At its August 7 meeting, the IDS Commission voted for an across-the-board rate increase for private assigned counsel. The new rates are effective October 1, 2026.
The rates are also posted online at https://www.ncids.org/counsel-rates/ under “Current Hourly Assigned Rates.”
As noted above, the rate increase is across the board. Some highlights include:
- Misdemeanors from $65 to $85 an hour;
- Low-level felonies from $65 to $90;
- High-level felonies from $85 to $110;
- Potentially capital cases from $100 to $120; and
- A/N/D cases and TPR cases from $65 to $90.
To raise rates in this amount, IDS will no longer reimburse mileage in non-capital cases. With limited exceptions, you can continue to bill for time spent traveling. You may be able to write off mileage accrued after October 1 on your state and federal tax returns. IDS encourages you to speak with your accountant or a tax specialist about this.
IDS is grateful to the General Assembly for recognizing the need for additional PAC funding. Above all, the IDS Commissioners and agency staff are grateful to the lawyers who do this important work for the people of North Carolina.
If you have questions about the rate increase this notice does not answer, please email Chad Boykin at: [email protected].
Whitney Fairbanks, IDS Executive Director