Legal Services Award Pay Rates by Level
Adult minimum rates for full-time and part-time employees under the Legal Services Award 2020. Part-time employees are paid the same hourly rate as full-time employees at their classification — the difference is hours, not rate. The casual column adds the 25% loading (cl 11.1(a)).
| Classification level | Weekly (38 hrs) | Hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative | $1,073.10 | $28.24 | $35.30 |
| Level 2 — Legal clerical and administrative | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Level 3 — Legal clerical and administrative | $1,182.10 | $31.11 | $38.89 |
| Level 4 — Legal clerical and administrative | $1,241.40 | $32.67 | $40.84 |
| Level 5 — Legal clerical and administrative | $1,291.80 | $33.99 | $42.49 |
| Level 5 — Law graduate | $1,291.80 | $33.99 | $42.49 |
| Level 6 — Law clerk | $1,369.20 | $36.03 | $45.04 |
Weekly rates are the award’s minimum weekly rate for a full-time employee (cl 15.1); hourly is the weekly rate divided by 38.
Which level am I?
- Level 5 — Law graduate: Paid the same as Level 5 legal clerical and administrative staff, with special conditions of employment for law graduates in cl 28.
- Higher duties: An employee required to perform the duties of Levels 2 to 5 for one day or more is paid at least the rate for that level as if the duties were permanent (cl 15.3).
For a day worker, a Saturday is overtime, not a penalty rate
Ordinary hours for day workers are Monday to Friday between 7.00 am and 6.30 pm (cl 13.1). Anything outside that span, including all Saturday and Sunday work, is overtime: 150% for the first 3 hours and 200% after, or 200% flat after 12 noon on a Saturday and on a Sunday, with a 3-hour minimum. Shiftworkers have separate shift and weekend rates. Some employers pay an annualised salary instead; the award allows it (cl 17) but the salary must still cover what the award would give for the hours actually worked.
Worked example: a Level 2 legal clerical employee working back
Mei is a permanent Level 2 legal clerical employee ($29.45 an hour) who works until 9.30 pm on a Tuesday, 4 hours beyond her ordinary hours.
- The first 3 hours of overtime are 150%: $29.45 × 1.5 = $44.18 an hour → $132.54.
- The 4th hour is 200%: $29.45 × 2 = $58.90 → $58.90.
- Overtime for the evening: $191.44 before tax, on top of her ordinary pay. She is also entitled to a meal allowance of $20.75 if the overtime runs 1.5 hours past normal finishing time.
A casual doing the same overtime is paid 175% for the first 3 hours ($51.54 an hour) and 225% after ($66.26), because the casual loading is included in the overtime rate.
Try your own hours in the overtime pay calculator or the casual loading calculator, add up a full week in the weekly pay calculator, or check the public holiday pay guide.
Legal Services Award Pay Guide 2026-27: Every Level, Every Day
The hourly rate for each classification at each penalty band, in the layout of the Fair Work pay guide. Find your level, then the day you worked.
Full-time and part-time
| Classification | Day work Mon–Fri100% | Early morning shift110% | Afternoon / night shift115% | Permanent night shift130% | Saturday shift150% | Sunday shift200% | Public holiday shift250% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative | $28.24 | $31.06 | $32.48 | $36.71 | $42.36 | $56.48 | $70.60 |
| Level 2 — Legal clerical and administrative | $29.45 | $32.40 | $33.87 | $38.29 | $44.18 | $58.90 | $73.63 |
| Level 3 — Legal clerical and administrative | $31.11 | $34.22 | $35.78 | $40.44 | $46.67 | $62.22 | $77.78 |
| Level 4 — Legal clerical and administrative | $32.67 | $35.94 | $37.57 | $42.47 | $49.01 | $65.34 | $81.68 |
| Level 5 — Legal clerical and administrative | $33.99 | $37.39 | $39.09 | $44.19 | $50.99 | $67.98 | $84.98 |
| Level 5 — Law graduate | $33.99 | $37.39 | $39.09 | $44.19 | $50.99 | $67.98 | $84.98 |
| Level 6 — Law clerk | $36.03 | $39.63 | $41.43 | $46.84 | $54.05 | $72.06 | $90.08 |
Casual
| Classification | Day work Mon–Fri125% | Early morning shift135% | Afternoon / night shift140% | Permanent night shift155% | Saturday shift175% | Sunday shift225% | Public holiday shift275% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative | $35.30 | $38.12 | $39.54 | $43.77 | $49.42 | $63.54 | $77.66 |
| Level 2 — Legal clerical and administrative | $36.81 | $39.76 | $41.23 | $45.65 | $51.54 | $66.26 | $80.99 |
| Level 3 — Legal clerical and administrative | $38.89 | $42.00 | $43.55 | $48.22 | $54.44 | $70.00 | $85.55 |
| Level 4 — Legal clerical and administrative | $40.84 | $44.10 | $45.74 | $50.64 | $57.17 | $73.51 | $89.84 |
| Level 5 — Legal clerical and administrative | $42.49 | $45.89 | $47.59 | $52.68 | $59.48 | $76.48 | $93.47 |
| Level 5 — Law graduate | $42.49 | $45.89 | $47.59 | $52.68 | $59.48 | $76.48 | $93.47 |
| Level 6 — Law clerk | $45.04 | $48.64 | $50.44 | $55.85 | $63.05 | $81.07 | $99.08 |
Casual figures are the award's casual percentages, which already include the 25% loading where it applies. Figures are rounded to the cent. A dash means the column does not apply to that classification.
Legal Services Award Penalty Rates
| When worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative | Casual | $ casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shiftworker — early morning shift | 110% | $31.06 | 135% | $38.12 |
| Shiftworker — afternoon or night shift | 115% | $32.48 | 140% | $39.54 |
| Shiftworker — non-continuous afternoon or night, first 3 hours | 150% | $42.36 | 175% | $49.42 |
| Shiftworker — non-continuous afternoon or night, after 3 hours | 200% | $56.48 | 225% | $63.54 |
| Shiftworker — permanent night shift | 130% | $36.71 | 155% | $43.77 |
| Shiftworker — Saturday | 150% | $42.36 | 175% | $49.42 |
| Shiftworker (other than continuous) — Sunday | 200% | $56.48 | 225% | $63.54 |
| Shiftworker (other than continuous) — public holidayPublic holiday pay calculator & dates by state → | 250% | $70.60 | 275% | $77.66 |
Source: cl 21.3 and 21.4, Schedule B.1 and B.2.
Day workers have no penalty rates. Their ordinary hours are Monday to Friday between 7.00 am and 6.30 pm (cl 13.1(c)); work outside that span, and all Saturday and Sunday work, is overtime and is in the overtime table below.
The rows above are for shiftworkers (cl 21). The casual figure in each is the permanent percentage plus the 25% loading, as the award's own table says (cl 21.3). Weekend and public holiday shift rates replace the shift loadings; they are not added to them (cl 21.6).
Legal Services Award Overtime Rates
| Overtime worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday until 12 noon — first 3 hours | 150% | $42.36 | 175% · $49.42 |
| Monday to Saturday until 12 noon — after 3 hours | 200% | $56.48 | 225% · $63.54 |
| Saturday after 12 noon and Sunday (minimum 3 hours) | 200% | $56.48 | 225% · $63.54 |
| Public holiday (minimum 3 hours) | 250% | $70.60 | 275% · $77.66 |
Source: cl 20.2(a)(i).
Casual overtime includes the 25% loading — the award's note says the casual rates are the loading added to the permanent rates (cl 20.2 NOTE).
Overtime is worked out on the weekly rate divided by 38, even when more than 38 ordinary hours are worked, and part-hours are rounded up to the next 30 minutes (cl 20.3).
Continuous shiftworkers are paid 200% for all overtime (casuals 225%) (cl 20.2(b)).
Legal Services Award Junior Rates
Junior rates are a percentage of the adult rate for the classification (cl 15.2), and apply to the adult rate for the classification. The dollar columns apply the percentage to Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative ($1,073.10 a week) and divide by 38. The full adult rate applies from age 21.
| Age | % of adult rate | Weekly on Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative | Hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 45% | $482.90 | $12.71 | $15.89 |
| 16 | 50% | $536.55 | $14.12 | $17.65 |
| 17 | 60% | $643.86 | $16.94 | $21.18 |
| 18 | 70% | $751.17 | $19.77 | $24.71 |
| 19 | 80% | $858.48 | $22.59 | $28.24 |
| 20 | 90% | $965.79 | $25.42 | $31.78 |
| 21 and over | 100% | $1,073.10 | $28.24 | $35.30 |
For how junior scales compare across awards and against the National Minimum Wage, see our junior pay rates guide.
Legal Services Award Allowances
Fixed-dollar allowances in cl 18, operative from 1 July 2026. Each is paid only where the clause’s conditions are met.
| Allowance | Amount | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Meal allowance (1 hour or more of weekday overtime) | $20.75 per occasion | cl 18.2(a)(i) |
| Meal allowance (more than 5 hours on a Saturday or Sunday) | $20.75 per occasion | cl 18.2(a)(ii) |
| Further meal allowance (more than 9 hours on such a day) | $16.54 per occasion | cl 18.2(a)(ii) |
| Uniform allowance | $3.75 per week | cl 18.3 |
| Vehicle allowance — motor car | $1.00 per km | cl 18.4(a)(i) |
| Vehicle allowance — motorcycle | $0.34 per km | cl 18.4(a)(ii) |
Minimum Shifts and Hours
- Day workers' ordinary hours average 38 a week, up to 152 in 28 days, worked Monday to Friday between 7.00 am and 6.30 pm (cl 13.1).
- A casual must be paid for a minimum of 4 hours each day they are engaged (cl 11.3).
- An employee working overtime gets a paid 20-minute rest break after each 4 hours of overtime if work continues (cl 20.4).
What does a legal services award rate take home?
- Take-home on $29.45/hr (Level 2 — Legal clerical and administrative)
- Take-home on $31.11/hr (Level 3 — Legal clerical and administrative)
- Take-home on $32.67/hr (Level 4 — Legal clerical and administrative)
- Take-home on $33.99/hr (Level 5 — Legal clerical and administrative)
- Take-home on $33.99/hr (Level 5 — Law graduate)
Working a mix of shifts? Enter your hours in the weekly pay calculator, or turn a salary into net pay with the take-home pay calculator.
What This Page Does Not Cover
These parts of the award carry rules or rates we have not verified line by line, so we publish no figures for them:
- Annualised wage arrangements (cl 17) — many law firms pay an annualised salary that must still cover what the award would give for the hours actually worked
- Law graduate special conditions (cl 28)
- Classification definitions in Schedule A — we publish the rate for each level, not the duties that place someone in it
- National Training Wage (Schedule E of the Miscellaneous Award) trainee rates
An enterprise agreement, if one covers your workplace, replaces these award rates — though it must leave you better off overall.
When These Rates Took Effect
Applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, not universally 1 July. If your pay period began before 1 July 2026, the previous rate lawfully applies to that whole period and the rise starts with the next one. The award was varied by determination PR799396 following the Annual Wage Review 2026. If you have been paid below these rates, our backpay calculator works out what is owed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Legal Services Award questions and answers
What are the legal services award pay rates for 2026-27?
Under the Legal Services Award 2020 (MA000116), adult minimum rates run from $28.24 an hour ($1,073.10 a week) for Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative to $36.03 an hour ($1,369.20 a week) for Level 6 — Law clerk. They apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.
What is the casual rate under the Legal Services Award?
Casuals receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate, so Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative becomes $35.30 an hour. Casual penalty rates add the loading rather than multiplying by it — the casual column in the award is the permanent percentage plus 25 percentage points.
What allowances are paid under the Legal Services Award?
The award's allowances clause (cl 18) includes: meal allowance (1 hour or more of weekday overtime) $20.75 per occasion; meal allowance (more than 5 hours on a Saturday or Sunday) $20.75 per occasion; further meal allowance (more than 9 hours on such a day) $16.54 per occasion; uniform allowance $3.75 per week; vehicle allowance — motor car $1.00 per km. Allowances are paid on top of the classification rate when the employee meets the clause's conditions.
What are the junior rates under the Legal Services Award?
Junior rates are a percentage of the adult rate for the classification (cl 15.2): Under 16 45%, 16 50%, 17 60%, 18 70%, 19 80%, 20 90%. The full adult rate applies from age 21. They apply to the adult rate for the classification.
When did the new legal services award rates start?
Applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, not universally 1 July. The MA000116 rates were varied by determination PR799396 following the Annual Wage Review 2026. If your pay period started before 1 July 2026, the old rate lawfully applies to that whole period.
Do legal secretaries get penalty rates on weekends?
Not as day workers. Their ordinary hours are Monday to Friday, 7.00 am to 6.30 pm, so weekend work is overtime: Saturday before noon is 150% for 3 hours then 200%, Saturday after noon and Sunday are 200%, with a 3-hour minimum, and public holidays 250%. Shiftworkers are paid 150% on a Saturday, 200% on a Sunday and 250% on a public holiday.
What is the law graduate rate?
A Level 5 law graduate is paid the same minimum as a Level 5 legal clerical and administrative employee: $33.99 an hour ($1,291.80 a week). The award sets special conditions for law graduates in cl 28. A Level 6 law clerk is $36.03 an hour.
What are the Legal Services Award shift rates?
Early morning shifts are 110% (casuals 135%), afternoon and night shifts 115% (casuals 140%) and permanent night shifts 130% (casuals 155%). At Level 1 that is $31.06, $32.48 and $36.71 an hour for a permanent employee. Weekend and public holiday shift rates replace the shift loadings; they do not add to them.
What is the minimum engagement for a casual in a law firm?
A casual must be paid for a minimum of 4 hours for each day they are engaged (cl 11.3).
How these rates were verified▼
Every figure comes from one constants file transcribed on 5 October 2026 from the Fair Work Commission’s consolidated MA000116 award text, which incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 July 2026 (PR799280, PR799396 and PR799551). Clause numbers are cited against each table. Hourly is the published weekly rate divided by 38; derived dollar figures are rounded half up to the cent.
Automated tests pin the published rates, check every hourly rate against its weekly rate, and assert the rules this award is most often modelled wrongly on — including that casual penalties add the loading rather than multiplying by it. Parts of the award we have not verified are listed as gaps rather than estimated.
Sources & References
- 1Consolidated award text — Legal Services Award 2020 (MA000116)— Fair Work Commission
- 2Award summary and pay guide — MA000116— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Annual Wage Review 2026— Fair Work Commission
Last verified: 5 October 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
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