What is the minimum hourly rate for a law clerk in Australia?

Under the Legal Services Award 2020, a Level 6 law clerk must be paid at least $36.03 per hour ($1,369.20 per week) for full-time work. This applies to employees covered by the award who perform the duties of a law clerk as defined in the award. The rate is higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour.

Are law clerks entitled to penalty rates?

Yes. The Legal Services Award provides penalty rates for early morning, afternoon, and night shifts. For example, a law clerk working afternoon or night shifts (less than 5 successive shifts) receives $54.05 per hour for the first 3 hours and $72.06 per hour after 3 hours. Casual employees also get a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate.

Do junior law clerks get paid less?

Yes. Junior employees (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate. For example, a 17-year-old law clerk receives 60% of the adult rate, which is $21.62 per hour. The percentages are set out in clause 15.2 of the award. The national minimum wage also has junior rates for award-free employees, but the award rate applies if the employee is covered by the Legal Services Award.

Law Clerk Salary: Minimum Award Rate and How to Check Your Pay

The minimum law clerk salary under the Legal Services Award 2020 is $36.03 per hour ($1,369.20 per week) for a Level 6 law clerk, plus 12% superannuation.

What is a law clerk salary?

A law clerk salary in Australia is primarily governed by the Legal Services Award 2020, which sets minimum pay rates for employees in the legal services industry. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, a law clerk is defined as a clerk engaged for the major part of their time in interviewing clients, preparing documents, and general work assisting a barrister or solicitor. This classification does not include account clerks, law graduates, titles office clerks, receptionists, or employees principally engaged in word processing, filing, or routine duties.

The legal minimum under the award

Under the Legal Services Award, a law clerk is classified at Level 6. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum rates are:

$36.03 per hour for full-time and part-time employees
$1,369.20 per week for a full-time employee (38 ordinary hours)
$45.04 per hour for casual employees (includes 25% casual loading)

These rates apply to adult employees. Junior employees (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate, ranging from 45% (under 16) to 90% (20 years old).

How the award rate compares with the national minimum

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week). The law clerk award rate of $36.03 is 36% higher than the national minimum. This means that even an entry-level law clerk covered by the award earns significantly more than the minimum wage floor.

However, not all law clerks are necessarily covered by the award. The award applies to employers in the legal services industry and their employees in the listed classifications. If you work in a corporate legal department or a government agency, a different award or enterprise agreement may apply. Always check your employment contract and the applicable award or agreement.

Superannuation is on top

When discussing a law clerk salary, remember that superannuation is an additional payment by the employer. The super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026). So the total employment cost for a law clerk on the minimum award rate is $36.03 plus $4.32 super = $40.35 per hour.

What about survey averages?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collects earnings data, but for law clerks (ANZSCO 599214) the median weekly earnings are not published due to statistical reliability. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile notes that the occupation has about 9,000 workers, with a median age of 29 years and 81% female. Average full-time hours are 40 per week. Without a published median, you cannot rely on a survey average for benchmarking.

Negotiated salaries

Many law clerks are paid above the award rate, especially those with experience or in high-demand areas. The award is a minimum safety net; your employer may offer a higher salary based on your skills, location, and the firm's size. Enterprise agreements can also set different rates, but they must not be less than the award.

How to check your rate

To verify your law clerk salary, follow these steps:

Identify the correct award – the Legal Services Award is the most common.
Find your classification – law clerk is Level 6.
Check if you are junior or adult.
Confirm your employment type – full-time, part-time, or casual.
Add superannuation (12%) to compare total cost.

You can use the Rate tables on this site to see the current award rates. For a detailed explanation of how minimum wages are calculated, see How the figures work.

Key sources

– Legal Services Award 2020 (consolidated to 1 July 2026)
– Occupation profile for Law Clerks

Remember, the Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage and modern awards. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides guidance and enforcement. If you are unsure about your entitlements, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman or seek independent advice.