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How Much Should I Charge as a Lawyer in Wisconsin?

Updated March 2026

Average hourly rates for lawyers, non-lawyers, and law firms in Wisconsin is 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 2025, the average hourly rate for a lawyer in Wisconsin is $278, compared to $349 in the US. Based on practice area, rates in Wisconsin can range from $107 to $397.
  • As of 2025, the average hourly rate for non-lawyers in Wisconsin is $191, compared to $187 in the US. Based on practice area, non-lawyer rates in Wisconsin can range from $116 to $314.
  • The average hourly rate that law firms charge in Wisconsin is $264 (compared to $311 in the US), which is a blended rate that takes into account both lawyer and non-lawyer rates. Based on the practice area, how much law firms charge in Wisconsin can range from $136 to $432.

Compare hourly rates to national averages and other states

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  • 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.

    Read the report

Hourly rates for legal services in Wisconsin

Compare average hourly rates for lawyers, non-lawyers, and law firms in Wisconsin. “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 lawyer hourly rates
Average non-lawyer hourly rates
Average law firm hourly rates
State average $278 $191 $264
High $492 $237 $456
Low $196 $118 $186
Industry average $349 $187 $311

Compare hourly rates to national averages and other states

Hourly rates for legal services by practice area in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, 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$318
Appellate$123
Bankruptcy$397
Business$326
Civil Litigation$337
Civil Rights and Constitutional Law$188
Collections$296
Commercial Sale of Goods$389
Construction$294
Contracts$317
Corporate$338
Criminal$136
Elder Law$223
Employment Labor$331
Family$285
Government$198
Immigration$348
Insurance$314
Intellectual Property$357
Juvenile$107
Mediation and Arbitration$368
Medical MalpracticeCurrently unavailable
Other$268
Personal Injury$255
Real Estate$322
Small Claims$251
Tax$315
Traffic Offenses$269
Trusts$332
Wills and Estates$327
Worker's Compensation$176

Key performance indicators in Wisconsin

Key performance indicators (KPIs) offer valuable insights into a firm’s performance in Wisconsin. 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.


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.
Wisconsin average 39% 85% 93%
U.S. average 38% 88% 92%

Historical hourly rates in Wisconsin


Year
Average lawyer hourly rate
Average non-lawyer hourly rate
Average law firm hourly rate
2025$278$191$264
2024$278$197$269
2023$231$157$219
2022$251$162$238
2021$248$155$235

Adjusted hourly rates in Wisconsin

In addition to hourly rates, cost of living standards in Wisconsin 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
2025$298$205$283
2024$302$213$291
2023$247$168$235
2022$269$174$255
2021$265$166$251

Frequently asked questions

What is the hourly rate of a lawyer in Wisconsin?

The hourly rate for a lawyer in Wisconsin is between $107 and $397 per hour, with the average being $278.

How much does a family lawyer charge in Wisconsin?

The average hourly rate for a family lawyer in Wisconsin is $285 per hour.

How much does a civil litigation lawyer charge in Wisconsin?

The average hourly rate for a civil litigation lawyer in Wisconsin is $337 per hour.

How much does a criminal lawyer charge in Wisconsin?

The average hourly rate for a criminal lawyer in Wisconsin is $136 per hour.

What is the highest paid type of lawyer in Wisconsin?

Bankruptcy attorneys are the highest paid type of lawyer in Wisconsin, earning $397 per hour on average.

What is the lowest paid type of lawyer in Wisconsin?

Juvenile attorneys are the lowest paid type of lawyer in Wisconsin, earning $107 per hour on average.

Explore lawyer rates in the U.S.

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.

Read the report