Victorian Legal Officers Salary Scales
Compare salary scales across Australian federal and state public services
Victorian Public Service
| Classification | Range | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
Articled Clerk Entry level legal officer — maps to VPS Grade 2 VR1 (Schedule D) | |||
Solicitor 1 Admitted solicitor, limited experience — maps to VPS Grade 2 VR2 from step 2.2.4 (Schedule D) | |||
Solicitor 2 VR1 Developing professional independence — maps to VPS Grade 3 VR1 (Schedule D) | |||
Solicitor 2 VR2 Experienced solicitor — maps to VPS Grade 3 VR2 (Schedule D) | |||
Solicitor 3 Independent legal professional — maps to VPS Grade 4 (Schedule D) | |||
Senior Solicitor VR1 Senior legal advisory role — maps to VPS Grade 5 VR1 (Schedule D) | |||
Senior Solicitor VR2 Senior legal specialist — maps to VPS Grade 5 VR2 (Schedule D) | |||
Principal Solicitor VR1 Senior legal management — maps to VPS Grade 6 VR1 (Schedule D) | |||
Principal Solicitor VR2 Principal legal officer — maps to VPS Grade 6 VR2 (Schedule D) | |||
Senior Technical Specialist VPS Senior Technical Specialist applies (Schedule D) |
Notes
- ·Current rates effective 1 May 2025 under the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024
- ·Annual increases continue on 1 May 2026 and 1 May 2027
- ·Agreement expires April 2028
- ·Grades 1–4 are VPS Officer classifications; Grades 5–6 are Senior Officer; Grade 7 is Senior Technical Specialist
- ·SES bands are Total Remuneration Package (TRP) values set by the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal, effective 1 July 2025
- ·TRP includes base salary, superannuation, and employment benefits
Salary Snapshot
VIC Legal Officers salary bands, shown per year.
Entry salary
$65,189
Articled Clerk
Top salary
$256,088
Senior Technical Specialist
Midpoint band
$118,953
Senior Solicitor VR1
Classifications
10
Legal Officers stream
Classification range ladder
Min to max salary within the currently selected jurisdiction and stream
Articled Clerk
Entry level legal officer — maps to VPS Grade 2 VR1 (Schedule D)
Solicitor 1
Admitted solicitor, limited experience — maps to VPS Grade 2 VR2 from step 2.2.4 (Schedule D)
Solicitor 2 VR1
Developing professional independence — maps to VPS Grade 3 VR1 (Schedule D)
Solicitor 2 VR2
Experienced solicitor — maps to VPS Grade 3 VR2 (Schedule D)
Solicitor 3
Independent legal professional — maps to VPS Grade 4 (Schedule D)
Senior Solicitor VR1
Senior legal advisory role — maps to VPS Grade 5 VR1 (Schedule D)
Senior Solicitor VR2
Senior legal specialist — maps to VPS Grade 5 VR2 (Schedule D)
Principal Solicitor VR1
Senior legal management — maps to VPS Grade 6 VR1 (Schedule D)
Principal Solicitor VR2
Principal legal officer — maps to VPS Grade 6 VR2 (Schedule D)
Senior Technical Specialist
VPS Senior Technical Specialist applies (Schedule D)
Earning around $119,000?
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“The Australian Public Service (APS) employs over 150,000 people across the country.”
About Victorian Legal Officers
The Legal Officer Adaptive Structure covers government lawyers across Victorian public service agencies. The classification progresses from Articled Clerk through Solicitor 1-3, Senior Solicitor, and Principal Solicitor, with salary points mapped to VPS Schedule C. Legal Officers focus on preparing, conducting, and advocating cases; briefing counsel; preparing legal documents; providing legal advice and opinions; and researching and interpreting case law, precedents, and legislation.
Typical roles: articled clerks, solicitors, senior solicitors, principal solicitors, legislative drafters. Salary ranges run from $65,189 (Articled Clerk) to $256,088 (Senior Technical Specialist). All rates are from the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024, effective 1 May 2025.
Superannuation: VPS employees receive 12% employer superannuation. The next salary increase of 3% takes effect 1 May 2026.
Other VIC Classification Streams
VIC Legal Officers Salary Guide by Classification
Quick reference for every Victorian Public Service Legal Officers classification and what it pays in 2025–2026. All figures are annual gross salary. Select any level to calculate your take-home pay after tax, Medicare, and super.
Articled Clerk Salary — VPS Legal Officer
The Articled Clerk classification (VPS articled clerk, entry-level legal officer) pays $65,189–$70,086 per year. Entry level legal officer — maps to VPS Grade 2 VR1 (Schedule D). Calculate Articled Clerktake-home pay →
Solicitor 1 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
The Solicitor 1 classification (VPS solicitor 1, Victorian government legal officer) pays $73,758–$77,430 per year. Admitted solicitor, limited experience — maps to VPS Grade 2 VR2 from step 2.2.4 (Schedule D). Calculate Solicitor 1take-home pay →
Solicitor 2 VR1 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
The Solicitor 2 VR1 classification (VPS solicitor 2 vr1, Victorian government legal officer) pays $79,122–$87,599 per year. Developing professional independence — maps to VPS Grade 3 VR1 (Schedule D). Calculate Solicitor 2 VR1take-home pay →
Solicitor 2 VR2 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
The Solicitor 2 VR2 classification (VPS solicitor 2 vr2, Victorian government legal officer) pays $89,292–$96,073 per year. Experienced solicitor — maps to VPS Grade 3 VR2 (Schedule D). Calculate Solicitor 2 VR2take-home pay →
Solicitor 3 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
The Solicitor 3 classification (VPS solicitor 3, Victorian government legal officer) pays $97,955–$111,142 per year. Independent legal professional — maps to VPS Grade 4 (Schedule D). Calculate Solicitor 3take-home pay →
Senior Solicitor VR1 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
The Senior Solicitor VR1 classification (VPS senior solicitor vr1, Victorian government legal officer) pays $113,022–$124,884 per year. Senior legal advisory role — maps to VPS Grade 5 VR1 (Schedule D). Calculate Senior Solicitor VR1take-home pay →
Senior Solicitor VR2 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
The Senior Solicitor VR2 classification (VPS senior solicitor vr2, Victorian government legal officer) pays $124,888–$136,747 per year. Senior legal specialist — maps to VPS Grade 5 VR2 (Schedule D). Calculate Senior Solicitor VR2take-home pay →
Principal Solicitor VR1 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
The Principal Solicitor VR1 classification (VPS principal solicitor vr1, Victorian government legal officer) pays $138,631–$162,076 per year. Senior legal management — maps to VPS Grade 6 VR1 (Schedule D). Calculate Principal Solicitor VR1take-home pay →
Principal Solicitor VR2 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
The Principal Solicitor VR2 classification (VPS principal solicitor vr2, Victorian government legal officer) pays $162,077–$185,518 per year. Principal legal officer — maps to VPS Grade 6 VR2 (Schedule D). Calculate Principal Solicitor VR2take-home pay →
Senior Technical Specialist Salary — VPS Grade 7
The STS classification (also written as VPS7 or VPS Grade 7) pays $188,297–$256,088 per year. VPS Senior Technical Specialist applies (Schedule D). Calculate STStake-home pay →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Articled Clerk salary?
An Legal Officers Articled Clerk (VPS articled clerk, entry-level legal officer) earns $65,189 to $70,086 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $54,000–$57,000 per year. This classification covers entry level legal officer — maps to vps grade 2 vr1 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Solicitor 1 salary?
A Legal Officers Solicitor 1 (VPS solicitor 1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $73,758 to $77,430 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $59,000–$62,000 per year. This classification covers admitted solicitor, limited experience — maps to vps grade 2 vr2 from step 2.2.4 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Solicitor 2 VR1 salary?
A Legal Officers Solicitor 2 VR1 (VPS solicitor 2 vr1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $79,122 to $87,599 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $63,000–$69,000 per year. This classification covers developing professional independence — maps to vps grade 3 vr1 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Solicitor 2 VR2 salary?
A Legal Officers Solicitor 2 VR2 (VPS solicitor 2 vr2, Victorian government legal officer) earns $89,292 to $96,073 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $70,000–$75,000 per year. This classification covers experienced solicitor — maps to vps grade 3 vr2 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Solicitor 3 salary?
A Legal Officers Solicitor 3 (VPS solicitor 3, Victorian government legal officer) earns $97,955 to $111,142 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $76,000–$84,000 per year. This classification covers independent legal professional — maps to vps grade 4 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Senior Solicitor VR1 salary?
A Legal Officers Senior Solicitor VR1 (VPS senior solicitor vr1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $113,022 to $124,884 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $85,000–$93,000 per year. This classification covers senior legal advisory role — maps to vps grade 5 vr1 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Senior Solicitor VR2 salary?
A Legal Officers Senior Solicitor VR2 (VPS senior solicitor vr2, Victorian government legal officer) earns $124,888 to $136,747 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $93,000–$100,000 per year. This classification covers senior legal specialist — maps to vps grade 5 vr2 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Principal Solicitor VR1 salary?
A Legal Officers Principal Solicitor VR1 (VPS principal solicitor vr1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $138,631 to $162,076 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $101,000–$115,000 per year. This classification covers senior legal management — maps to vps grade 6 vr1 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Principal Solicitor VR2 salary?
A Legal Officers Principal Solicitor VR2 (VPS principal solicitor vr2, Victorian government legal officer) earns $162,077 to $185,518 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $115,000–$129,000 per year. This classification covers principal legal officer — maps to vps grade 6 vr2 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the STS salary?
A Legal Officers STS (also written as VPS7 or VPS Grade 7) earns $188,297 to $256,088 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $131,000–$166,000 per year. This classification covers vps senior technical specialist applies (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What roles are in the VPS Legal Officer classification?
The Legal Officer Adaptive Structure (Schedule D) covers government lawyers from Articled Clerk through to Principal Solicitor. Classifications include Articled Clerk, Solicitor 1 (newly admitted), Solicitor 2 (VR1 and VR2), Solicitor 3 (independent practitioner), Senior Solicitor (VR1 and VR2), and Principal Solicitor (VR1 and VR2). At the top, the VPS Senior Technical Specialist grade applies.
How does VPS legal officer pay compare to private practice?
VPS legal officer salaries are structured and transparent, unlike private practice where pay varies widely. A VPS Solicitor 3 (equivalent to VPS Grade 4) typically earns more than a mid-level associate at a small firm but less than at a top-tier firm. However, VPS legal roles offer superior job security, leave entitlements, superannuation, and work-life balance.
What qualifications do VPS Legal Officers need?
Legal Officers require a mandatory legal qualification and admission to practice (or eligibility for admission). Articled Clerks are completing their practical legal training. Solicitor 1 is the minimum entry level for a qualified admitted solicitor, with progression to Solicitor 2 after 12 months subject to meeting performance standards.