Contract paralegal support across your entire practice
I work under the direction and supervision of California attorneys in state and federal court and on transactional matters. Bring me in for one motion, one appeal, or ongoing overflow work, billed hourly, by flat project fee, or on a monthly retainer.
Civil litigation, state and federal
- Complaints, answers, and § 1983 civil rights pleadings
- Discovery requests, responses, and meet-and-confer letters
- Subpoenas, records review, and chronologies
- CM/ECF and superior court e-filing, calendaring
Motions and research
- Demurrers, motions to compel, and oppositions
- Summary judgment separate statements and evidence
- Ex parte applications, TROs, motions in limine
- Research memos, cite checks, tables of authorities
Appeals, writs, and post-conviction
- Record review and statements of facts
- Opening and reply brief drafting support
- State and federal habeas petitions
- Resentencing petitions and parole packets
Family law
- Dissolution pleadings and judgment packages
- Declarations of disclosure
- Requests for order and responsive declarations
- Marital settlement agreement drafting support
Trusts, estates, and probate
- Trust, will, POA, and health care directive drafting support
- Trust funding deeds and recording packets
- Probate petitions, inventories, and accountings
- Conservatorship and guardianship petitions
Contracts and business
- Contract review summaries and issue lists
- Drafting support from your term sheets
- Redlines, settlement agreements, and releases
- Entity formation and corporate housekeeping
Hourly Rates
$65/hr
Appellate, post-conviction, and federal
$55/hr
Litigation, research, and transactional drafting
$45/hr
Case management and trial support
$35/hr
Administrative and filing
Flat-Fee Projects
Civil Litigation (State and Federal)
| Project | Scope Included | Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint drafting support (state court) | Up to 5 causes of action, from your facts memo | $1,500 |
| Federal complaint drafting support, including § 1983 | Up to 5 claims | $2,250 |
| Answer with affirmative defenses | General or specific denial, one complaint | $650 |
| Government claim packet (Gov. Code § 910) | One entity, with supporting exhibits | $450 |
| Case management statement or Rule 26(f) report | One party | $350 |
| Discovery requests, one set | Up to 35 interrogatories, requests for production, or requests for admission | $395 |
| Discovery responses, one set | Up to 35 requests, from your client’s information | $750 |
| Meet-and-confer letter | One discovery set | $395 |
| Privilege log | Per 500 documents | $750 |
| Deposition outline | One witness | $750 |
| Deposition summary | Per 100 transcript pages | $225 |
| Records chronology (medical, employment, CDCR, or jail) | Per 500 pages | $595 |
Motions
| Project | Scope Included | Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Demurrer, motion to strike, or opposition | Notice, memorandum, declaration, proposed order | $1,500 |
| Motion to compel with separate statement | Up to 35 requests at issue | $1,500 |
| Summary judgment or adjudication motion, or opposition | Separate statement, evidence compilation, points and authorities | $4,500 |
| Federal Rule 12 motion or opposition | One motion | $2,500 |
| Federal Rule 56 motion or opposition | One motion | $4,000 |
| Ex parte application or TRO | One application with declarations | $1,100 |
| Motions in limine | Set of up to five | $1,750 |
| Attorney fee motion with billing exhibits | Up to 300 billing entries | $1,500 |
| Demurrer, motion to strike, or opposition | Notice, memorandum, declaration, proposed order | $1,500 |
| Motion to compel with separate statement | Up to 35 requests at issue | $1,500 |
| Summary judgment or adjudication motion, or opposition | Separate statement, evidence compilation, points and authorities | $4,500 |
| Federal Rule 12 motion or opposition | One motion | $2,500 |
| Federal Rule 56 motion or opposition | One motion | $4,000 |
Research and Writing
| Project | Scope Included | Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Research memo, single issue | Up to 8 pages | $650 |
| Research memo, multi-issue | Up to 3 issues, 20 pages | $1,750 |
| Cite check and table of authorities | Per brief up to 30 pages | $300 |
| Legislative history compilation | One statute or section | $950 |
| Research memo, single issue | Up to 8 pages | $650 |
| Research memo, multi-issue | Up to 3 issues, 20 pages | $1,750 |
| Cite check and table of authorities | Per brief up to 30 pages | $300 |
| Legislative history compilation | One statute or section | $950 |
| Research memo, single issue | Up to 8 pages | $650 |
| Research memo, multi-issue | Up to 3 issues, 20 pages | $1,750 |
| Cite check and table of authorities | Per brief up to 30 pages | $300 |
| Legislative history compilation | One statute or section | $950 |
| Research memo, single issue | Up to 8 pages | $650 |
| Research memo, multi-issue | Up to 3 issues, 20 pages | $1,750 |
Appeals, Writs, and Post-Conviction
| Project | Scope Included | Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Record review and issue memo | Record up to 1,500 pages | $1,950 |
| Statement of facts and case with record citations | Record up to 1,500 pages | $1,500 |
| Opening brief drafting support | Record up to 1,500 pages | $5,500 |
| Reply brief drafting support | One reply | $2,750 |
| Petition for review or writ petition drafting support | One petition | $2,500 |
| State habeas petition with memorandum | One petition | $4,000 |
| Federal habeas petition (28 U.S.C. § 2254) | One petition | $5,000 |
| Resentencing petition drafting support (Penal Code §§ 1172.6, 1172.1, 1172.75) | One petition | $1,750 |
| Parole hearing preparation packet | One hearing | $1,500 |
| Record review and issue memo | Record up to 1,500 pages | $1,950 |
| Statement of facts and case with record citations | Record up to 1,500 pages | $1,500 |
| Opening brief drafting support | Record up to 1,500 pages | $5,500 |
| Reply brief drafting support | One reply | $2,750 |
| Petition for review or writ petition drafting support | One petition | $2,500 |
| State habeas petition with memorandum | One petition | $4,000 |
Family Law
| Project | Scope Included | Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Dissolution or separation pleadings package | Petition or response with summons and UCCJEA as needed | $650 |
| Preliminary or final disclosure package | FL-140, FL-142, FL-150, FL-160 | $500 |
| Request for order or responsive declaration | One request with supporting declaration | $750 |
| Marital settlement agreement drafting support | From your term sheet | $1,100 |
| Judgment package (uncontested or stipulated) | FL-180 and attachments | $600 |
| DVRO pleadings | Request or response | $500 |
| Dissolution or separation pleadings package | Petition or response with summons and UCCJEA as needed | $650 |
| Preliminary or final disclosure package | FL-140, FL-142, FL-150, FL-160 | $500 |
| Request for order or responsive declaration | One request with supporting declaration | $750 |
| Marital settlement agreement drafting support | From your term sheet | $1,100 |
| Judgment package (uncontested or stipulated) | FL-180 and attachments | $600 |
| DVRO pleadings | Request or response | $500 |
| Dissolution or separation pleadings package | Petition or response with summons and UCCJEA as needed | $650 |
| Preliminary or final disclosure package | FL-140, FL-142, FL-150, FL-160 | $500 |
| Request for order or responsive declaration | One request with supporting declaration | $750 |
| Marital settlement agreement drafting support | From your term sheet | $1,100 |
Trusts, Estates, and Probate
| Project | Scope Included | Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Revocable trust package drafting support, individual | Trust, pour-over will, POA, AHCD | $1,000 |
| Revocable trust package drafting support, couple | Same, for two settlors | $1,350 |
| Trust funding deed and recording packet | Per property | $275 |
| Probate petition through letters | DE-111 through letters | $1,400 |
| Inventory and appraisal | Up to 25 assets | $600 |
| Probate or trust accounting | Up to 12 months and 150 transactions | $1,500 |
| Conservatorship or guardianship petition package | Petition, notices, and investigator packet | $1,750 |
| Spousal property petition | One petition | $1,000 |
| Revocable trust package drafting support, individual | Trust, pour-over will, POA, AHCD | $1,000 |
| Revocable trust package drafting support, couple | Same, for two settlors | $1,350 |
| Trust funding deed and recording packet | Per property | $275 |
| Probate petition through letters | DE-111 through letters | $1,400 |
| Inventory and appraisal | Up to 25 assets | $600 |
| Probate or trust accounting | Up to 12 months and 150 transactions | $1,500 |
| Conservatorship or guardianship petition package | Petition, notices, and investigator packet | $1,750 |
| Spousal property petition | One petition | $1,000 |
| Revocable trust package drafting support, individual | Trust, pour-over will, POA, AHCD | $1,000 |
Contracts and Business
| Project | Scope Included | Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Contract review summary and issue list | Up to 25 pages | $550 |
| Contract drafting support from term sheet | Up to 15 pages | $750 |
| Redline and comparison memo | Up to 25 pages | $400 |
| Settlement agreement and release drafting support | One agreement | $600 |
| Entity formation package with operating agreement or bylaws | One entity | $850 |
| Contract abstract in a portfolio review | Per agreement | $125 |
| Contract review summary and issue list | Up to 25 pages | $550 |
| Contract drafting support from term sheet | Up to 15 pages | $750 |
| Redline and comparison memo | Up to 25 pages | $400 |
| Settlement agreement and release drafting support | One agreement | $600 |
| Entity formation package with operating agreement or bylaws | One entity | $850 |
| Contract abstract in a portfolio review | Per agreement | $125 |
| Contract review summary and issue list | Up to 25 pages | $550 |
| Contract drafting support from term sheet | Up to 15 pages | $750 |
| Redline and comparison memo | Up to 25 pages | $400 |
| Settlement agreement and release drafting support | One agreement | $600 |
| Entity formation package with operating agreement or bylaws | One entity | $850 |
Trial Support
| Project | Scope Included | Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trial binder or exhibit binder | Up to 50 exhibits | $1,100 |
| Witness binder | Per witness | $300 |
| Trial transcript summary | Per 100 pages | $250 |
| Trial binder or exhibit binder | Up to 50 exhibits | $1,100 |
| Witness binder | Per witness | $300 |
| Trial transcript summary | Per 100 pages | $250 |
| Trial binder or exhibit binder | Up to 50 exhibits | $1,100 |
| Witness binder | Per witness | $300 |
| Trial transcript summary | Per 100 pages | $250 |
| Trial binder or exhibit binder | Up to 50 exhibits | $1,100 |
| Witness binder | Per witness | $300 |
| Trial transcript summary | Per 100 pages | $250 |
| Trial binder or exhibit binder | Up to 50 exhibits | $1,100 |
| Witness binder | Per witness | $300 |
| Trial transcript summary | Per 100 pages | $250 |
| Trial binder or exhibit binder | Up to 50 exhibits | $1,100 |
| Witness binder | Per witness | $300 |
| Trial transcript summary | Per 100 pages | $250 |
Court and Administrative Tasks
| Task | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| E-filing, per filing (California superior court or CM/ECF) | $45 |
| Court filing run within LA County | $85 |
| Recording packet, per document | $95 |
| Records request or subpoena for records, per custodian | $125 |
Rush Fees
| Turnaround | Surcharge |
|---|---|
| Standard (5 business days or more) | None |
| Expedited (3 to 4 business days) | +25% |
| Rush (within 48 hours) | +50% |
| Emergency (within 24 hours, evenings, weekends, holidays) | +75% |
Monthly Retainer Packages
| Package | Hours per month | Monthly fee | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Support | 10 hours | $1,050 | $105 per hour |
| Practice Partner | 20 hours | $1,950 | $97.50 per hour |
| Dedicated Paralegal | 40 hours | $3,600 | $90 per hour |
| Embedded Paralegal | 80 hours | $6,800 | $85 per hour |
Retainer hours apply to any service tier. Hours beyond the package are billed at the standard hourly rates, less 10%.
Payment Terms
- New clients: 50% deposit on flat-fee projects; balance due on delivery of the draft.
- Established clients: invoices due net 15 days.
- Late payments:5% per month on balances over 30 days.
- Costs (filing fees, recording fees, records fees, copy charges, postage, messenger) billed at actual cost.
- Payment methods: [ACH, check, LawPay, card].
- Confidentiality: I sign your firm’s confidentiality agreement, follow your file-handling protocols, and run a conflict check before each engagement.
Basis for These Rates
These rates are set for experienced independent contract paralegals in Los Angeles:
- US freelance paralegals at the senior or specialist level bill about $55 to $100+ per hour, and agency-placed senior paralegals $75 to $125 per hour (HireParalegals, 2026).
- Typical freelance flat fees run $300 to $900 for a standard set of discovery responses and $150 to $400 per 100 pages of deposition summary (HireParalegals, 2026), and $300 to $1,000 for discovery requests on one national freelance platform (LAWCLERK). My flat fees sit in the middle of those ranges and include a defined scope, so you can quote your own client a fixed number.
Los Angeles law firms commonly bill paralegal time to clients at roughly $150 to $275 per hour (a general market estimate, not from one published survey), so these fees leave the engaging attorney a reasonable margin.