Getting a jury summons in the post can be stressful, especially if you are worried about work, pay, or whether you even have to go. This guide explains how jury service works in NSW, what you get paid, who can be excused, and what your employer must do. If you still have questions after reading, you can speak to someone for free legal information on 1800 951 176.
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Jury service in NSW is run by the Office of the Sheriff of NSW under the Jury Act 1977. Jurors are chosen at random from the electoral roll. If you are summoned you must respond. You are paid a daily allowance (currently $106.30 a day for the first 10 days, rising to $247.40 a day for employed jurors from day 11), plus travel. Your employer must release you and cannot punish you for serving. You can apply to be excused for genuine reasons, and some people, including anyone aged 70 or over, can be excused as of right. Failing to turn up without a reasonable excuse can attract a fine of up to $2,200.
Do not ignore the summons, but do not panic either. Read it carefully and note your attendance date. If you can serve, log in to the juror portal and confirm your details and bank account so you get paid. If you genuinely cannot serve, apply to be excused straight away and at least 10 business days before your date, with any supporting documents (such as a medical certificate or carer evidence). Tell your employer as soon as you know. If you are unsure whether your reason counts, or how the process affects you, free legal information is a quick phone call away on 1800 951 176.
What actually happens after you are summoned depends on your circumstances. Here are the most common outcomes for people called for jury service in NSW.
Jury service is usually straightforward, but if you are worried about being excused, your job, or your obligations, these NSW services can help. The Office of the Sheriff is your first port of call for anything about your summons.
The official body that summons jurors, decides excusal applications and pays allowances. Jury Information Line 1300 722 574.
Where you respond to your summons, apply to be excused, and enter your bank details to be paid.
Free government phone service giving legal information and referrals, including on jury service and employment rights. Call 1300 888 529.
Free legal help for eligible people across NSW, with information on your rights and obligations.
How do I get out of jury duty in NSW?
You cannot simply refuse, but you can apply to the Sheriff to be excused if you have a genuine reason such as caring duties, illness, study, distance or hardship, or you may be excused as of right (for example if you are 70 or over). Apply through the juror portal as early as possible, and at least 10 business days before your attendance date, with supporting documents. The Sheriff decides each application.
How much are you paid for jury duty in NSW?
For the first 10 days you are paid $106.30 a day. From day 11 onwards employed jurors are paid $247.40 a day, while non-employed jurors continue on $106.30 a day. You also receive a travel allowance of 30.7 cents per kilometre (up to 100km) and a meal allowance of $6.95 a day if you bring your own lunch. These rates are set under the Jury Regulation 2022.
Can my employer sack me for doing jury duty?
No. Under the Jury Act 1977, your employer cannot dismiss you, injure you, or change your position because you attended jury service, and cannot make you use your own leave or work extra hours to make up the time. Employers who break these rules face fines of up to $22,000 for a company or $5,500 for an individual.
How long does jury duty last in NSW?
Most trials in NSW run for about seven days, but some are shorter and others last weeks or months in complex cases. If a trial is expected to run longer than two weeks, your summons should give an estimate, and you can raise any difficulty about the length when you attend.
What happens if I do not show up for jury duty?
Failing to attend for jury service without a reasonable excuse is an offence under section 63 of the Jury Act 1977, carrying a fine of up to 20 penalty units, which is currently $2,200. If you had a genuine reason, that can be a defence, but you should always respond to your summons rather than simply not turning up.
Who is exempt from jury duty in NSW?
Some people are disqualified because of a criminal record or bankruptcy. Others are ineligible because of their job, including lawyers, judges, police and people working in law enforcement or the justice system, and people who cannot read or understand English. A further group can be excused as of right, such as clergy, practising doctors, dentists and pharmacists, emergency-services workers, and anyone who served on a jury in the last three years.
Is there an age exemption for jury duty in NSW?
Yes. Once you are 70 years of age or older, you are entitled to be excused from jury service as of right. You still need to respond to any summons and claim the excusal, rather than simply not attending, but you do not have to prove hardship.
Can I defer my jury duty to a later date?
In many cases yes. If you can serve but not on the date you have been given, you can ask the Sheriff to move your service to a more convenient time rather than be excused altogether. Apply through the juror portal and explain your situation as early as you can.
Will my normal wages be topped up while I serve?
If you are a full-time or part-time employee, your employer must pay you make-up pay (the difference between your jury allowance and your normal pay) for the first 10 days of jury service under the Fair Work Act 2009. This does not apply to casual employees, though some employers choose to keep paying beyond what the law requires.
Can I talk about what happened in the jury room?
No. What jurors say, argue and decide in the jury room must stay confidential. Disclosing jury deliberations is an offence under the Jury Act 1977, with a maximum fine of 50 penalty units (currently $5,500), and it is a separate offence to disclose them for any reward.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-19. Laws change — confirm current details with the linked official sources or call 1800 951 176.
Most jury service questions can be sorted out with the Sheriff's office, but sometimes legal advice helps. If your employer is threatening your job, refusing to release you, or pressuring you to use leave, a lawyer can explain your protections. If you have a criminal record and are unsure whether you are disqualified, or you are facing a prosecution for failing to attend, advice is worth getting before you respond. Speaking to someone early can save you stress and protect your rights, and free legal information is available on 1800 951 176.
Join our lawyer network →Jury duty is an important civic responsibility, and for most people it is manageable once they understand the rules on pay, excusals and their employer's obligations. If you are worried about your summons, whether you can be excused, or how it affects your job, you can talk it through with someone who understands the system. Call 1800 951 176 to be connected with help. Free legal information, not legal advice.
Call Free 1800 951 176Free legal information. Not legal advice.