Worked example: attorney fee calculations in New York

Example inputs

Below is a worked example of how DocketMath (the attorney-fee calculator) can look when you calculate attorney-fee amounts in New York (US-NY) for a timeline and fee structure you enter.

The scenario (what you’re modeling)

Assume a case where you track fees as:

• Hours billed across multiple phases
• A blended hourly rate (or per-phase rates)
• A contingency / multiplier component (modeled here as a multiplier)
• A statutory deadline context for timeliness, using New York’s general rule (modeled as a parameter)

Calculator inputs (example values)

Use these example inputs for the attorney-fee tool:

• Jurisdiction: US-NY
• Statutory time horizon (general rule): 5 years
• Statutory source: N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 30.10(2)(c) (see note below)

  • Important modeling note: DocketMath uses the general/default period because no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found for the scenario parameters in this example. This means the example intentionally does not swap in a different limitations period by claim type.
• Fee model:

  • Phase 1: 12.5 hours × $350/hr
  • Phase 2: 8.0 hours × $400/hr
  • Phase 3: 6.25 hours × $275/hr
• Costs included in fee base?: Yes (we model costs separately but include them in the “total payables” view)

  • Case costs: $1,200
• Multiplier (uplift) (if used in your model):

  • Multiplier: 1.1 (10% uplift for complexity; modeling only)
• Taxes / statutory add-ons: $0 (kept simple for the worked example)
• Discount or settlement reduction: -$500 (if you want to model a negotiated adjustment)

Quick input summary (so you can map to the tool)

Example run

Now let’s run the arithmetic in the same structure DocketMath would use: compute base fees, optionally apply a multiplier, add costs, then apply any reductions/adjustments you input.

Run the Attorney Fee calculator using the example inputs above. Review the breakdown for intermediate steps (segments, adjustments, or rate changes) so you can see how each input moves the output. Save the result for reference and compare it to your actual scenario.

Step 1: Compute phase-by-phase billed fees

• Phase 1: 12.5 × $350/hr = $4,375.00
• Phase 2: 8.0 × $400/hr = $3,200.00
• Phase 3: 6.25 × $275/hr = $1,718.75

Subtotal base fees = $4,375.00 + $3,200.00 + $1,718.75
= $9,293.75

Step 2: Apply the multiplier (uplift)

Multiplier = 1.1
Adjusted fees = $9,293.75 × 1.1 = $10,223.13 (rounded to cents)

Step 3: Add costs

Costs = $1,200.00

Total before reductions = $10,223.13 + $1,200.00
= $11,423.13

Step 4: Apply settlement reduction / discount

Reduction = -$500.00

Total modeled attorney fees payable = $11,423.13 − $500.00
= $10,923.13

Step 5: Timeliness context using the New York general period

DocketMath’s “time horizon” input in this example uses New York’s general/default period shown in the provided jurisdiction data:

• General SOL period used in the model: 5 years
• Statute reference used in the model: N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 30.10(2)(c)
• Important modeling note: No claim-type-specific sub-rule was found, so this example does not attempt to substitute a different limitations period for different claim types.

Output summary (what In DocketMath, this appears as)

• Base fees (pre-multiplier): $9,293.75
• Adjusted fees (after 1.1 multiplier): $10,223.13
• Costs: $1,200.00
• Reductions: -$500.00
• Modeled total: $10,923.13
• Modeled time horizon (general): 5 years (per N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 30.10(2)(c) in this example)

Sensitivity check

A sensitivity check answers: what happens to the output if key inputs change? Here are three concrete variations that typically move fee totals the most.

To test sensitivity, change one high-impact input (like the rate, start date, or cap) and rerun the calculation. Compare the outputs side by side so you can see how small input shifts affect the result.

1) Change the multiplier from 1.1 to 1.0

Keep everything else the same.

• Base fees = $9,293.75
• Multiplier 1.0 → adjusted fees = $9,293.75
• Add costs: +$1,200.00 → $10,493.75
• Apply reduction: −$500.00 → $9,993.75

Impact: $10,923.13 − $9,993.75 = $929.38 decrease

2) Increase Phase 2 rate by $50/hr (from $400 to $450)

Only Phase 2 changes:

• Phase 2 hours = 8.0
• New Phase 2 fee = 8.0 × $450 = $3,600.00 (was $3,200.00)

Base fees increase by $400.00:

• New base fees = $9,293.75 + $400.00 = $9,693.75
• Apply multiplier 1.1 → adjusted fees = $9,693.75 × 1.1 = $10,663.13
• Add costs: +$1,200.00 → $11,863.13
• Apply reduction: −$500.00 → $11,363.13

Impact: $11,363.13 − $10,923.13 = $440.00 increase

3) Replace “8.0 hours” Phase 2 with 10.0 hours

Only Phase 2 hours change:

• Old Phase 2 fee = 8.0 × $400 = $3,200.00
• New Phase 2 fee = 10.0 × $400 = $4,000.00
• Base fees increase by $800.00

Then:

• New base fees = $9,293.75 + $800.00 = $10,093.75
• Apply multiplier 1.1 → $11,103.13
• Add costs: +$1,200.00 → $12,303.13
• Apply reduction: −$500.00 → $11,803.13

Impact: $11,803.13 − $10,923.13 = $880.00 increase

Sensitivity results (at-a-glance)

Why these drivers matter for planning

• Multiplier shifts everything proportionally (largest impact in this example).
• Rate changes scale directly with hours (middle impact here).
• Time growth compounds through the multiplier (often a major driver when work expands).

If you want to test your own numbers, start from the same structure and run the tool at: DocketMath attorney-fee.

Related reading

• Worked example: attorney fee calculations in Vermont — Worked example with real statute citations
• Attorney Fees Guide for Alaska
• Attorney Fees Guide for American Samoa