National legal services award in operation

The Legal Services Award 2010 commenced operation from 1 January 2010 as part of the modern award system introduced by the Fair Work Act 2009.  The Award applies nationally and replaces State-based awards that had previously applied to law firms in some States, including in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

The Award applies to, and sets minimum wages for, administrative staff, law graduates (not admitted to practice) and law clerks.  Unlike the State awards that applied previously in Victoria and South Australia, the new Award does not apply to lawyers admitted to practice.  It also does not apply to employees of community legal centres, aboriginal legal centres or employees working within an in-house legal department of an employer whose primary activity is not the provision of legal services. Read more of this post