Lawyers are persons who have been admitted to practice law in a State or Territory of Australia. To be admitted to practice lawyers are required to have completed a compulsory tertiary qualification, a required period of training and be registered to practice.

Lawyers can also be called ‘legal practitioners’, ‘solicitors’, ‘barristers’ or a ‘barrister and solicitor’.

Law graduates are persons who have completed a relevant tertiary qualification and are working in a law firm to complete their required period of training. They have not been admitted to practice.

Lawyers

A qualified lawyer working at a law firm is award free.

They aren't covered by the Legal Services Award because there's no classification covering the work they do.

They’re not covered by the Miscellaneous Award because it doesn’t cover professional employees.

Award free employees are entitled to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards.

Law graduates

Law graduates are covered by the Legal Services Award when their employer provides legal and legal support services, for example a private law firm.

They're classified as a level 5 employee.

Organisations not covered by the Legal Services Award

The Legal Services Award doesn’t cover employers in the Aboriginal legal services or community legal centre sectors.

For information on classifying employees of these organisations, see Award coverage for community legal centres and Aboriginal legal services.