of living standards in South Dakota 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 | $291 | $158 | $272 |
| 2025 | $286 | $168 | $273 |
| 2024 | $279 | $175 | $270 |
| 2023 | $221 | $175 | $216 |
| 2022 | $215 | $135 | $205 |
Updated October 2026.
FAQ
Lawyer hourly rates in South Dakota
What is the hourly rate of a lawyer in South Dakota?
The hourly rate for a lawyer in South Dakota is between $140 and $361 per hour, with the average being $256.
How much does a family lawyer charge in South Dakota?
The average hourly rate for a family lawyer in South Dakota is $284 per hour.
How much does a civil litigation lawyer charge in South Dakota?
The average hourly rate for a civil litigation lawyer in South Dakota is $293 per hour.
How much does a criminal lawyer charge in South Dakota?
The average hourly rate for a criminal lawyer in South Dakota is $174 per hour.
What is the highest paid type of lawyer in South Dakota?
Trusts attorneys are the highest paid type of lawyer in South Dakota, earning $361 per hour on average.
What is the lowest paid type of lawyer in South Dakota?
Juvenile attorneys are the lowest paid type of lawyer in South Dakota, earning $140 per hour on average.