What is the Legal Services Award?
The Legal Services Award applies to employees who work in legal practices, including law firms, barristers’ chambers, and corporate legal departments. It covers a range of roles within these organisations, including lawyers, paralegals, legal secretaries, and administrative staff.
The award sets out minimum standards for things like pay rates, working hours, overtime, leave entitlements, and other conditions of employment.
Employers are required to comply with the award and must not pay their employees less than the minimum rates specified in the award.
Who is entitled to the Legal Services Award?
The Legal Award covers employers in the legal services industry and their employees who fit within the classifications of the award.
The legal services industry means employers who provide legal and legal support services.
Examples of employees covered by the Legal Award includes:
- legal clerical and administrative employees
- law graduates
- law clerks
The Legal Award also covers labour-hire businesses and their employees who are placed with an organisation within the legal services industry.
To determine whether your staff fall under the Legal Services Award, it’s recommended to visit the Fair Work website.
Legal Services Award Pay Rates
Workstem has developed a comprehensive guide to help compliance with the Legal Services Award Rates.
If you’re uncertain about the applicable classifications, this guide can help you understand how to comply with Fair Work legislation, classify your employees correctly, and pay penalties and allowances in accordance with the Legal Services Award.
Full-time and part-time employees
-
Ordinary and weekend and public holiday rates
Adult employees |
Junior employees | ||
% of ordinary hourly rate |
|||
Ordinary hours |
100% | 100% | |
Early morning |
110% |
110% |
|
Afternoon & night | 115% |
115% |
|
Non-continuous afternoon or night |
First 3 hours | 150% | 150% |
After 3 hours | 200% |
200% |
|
Permanent night |
130% | 130% | |
All shiftworkers |
Saturday | 150% | 150% |
Shiftworkers other than continuous shiftworkers | Sunday | 200% |
200% |
Public holiday | 250% |
250% |
|
Continuous shiftworkers only | Sunday & public holidays | 200% |
200% |
-
Overtime rates
For overtime worked on |
Adult employees | Junior employees | ||
% of ordinary hourly rate |
||||
Shiftworkers other than continuous shiftworkers |
Monday to Friday & Saturday until 12.00 pm | First 3 hours | 150% | 150% |
After 3 hours |
200% |
200% |
||
Saturday after 12.00 pm & Sunday |
200% | 200% | ||
Public holiday | 250% |
250% |
||
Continuous shiftworkers only | Monday to Sunday & Public holidays | 200% |
200% |
*Rates in table are calculated based on the minimum hourly rate
Casual employees
-
Ordinary and penalty rates
Adult employees |
Junior employees | ||
% of ordinary hourly rate |
|||
Ordinary hours |
125% | 125% | |
Early morning | 135% |
135% |
|
Afternoon & night | 140% |
140% |
|
Non-continuous afternoon or night |
First 3 hours | 175% | 175% |
After 3 hours | 225% |
225% |
|
Permanent night | 155% | 155% | |
All shiftworkers |
Saturday | 175% | 175% |
Shiftworkers other than continuous shiftworkers | Sunday | 225% |
225% |
Public holiday | 275% |
275% |
|
Continuous shiftworkers only | Sunday & public holidays | 225% |
225% |
-
Overtime rates
Adult employees | Junior employees | |
% of ordinary hourly rate |
||
Ordinary hours |
125% |
125% |
Early morning |
135% | 135% |
Afternoon & night |
140% |
140% |
Non-continuous afternoon or night1 |
175% | 175% |
Permanent night |
155% | 155% |
Saturday | 175% |
175% |
Sunday | 225% |
225% |
Public holiday | 275% |
275% |
Sunday & public holidays (Continuous shiftworkers ) | 235% |
225% |
*Rates in table are calculated based on the minimum hourly rate
How to make payroll efficient with Workstem?
Simplify your payroll processes with Workstem’s all-in-one platform, handling onboarding, time and attendance, award interpretation, payroll, STP 2, superannuation and more.
Customise attendance entitlements, auto-track attendance data, streamline the payment process and keep compliance with Fair Work award through our AI Engine. Workstem provides a complete solution for efficient payroll management and regulatory compliance.
FAQs
Q:Do Legal Services employers be required to pay Award minimum wage?
A: Yes, the Award minimum wage is the minimum legal requirement that an employee must be paid if they are covered through the Legal Services Award. Employers are legally bound to comply with this.
Q: How can employers and employees stay up-to-date with any changes or updates to the BACA award?
A: Employers and employees can stay up-to-date with any changes or updates to the Building and Construction General On-Site Award (BACA) [MA000020] in Australia by signing up and subscribing to Workstem email alerts.
Read more: Legal Services Award Guide [MA000116]