Legal Services Award Penalty Rates
All penalty rates under the Legal Services Award 2020 (MA000116) for 2025-26, including weekends, public holidays, evening, and overtime.
Legal Services Award — Key Rates at a Glance
Saturday
$42.36/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$56.48/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$70.60/hr
2.5x base
Overtime (first 3 hours)
$42.36/hr
1.5x base
Overtime (after 3 hours)
$56.48/hr
2x base
Rates shown for Level 1 ($28.24/hr base). See full table below for all levels.
Full Penalty Rate Table — Legal Services Award
| Level | Base Rate | Saturday 1.5x | Sunday 2x | Public Holiday 2.5x | Overtime 1.5x | Overtime 2x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $28.24/hr | $42.36/hr | $56.48/hr | $70.60/hr | $42.36/hr | $56.48/hr |
| Level 2 | $29.45/hr | $44.18/hr | $58.90/hr | $73.63/hr | $44.18/hr | $58.90/hr |
| Level 3 | $31.11/hr | $46.67/hr | $62.22/hr | $77.78/hr | $46.67/hr | $62.22/hr |
| Level 4 | $32.67/hr | $49.01/hr | $65.34/hr | $81.68/hr | $49.01/hr | $65.34/hr |
| Level 5 | $33.99/hr | $50.99/hr | $67.98/hr | $84.98/hr | $50.99/hr | $67.98/hr |
| Law Graduate L5 | $33.99/hr | $50.99/hr | $67.98/hr | $84.98/hr | $50.99/hr | $67.98/hr |
| Law Clerk L6 | $36.03/hr | $54.05/hr | $72.06/hr | $90.08/hr | $54.05/hr | $72.06/hr |
Compare Penalty Rates Across Awards (Level 1)
| Award | Base Rate | Sunday | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Services Award | $28.24/hr | $56.48/hr (2x) | $70.60/hr (2.5x) |
| Hospitality Award | $26.44/hr | $39.66/hr (1.5x) | $59.49/hr (2.25x) |
| Retail Award | $27.81/hr | $41.71/hr (1.5x) | $62.57/hr (2.25x) |
| Clerks Award | $26.97/hr | $53.94/hr (2x) | $67.43/hr (2.5x) |
| Building Award | $26.67/hr | $53.34/hr (2x) | $66.68/hr (2.5x) |
Calculate Your Exact Penalty Rate
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the penalty rates under the Legal Services Award?
The Legal Services Award (MA000116) provides penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, Public Holiday, Overtime (first 3 hours), Overtime (after 3 hours). Percentage rates range from 1.5x to 2.5x of the base hourly rate.
What is the Sunday penalty rate for legal services workers?
Under the Legal Services Award, permanent employees receive 2x their base rate for Sunday work. For a Level 1 employee at $28.24/hr, this means $56.48/hr on Sundays.
What is the public holiday rate under the Legal Services Award?
Public holiday work under the Legal Services Award is paid at 2.5x the base rate. For Level 1, that's $70.60/hr.
Who is covered by the Legal Services Award?
The Legal Services Award covers employees in the legal services industry. Common job titles include Legal secretary, Paralegal, Law clerk, Legal assistant, Legal receptionist, Law graduate, Conveyancing clerk.
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