Why is this survey being done?

The purpose of this survey is to gather information about the compensation of attorneys in federal criminal cases. To do that, we are inviting attorneys who recently appeared in federal court to answer questions about their practice. Both retained counsel and those appointed under the Criminal Justice Act (federal defender and panel attorneys) are eligible to participate.

What will this survey ask about?

For private attorneys, the survey asks about the area(s) of litigation in which you practice, whether you have taken both retained and appointed cases, how you are compensated for these cases, your rates/fees for different areas of litigation, and your firm’s size and overhead costs.

For attorneys in Federal Defender Offices, the survey asks about recruitment and retention in the office.

The survey asks all attorneys are asked about their professional experience, interest in public defense litigation, and other relevant factors.

How many attorneys are participating in this survey?

Any attorney appearing for a defendant in a federal criminal case filed in calendar year 2024 or 2025 is eligible to participate in the survey. Additionally, current chief federal defenders, assistant federal defenders, and research and writing attorneys in FDOs will be contacted to participate.

Will my answers to this survey be shared?

Your responses to the survey are anonymous. Valid email addresses were identified in CM/ECF (for private attorneys) or Infoweb (for federal defenders) to send survey invitations only. We cannot link your responses to your name, email address, or any other personally identifying information. Information gathered from this survey will be reported only in the aggregate and the full individual survey responses will NOT be shared outside of the Federal Judicial Center researchers analyzing this information.

Who requested this study? Why is it being done?

The Defender Services Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States requested that the Federal Judicial Center study compensation of attorneys appearing in federal court. Both attorneys in Federal Defender Offices and private attorneys appearing in federal court are being asked to participate. Each group will receive a survey specific to their practice.

How will the results be used?

The survey information will be used by the Defender Services Committee to inform the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Judicial Conference of the United States, and possibly Congress about the adequacy of compensation in the Defender Services Program and to develop future budget requests.

Information gathered from the surveys will only be reported in the aggregate and the full individual survey responses will NOT be shared outside of the FJC researchers analyzing this information.

I have additional questions, who should I contact?

If you have any questions about participating in this survey, please contact the project director, Dr. Margaret Williams at mswilliams@fjc.gov or 202-502-4080 or email the survey mailbox at DSOsurvey@fjc.gov.