Indicative salary ranges for lawyers and legal support staff at small & suburban Victorian firms — the pay bands the big-city guides skip. Use it to benchmark an offer, a counter-offer, or your next hire.
Get a tailored benchmark →Base salary, excluding superannuation. Ranges reflect small & suburban Melbourne/regional Victorian practices. City CBD and mid-tier firms typically pay 10–25% above these bands.
| Role | Experience (PAE) | Base range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate / Lawyer | Admission – 1 yr | $62k – $76k | Supervised; PLT completed |
| Lawyer | 1 – 2 yrs | $72k – $90k | Running small files |
| Lawyer | 3 – 4 yrs | $90k – $112k | Own caseload |
| Senior Lawyer / Associate | 5 – 7 yrs | $112k – $150k | Supervises juniors |
| Special Counsel | 8+ yrs | $145k – $190k | Deep specialty, no equity |
| Salaried Partner | 10+ yrs | $175k – $260k+ | Often + billings / profit share |
The people who keep a firm running. Demand for bilingual paralegals and experienced conveyancers is especially strong across Melbourne's multicultural suburbs.
| Role | Level | Base range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Receptionist / Admin | Entry – 2 yrs | $52k – $63k | Front desk, intake |
| Legal Secretary / Assistant | 2 – 5 yrs | $58k – $74k | Bilingual: top of range |
| Paralegal / Law Clerk | All levels | $60k – $82k | By practice area |
| Conveyancing Clerk | 2 – 5 yrs | $62k – $80k | PEXA experience valued |
| Licensed Conveyancer | Licensed | $78k – $105k | Can run files solo |
| Bookkeeper / Trust Accounts | Legal-trust exp. | $66k – $88k | Trust-account compliance |
| Practice Manager | Firm-wide | $92k – $135k | Ops, HR, finance, trust |
Indicative market ranges compiled by ORLA Talent for small & suburban Victorian firms as at 2026. Base salary only — add 12% superannuation. Actual pay varies with location, practice area, billings and language skills. Not financial or employment advice; use as a starting point and benchmark your specific role below.
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