How MALC pricing works
Most law firms don't publish their prices. We think that's part of what makes legal help feel out of reach for the people who need it most. So we publish ours — and we publish the rules for how they change based on what you can pay.
Our pricing has three parts:
- A standard rate — a flat fee for most services, or an hourly rate for matters that can't be priced flat.
- A sliding scale — two discounted tiers for clients whose household income falls below defined thresholds.
- Two Mutual Aid Rates — opt-in higher-than-standard rates that clients with means can choose to directly fund our sliding-scale work.
A note on complexity. All published fees below are starting points for typical matters. Complex cases — non-routine citizenship analysis in a CRBA, a contested aspect of what started as an uncontested divorce, unusually broad discovery in a civil matter, and similar situations — may require adjustment. We discuss any adjustment with you before it takes effect, in writing, as part of our engagement agreement.
The four rate tiers
Federal Poverty Level reference (2026)
Income thresholds for Tiers 1 and 2 are tied to household income as a percentage of Federal Poverty Level (FPL), adjusted annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
| Household size | 100% FPL | 200% FPL (Tier 1 cap) | 400% FPL (Tier 2 cap) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,650 | $31,300 | $62,600 |
| 2 | $21,150 | $42,300 | $84,600 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $53,300 | $106,600 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $64,300 | $128,600 |
| 5 | $37,650 | $75,300 | $150,600 |
| 6 | $43,150 | $86,300 | $172,600 |
For households larger than 6, add approximately $5,500 per additional person to 100% FPL and scale accordingly. Figures should be verified against the current year's HHS Poverty Guidelines.
Standard fees (Tier 3)
These are our full published rates. Tier 1 clients pay 50% less. Tier 2 clients pay 25% less. Mutual Aid Rate clients pay 25% or 50% more.
Family law
Housing & tenants' rights
Immigration
Criminal & First Amendment defense
Administrative hearings
Civil litigation
Estate planning & guardianships
Residential real estate
Note on real estate scope: MALC represents residential buyers, sellers, and borrowers only. We do not represent residential landlords purchasing or selling investment properties, nor do we handle commercial real estate transactions or commercial lease negotiation.
Consultations & limited scope
* Hourly rates adjust by tier: Tier 1 at $140/hr, Tier 2 at $205/hr, Tier 3 at $275/hr, Mutual Aid Rate at $345/hr or $415/hr.
How the sliding scale works — examples
Here's how the rate tiers apply to actual services. We use uncontested divorce ($1,800 standard) as the example because it's our most common flat-fee matter.
Household size: 3 · 200% FPL for household of 3: $53,300 · This client is below 200% FPL, so Tier 1 (Accessible Rate) applies.
$1,800 standard × 50% off = $900 flat fee
Household size: 2 · 200% FPL: $42,300 · 400% FPL: $84,600 · This household is between 200% and 400% FPL, so Tier 2 (Reduced Rate) applies.
$1,800 standard × 25% off = $1,350 flat fee
Household size: 1 · 400% FPL: $62,600 · This client is above 400% FPL, so Tier 3 (Standard Rate) applies.
$1,800 standard = $1,800 flat fee
This client is well above 400% FPL and wants to directly fund MALC's sliding-scale work. They opt into the Mutual Aid Rate at +25%.
$1,800 standard × 125% = $2,250 flat fee
The additional $450 directly subsidizes Tier 1 and Tier 2 representation for other clients.
About the Mutual Aid Rate
If you can afford to pay more than our standard rate, you have the option to pay more — and when you do, you're directly funding sliding-scale representation for clients who could not otherwise access a lawyer.
We offer two Mutual Aid Rate options:
- +25% above the standard rate — adds roughly enough to cover half of a Tier 1 matter of the same type
- +50% above the standard rate — adds roughly enough to fully cover a Tier 1 matter of the same type
The Mutual Aid Rate is entirely optional. It's not tied to your income, it's not based on any assessment we make of you, and no client is ever charged more than the standard rate without affirmatively choosing to. We made this option public because we believe clients who share the values of this practice often want to participate materially — and because naming that option openly is more honest than quietly charging some clients more than others.
A note on accountability. We publish an annual summary of how much Mutual Aid Rate revenue we received and how much sliding-scale representation it directly funded. The year-end summary is posted to this site. If we accepted mutual aid contributions, we tell you what they paid for.
How we determine your tier
The sliding scale is based on your household's gross annual income and the number of people in your household. "Household" means you and anyone you financially support, or who financially supports you, living in the same home.
At intake
On the intake form, you tell us your household size and choose an income range (not an exact number). That's enough to tell us which tier you likely qualify for. You don't have to upload any documentation at the intake stage.
At engagement (only if we're moving forward)
If we decide to take your matter at a sliding-scale rate, we'll ask for documentation to verify your tier. Acceptable documentation includes:
- Your most recent federal tax return (Form 1040, page 1), or
- Pay stubs from the most recent two months, or
- Benefits documentation (SNAP, SSI, TANF, Medicaid) — automatic Tier 1 eligibility
- For self-employed or cash-work clients, a written self-certification works
All income verification documents are handled under our attorney-client confidentiality obligations and deleted after verification is complete unless you ask us to retain them.
Payment plans
Every fee we charge is available on a payment plan. We mean this. If the flat fee or hourly retainer is still more than you can pay all at once, we will work out a schedule with you at the engagement conversation.
Standard payment plan structure:
- Minimum initial payment of 25% of the total fee at engagement
- Remaining balance spread over 3 to 6 monthly installments
- No interest charged on payment plans
- Missed payments trigger a conversation, not a penalty — we work with you
For clients on Tier 1 or with exceptional circumstances, we can structure longer payment plans or deferred payment arrangements. Ask at the consultation.
What's not included
Our fees are for our legal services. There are costs associated with most legal matters that get paid to courts, agencies, or third parties, not to us. These are billed separately:
- Court filing fees — typically $90–350 depending on court and case type. Fee waivers available for low-income clients in most Illinois courts.
- USCIS filing fees — set by federal government. Fee waivers available for some applications.
- Service of process — approximately $65–150 per defendant served.
- Expert witness fees, deposition costs, translation — only in matters where these are necessary.
- Copying, certified mail, recording fees — passed through at cost.
We tell you about these costs upfront and help you apply for fee waivers where available.
Questions people ask
Tier assignment is based on your income at the time of engagement. If you fall just over a tier line, talk to us — we have some discretion for edge cases. If your income changes mid-matter (job loss, new job), we can revisit the rate for work going forward, though not retroactively.
Yes — if you qualify for Tier 1 but prefer to pay Tier 2 or Tier 3 rates, that's your choice. We accept it. We do not allow clients to pay less than the tier they qualify for, because that undercuts the sustainability of the practice.
No. MALC is a for-profit law practice, not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Mutual Aid Rate is a fee for legal services, not a charitable contribution, and it's not tax-deductible. The value is that your fee directly funds sliding-scale representation — not a tax benefit.
We can quote a flat fee when we can reliably predict the scope of work. When a matter is genuinely contested — when the other side is fighting, motions are flying, discovery is broad — we can't responsibly quote a fixed number because we can't predict how much work the matter will actually require. In those cases, we bill hourly against a retainer, send you regular invoices so you can see where your money is going, and return unused retainer at the end of the matter.
Every MALC member commits to at least 20 hours of pro bono work each month as a condition of membership. Some matters we handle fully pro bono — meaning we charge nothing. Pro bono capacity is limited and we prioritize cases based on urgency, alignment with the practice, and referral source. If you genuinely cannot afford Tier 1, say so at intake and we will discuss whether pro bono is an option or refer you to a legal aid provider that can help.
In some practice areas, yes. Social Security disability appeals are contingency (capped by federal law). Housing cases with statutory fee-shifting (RLTO, federal fair housing) can sometimes be taken without out-of-pocket cost to you. Employment discrimination and civil rights cases are often handled on contingency or fee-shifting terms. Ask at the consultation.
Ready to start?
Our intake form takes 5–10 minutes and is confidential. Tell us what's going on; we'll tell you honestly whether we can help and what it would cost.
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