A decision of the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission was just handed down relating to two issues under the Legal Services Award 2010.
In [2018] FWCFB 4709 the Full Bench rejected a proposal that 26 weeks be ‘the specified period’ over which hours of work be averaged because there was no probative evidence whether the current Award provision allowing for the averaging of ordinary hours over 28 days was insufficient and whether the 26 week period was necessary. The Law Firms had submitted that employees under the Legal Services Award work side-by-side with qualified and admitted lawyers who are not covered by the Award. Therefore, they argued, it is reasonable and desirable that employees covered by the Award should be permitted to average hours of work over a 26 week period.
Regarding leave entitlements of law graduates, a new clause 39 was substituted adequately and appropriately accommodating the various study leave requirements of PLT students and supervised training as well as those undertaking a graduate diploma. It reads:
- Special conditions of employment—Law graduate
39.1 A law graduate is entitled to paid study leave not exceeding a total of 20 days in any 12 month period to attend a course of instruction, and prepare for and attend examinations that relate to the practical legal training required for their admission to practise as an Australian lawyer.
39.2 Paid study leave may be taken for a period or periods agreed between the employer and employee. The employer will not unreasonably refuse to agree to a request by the employee to take paid study leave in accordance with this clause.’