MA000116Legal Services
Legal Services Award
Legal Services Award 2020
Who does this award cover?
The Legal Services Award covers employees working in legal services, including the following common roles:
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Base (per hour) | Casual (+25%) | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Clerical & Administrative Employee Level 1 | $28.24 | $35.30 | $1073.12 |
| Legal Clerical & Administrative Employee Level 2 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1119.10 |
| Legal Clerical & Administrative Employee Level 3 | $31.11 | $38.89 | $1182.18 |
| Legal Clerical & Administrative Employee Level 4 | $32.67 | $40.84 | $1241.46 |
| Legal Clerical & Administrative Employee Level 5 | $33.99 | $42.49 | $1291.62 |
| Law Graduate Level 5 | $33.99 | $42.49 | $1291.62 |
| Law Clerk Level 6 | $36.03 | $45.04 | $1369.14 |
Get plain-English answers on the Legal Services Award
Answers grounded on the full MA000116 document — every clause, variation, and classification. Pro is $29.99/mo, cancel anytime.
Penalty rates
How casual overtime is calculated
One of the most common payroll questions under the Legal Services Award: when a casual works overtime or weekend hours, does the 1.5× or 2× multiplier apply to the base rate, or to the 25%-loaded casual rate? The answer depends on how the award is drafted.
Method for the Legal Services Award
Unresolved — award drafting is ambiguous or we have not verified
We have not independently verified how this award treats the 25% casual loading when overtime or penalty rates apply. The three possible methods (additive / compounded / separate) can produce materially different pay outcomes. Check the award text at fwc.gov.au or use the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) for a definitive answer.
| Method | Calculation | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Additive | $32.67 × 175% | $57.17 |
| Compounded | $40.84 × 150% | $61.26 |
| Separate | $32.67 × 150% | $49.01 |
Break entitlements
| Shift length | Meal break | Rest break | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 hours | — | — | No |
| 5–7.6 hours | 30 min | — | No |
| 7.6–10 hours | 30 min | 10 min | Yes |
| 10+ hours | 60 min | 20 min | Yes |
More on the Legal Services Award
Legal Services Award pay rates 2026-27
Every classification, junior and casual rate, penalty table and rate calculator.
Search enterprise agreements
An enterprise agreement replaces the award where one covers your workplace. Search by employer.
Enterprise agreements in legal services
- Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit Aboriginal Corporation (CAAFLU) Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2025
- Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit Aboriginal Corporation (CAAFLU) Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2025
- Cairns Community Legal Centre Inc Agreement 2025 - 2029
- Cairns Community Legal Centre Inc Agreement 2025 - 2029
- Cairns Community Legal Centre Inc Agreement 2025 - 2029
- Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service Enterprise Agreement 2025
Want the full MA000116 document?
This page covers the headline rates, penalties, and break rules. The full award has dozens more clauses: allowances, overtime formulas, rostering rules, dispute procedures, and classification descriptors. FairWork Mate answers plain-English questions grounded on every clause, with a citation back to the award on every answer.
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Not sure the Legal Services Award is the award that covers you?
“I think I'm covered by the Legal Services Award (MA000116). Is that the right award for my job, and what should I be paid?”
Coverage turns on what your business actually does, not your job title. The advisor checks your situation against the MA000116 coverage clause and the decisions that have tested it.
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Free alerts when the Legal Services Award pay rates are updated (annually on 1 July) or when the Fair Work Commission varies the award.