Payroll Software Built for Australian Law Firms & Legal Teams
BetterPayroll offers boutique and mid-sized legal practices a secure, compliant, and efficient payroll solution, streamlining award rules, annualised salaries, STP reporting, and complex entitlements.
Why Law Firms Need BetterPayroll
High Risk of Underpayment & Audit Exposure
Recent incidents, like Slater + Gordon underpaying over 100 employees, mostly junior staff, highlight how even large firms face multi-year leave miscalculations and public audits. Legal practices now fall under tightened award obligations, especially related to clerks and junior lawyers governed by the Legal Services and Clerks Awards.
Emerging Criminal Wage Theft Laws
Starting January 2025, deliberate or reckless underpayments may lead to criminal charges, and penalties include fines up to $7.8M for companies or up to 10 years imprisonment for individuals.
Complex Salary Structures & Award Compliance
Many legal firms use annualised salaries for junior roles, requiring detailed reconciliation of hours, overtime, leave, and penalty rates.
Key Features Tailored for Legal Practices
Accurate Award & Salary Calculations
Automate awards such as Legal Services and Clerks Awards, including overtime, annual leave loading, and junior lawyer salary audits.
Digital Time & Attendance
Collect key-on/key-off, break times, and overtime hours accurately to ensure compliance and proper salary rebate comparisons.
One-Click STP Phase 2
Lodgements include income types, super, TFNs, and award-coded earnings, automatically filed with real-time validation.
Compliance & Record-Keeping
Maintain audit-ready employment records, payslips, timesheets, and reconciliations for Fair Work or ATO review.
Custom Reporting & Alerts
Flag potential underpayments or award misapplications immediately, proactively protect your firm.
Accounting & Practice Management Integration
Sync with Xero, MYOB, or legal management systems like LEAP and Actionstep for seamless data flow.
Benefits That Matter for Legal Firms
| Benefit | Why it Matters |
|---|---|
| Error-Free Payroll | Reduces risk of underpayments and senior executive liability |
| Efficient Salary Reconciliation | Annualized salary audits are simplified and automated |
| Compliance Confidence | Built-in award rules, payslip accuracy, and STP compliance |
| Fast & Scalable Payroll Runs | From junior staff to partners, manages varied pay structures |
| Audit & Pension-Proof Reporting | Seven-year secure storage of payroll records and logs |
Why BetterPayroll Stands Out
Legal Industry Expertise
Unlike generic SaaS payroll, BetterPayroll understands law firm structures, award rules, and annualized salary complexities native to legal services.
Regulation-Driven Design
Updates tied to Fair Work changes, criminal wage theft laws, and modern award norms help firms stay compliant and protected.
Regulation-Driven Design
Updates tied to Fair Work changes, criminal wage theft laws, and modern award norms help firms stay compliant and protected.
Australian Support Team
Receive assistance from payroll specialists familiar with legal-sector payroll risks and Fair Work obligations.
Secure, Smart Payroll for Legal Firms
Protect your firm from wage disputes, regulatory fines, and audit exposure:
✅ Start Your Free Trial – No credit card required.