Legal Services Award 

Pay Rates and Classifications Under the Legal Services Award

One of the most important aspects of the Award is its classification system, which determines an employee’s minimum wage based on their skills, experience, and responsibilities. The Award outlines different levels of employees, ranging from:

• Level 1 (entry-level administrative and support roles)

• Level 2-3 (experienced administrative staff and junior legal professionals)

• Level 4 and above (senior legal support roles with significant experience and responsibility)

Employers must correctly classify employees to ensure they receive the appropriate pay rate. Wage rates under the Legal Services Award are reviewed annually, so law firms must stay updated to avoid underpayments.

Key Entitlements Legal Services Award

The Award provides various entitlements, including:

Overtime and Penalty Rates

Employees are entitled to penalty rates for work outside standard business hours. This includes:

• Overtime pay for work beyond 38 hours per week

• Penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work

• Loading for casual employees

Annual and Personal Leave

Under the Award, full-time employees receive:

• 4 weeks of annual leave per year

• 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave per year

• Unpaid family and domestic violence leave

Allowances

Employees may also be entitled to allowances, such as:

• Meal allowances for working overtime

• Travel allowances for work-related travel

• Uniform allowances where applicable

Why Legal Firms Need Award Interpretation Software

Managing payroll in compliance with the Legal Services Award is complex. Law firms must ensure employees are paid correctly for their work hours, overtime, and allowances, or they risk underpayment claims and significant penalties.

How Fairtime Simplifies Award Compliance

Fairtime is designed to help law firms manage payroll effortlessly by automating Award Interpretation. When an employee logs their work hours, Fairtime instantly calculates:

• Ordinary time pay

• Overtime and penalty rates

• Any applicable allowances

This automation ensures every staff member is paid correctly—every pay cycle. By using Fairtime, law firms can avoid costly errors, reduce admin time, and stay compliant.

Stay Compliant with the Legal Services Award

The Legal Services Award sets out clear rules for pay, entitlements, and conditions for legal professionals. 

Using Fairtime to automate Award Interpretation is the simplest way to stay on top of payroll obligations and avoid financial penalties.

For more information and updates, visit our website and stay informed about the latest changes.

About Fairtime – Legal Services Award Experts

Our software automates compliance with the Award.

If you have questions complete our Contact Us form below.

If you would like to see Fairtime in action, please Book a Demo with our team.