Jury duty in NSW: pay, exemptions and your next step
A summons needs a response even if you believe you cannot serve. Check the pay exceptions, your eligibility and the evidence to send with an excusal application.
Key points
- The published NSW jury allowance is $106.30 a day for days 1–10. From day 11 it is $247.40 for eligible employed or self-employed jurors and $106.30 for others.
- Casuals do not receive the higher employed-juror rate. Public servants paid by their agencies do not receive a jury payment.
- There is no automatic NSW age-70 exemption. The Sheriff’s eligibility fact sheet expressly says there is no age limitation.
- Apply for excusal early with evidence. The Sheriff asks for at least 10 business days before attendance; a pending application is not approval.
- Employer leave and employer pay are separate issues. National-system full-time and part-time employees have first-10-workday pay rights, subject to evidence.
- For summons decisions, contact the Sheriff. Legal Hotline offers free information on 1800 951 176 and a $295 arrangement fee for an initial one-hour lawyer consultation.
In New South Wales, jury service under the Jury Act 1977 attracts a published attendance allowance of $106.30 a day for the first 10 days, subject to the Sheriff’s payment exceptions, and turning 70 does not create an automatic exemption.
Checked on 23 October 2026: the NSW Sheriff’s current eligibility, payment and excusal guidance, the NSW Judicial Commission and Fair Work Ombudsman. Sources and limits of this check.
How much does jury duty pay in NSW?
These are the Sheriff’s published rates checked on 23 October 2026. The court allowance is separate from any wages your employer must pay. Selection, attendance length and employment status affect eligibility.
Scroll the tables sideways to compare all columns.
| Circumstance | Published payment | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | $106.30 per day | Subject to the attendance and public-service exceptions below. |
| Day 11 onward: employed or self-employed | $247.40 per day | Casual employees do not qualify for this higher rate. |
| Day 11 onward: other eligible jurors | $106.30 per day | Includes jurors not treated as employed for the higher rate. |
| Summons day: less than 4 hours | No attendance allowance | Check attendance duration with the court. |
| Attending only to seek excusal | No attendance allowance | You are not making yourself available for selection. |
| Public servants paid by their agencies | No jury payment | Continue to receive agency pay. |
| Travel | 30.7 cents per kilometre | Postcode-based distance, up to 100 kilometres. |
| Lunch for selected jurors | Meal provided, or $6.95 | The cash allowance applies if you bring your own lunch instead. |
Supply payment details through the official juror portal and retain the court’s attendance and payment records for your employer.
Who can be excluded, exempt or excused?
These are different categories under the Jury Act 1977. The Sheriff’s eligibility fact sheet is the starting point for checking your circumstances. A past bankruptcy is not the same as being an undischarged bankrupt, and criminal-history exclusions vary; do not assume a particular record is irrelevant.
There is no age-only exemption at 70 in NSW. Illness, disability, caring duties or hardship may justify an application on their own facts. Disability does not automatically rule out service; adjustments may be possible.
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| Category | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Excluded from serving | Specified criminal-history or other legal exclusions, including undischarged bankruptcy and Australian lawyers whether practising or not. | Tell the Sheriff and provide the requested proof. |
| Entitled to claim exemption | Schedule 2 categories include specified professions, caring circumstances and recent jury attendance. | Claim the relevant category; it is not a reason to ignore a summons. |
| Excusal for good cause | Personal circumstances may cause hardship or serious inconvenience or affect ability to serve. | Explain the actual difficulty and supply documents. The Sheriff decides. |
| Aged 70 or over | No automatic NSW exemption based on age alone. | Respond; explain any separate health or hardship grounds. |
| Previous attendance | Period to check |
|---|---|
| Served on a trial jury | Within the last 3 years |
| Attended and available but not selected | Within the last 12 months |
Excusal application: documents to gather
Apply using the NSW juror portal. The Sheriff’s current guidance asks you to apply as soon as possible and at least 10 business days before the court date. For a short-notice summons, attend and seek excusal at court unless the Sheriff directs otherwise.
An employer can support your application, but cannot excuse you. If no decision arrives before your attendance date, you must still attend. Contact the Sheriff promptly if illness or another emergency prevents attendance.
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| Reason | Documents to prepare |
|---|---|
| Illness, injury or pregnancy | Current letter from your doctor or midwife addressing the relevant difficulty. |
| Full-time caring | Carer evidence or a current doctor’s letter; explain why alternative care is unavailable. |
| Work or business hardship | Employer letter explaining the concrete impact, or business records and accountant evidence relevant to the application. |
| Study or travel booked before summons | Enrolment and examination timetable, or dated travel bookings. |
| Recent service or an exemption category | Previous jury details or documents showing the specific category applies. |
- Read the summons and record the attendance date, court and response instructions.
- Check the eligibility fact sheet and choose the reason that actually applies.
- Upload a factual explanation and supporting evidence. Keep the submission receipt.
- Track the decision and confirm attendance instructions. Do not treat submission as approval.
What must your employer pay?
Under the National Employment Standards, full-time and part-time employees receive their ordinary-hours base pay for the first 10 days absent from work for jury duty, subject to the evidence requirements. An employer can require proof of steps taken to obtain court pay and the amount payable, then deduct that jury remuneration, excluding expense allowances. Casual employees receive jury leave but no NES jury pay. An award, agreement, contract or applicable state law may provide more generous rights.
Tell your employer as soon as practicable and keep your summons, attendance record and court-payment statement. Fair Work’s jury-duty guidance explains the national rules under Fair Work Act 2009 sections 108–112.
Scroll the tables sideways to compare all columns.
| Your situation | NES position |
|---|---|
| Full-time or part-time | Base pay for the first 10 work-absence days, subject to evidence; court remuneration can reduce the employer’s payment. |
| Casual | Jury leave, but no NES jury pay. Check other entitlements. |
| After 10 work-absence days | No further NES jury pay; check for more generous terms. |
Attendance, trial length and missed summonses
Being called to court does not mean you will be selected. Trial length varies; listen to the court’s estimate and raise any practical difficulty before selection. Follow the judge’s directions, consider only the evidence in court and do not independently research or discuss the case online.
The Sheriff says failure to attend without a reasonable excuse can lead to a fine of up to $2,200 under Jury Act 1977 section 63. Contact the Sheriff if you have missed a date; keep evidence of the reason. Do not assume a private information service can excuse you.
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| Offence | Maximum | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to attend — Jury Act 1977 s63 | 20 penalty units / $2,200 | Reasonable excuse is relevant; this is a maximum, not an automatic fine. |
The general NSW penalty unit used here is $110, as stated by the Judicial Commission. The current full Act could not be retrieved during this update; the figure is independently supported by the Sheriff’s current guidance. No annual July increase has been assumed.
A summons problem, a pay dispute or a non-attendance notice?
Start with the Sheriff for attendance and excusal decisions. A lawyer may help if you face a non-attendance prosecution, disputed eligibility or pressure from an employer. Bring the summons, your application, the decision and any relevant pay records.
Arrange an initial one-hour consultation with an Australian lawyer for $295 including GST. This is Legal Hotline’s matching and arrangement fee; the lawyer charges no additional fee for that first hour. Any further work is quoted separately. Phone, video and in-person appointments depend on availability.
Our free line, 1800 951 176, answers at any hour. Jen, our AI legal information assistant, gives general information and takes your details. Jen is not a lawyer and does not advise on your case. Requests can be made at any hour; lawyer appointment times depend on availability.
Official help and free legal information
These services provide official process information or legal information. Their help and eligibility rules differ; a 1300 number may attract telephone charges.
NSW Sheriff — Courts Service Centre
1300 679 272, Monday–Friday, 9am–4.30pm, excluding public holidays. For attendance confirmation, the Sheriff lists 1300 780 199; follow the instructions on your summons.
LawAccess NSW
1300 888 529, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm, excluding public holidays. Free legal information and referrals; lawyer appointments depend on eligibility.
Fair Work Ombudsman
For national workplace leave and pay information: 13 13 94, Monday–Friday, 8am–5.30pm. Have your employment type, summons and pay records ready.
Common questions about jury duty in NSW
Am I exempt from jury duty after age 70 in NSW?
No automatic exemption arises merely because you turn 70 in NSW. The Sheriff’s current eligibility fact sheet says there is no age limitation; the Jury Act 1977 Schedule 2 exemption categories do not create a general age-70 exemption. Respond to your summons and explain any separate health, caring or hardship grounds.
How much is jury duty pay in NSW?
The Sheriff’s current Jury Regulation 2022 payment guidance states $106.30 a day for days 1–10. From day 11, eligible employed and self-employed jurors receive $247.40; other eligible jurors receive $106.30. Casuals do not receive the higher employed rate. Public servants and short summons-day attendance have separate exceptions shown in the pay table.
Do I get paid if I attend but am not selected?
Not every NSW attendance attracts an allowance. Under the Sheriff’s Jury Regulation 2022 payment guidance, no attendance allowance is payable if you are present for less than four hours on the summons day or attend only to seek excusal. Check your attendance record and eligibility with court staff.
Can I miss court while waiting for an excusal decision?
A pending application does not excuse attendance in NSW. The Sheriff says to attend if you have not received an excusal decision before the court date. Jury Act 1977 section 63 concerns failure to attend without reasonable excuse, with a maximum stated by the Sheriff of $2,200. Contact the Sheriff promptly about an emergency.
How do I apply to be excused from jury duty in NSW?
Apply through the juror portal with supporting documents for your circumstances. Excusal for good cause is addressed by Jury Act 1977 sections 14–14A. The Sheriff asks for applications at least 10 business days before attendance; short-notice summonses require attendance to seek excusal unless directed otherwise. Work inconvenience alone is not permission to stay away.
Does my employer have to pay me during jury duty?
Under Fair Work Act 2009 sections 108–112, national-system full-time and part-time employees receive ordinary-hours base pay for the first 10 work-absence days, subject to evidence; jury remuneration excluding expense allowances can be deducted. Casuals have jury leave but no NES jury pay. NSW Jury Act 1977 sections 69–69A also protect jurors against prohibited employer pressure or disadvantage.
Sources and update record
This update relies on the NSW Sheriff’s current public guidance and eligibility fact sheet, the Judicial Commission and Fair Work Ombudsman. The NSW legislation register blocked retrieval of the complete current Jury Act; the official Act link is supplied for reference. No attempt was made to bypass the block. Unsupported trial-duration estimates and blanket confidentiality penalties have been removed.
- NSW Sheriff — eligibility fact sheet
- NSW Sheriff — payment for jury service
- NSW Sheriff — excusal applications, evidence and contacts
- NSW Sheriff — employer and employee obligations
- NSW Sheriff — juror responsibilities
- Judicial Commission — Jury Act summary
- Judicial Commission — fines and penalty units
- Jury Act 1977 — official current register link
- Fair Work Ombudsman — jury duty and Fair Work Act ss108–112
General information only, not legal advice. Updated . Checked against the sources above on 23 October 2026.
Review date recorded on the previous version: . This content update does not represent a new personal legal review.