Jury duty in Victoria: pay, excusal and what to do with your letter
Start with the document you received: an Eligibility Form, a jury summons or a court notice about missed attendance. The action table, pay example and evidence checklist below help you prepare the right response and reach the correct official service.
Key points
- An Eligibility Form and a summons are different stages. The letter-to-action table gives the response rule and official route for each. Complete the form even if you believe you cannot serve.
- Standard juror payments are $40 per attendance day for the first six days, then $80 through twelve months. Special rates and statutory exceptions apply; selection for a trial is not normally required for attendance payment.
- Victorian employee make-up pay is based on reasonably expected earnings less juror remuneration, for the whole service. Independent contractors are excluded; unpredictable casual hours need individual assessment.
- Apply early with the relevant evidence for deferral or excusal. People aged 70 or over can request permanent excusal; self-employed applicants have a published ABN/trading-name process. Neither is a reason to ignore the paperwork.
- Section 71(2) expressly treats a qualifying application as a reasonable excuse if you have not been notified of refusal before the summons attendance date. Keep submission proof, check for a decision and contact Juries Victoria to confirm arrangements.
- Most administration goes directly to Juries Victoria on (03) 8636 6800. Use the evidence checklist for an application or pay dispute; a lawyer may assist with disputed rights or a penalty. Current-trial questions must go through the court.
In Victoria, as checked on 23 October 2026, Juries Act 2000 section 51 and the Gazette S19/2012 notice provide standard jury-attendance payments of $40 a day for the first six days and $80 a day thereafter through twelve months; section 52 requires employee make-up pay based on reasonably expected earnings, excludes independent contractors and has no ten-day cap.
Checked on 23 October 2026: the current Victorian Juries Act, Gazette payment notice, official jury-service and employment guidance, 2026–27 penalty-unit value and support contacts. Sources and limits of this check.
Which jury-service letter have you received?
Jury selection is random from the relevant electoral register, subject to the Act’s qualification and exclusion rules. It does not mean you are accused of wrongdoing or that you will necessarily sit on a trial. The initial questionnaire checks eligibility and availability; a later summons specifies attendance.
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| What you have | What to do | Timing and useful records |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of Selection and Eligibility Form | Complete the form honestly, including any application or eligibility information. Use the official Notice of Selection guide and portal. | Section 20(2): within 14 days after receipt or the time specified by the Commissioner, whichever is later. Keep the letter, receipt date and submission proof. |
| Summons, but you cannot attend | Request excusal or deferral using the witnessed statutory declaration and official submission channels. | The current summons guide requests receipt by 10 am the previous business day. Apply earlier where possible; contact Juries Victoria if urgent or late. Read the pending-application rule below. |
| Summons and you are attending | Check the latest attendance notification, advise your employer and prepare travel, ID and the summons. | Confirm attendance the previous business day. The court may change the date; follow current directions. |
| Employer/pay problem | Raise it with Juries Victoria; gather expected-earnings and juror-payment evidence. Seek workplace or legal help where needed. | Keep rosters, payslips, messages, attendance certificate and remittance advice. |
| Missed attendance or a fine/court notice | Contact the issuing court/Juries Victoria promptly and obtain advice on the specific notice. | Keep the order, imposition date, reasons and application evidence. A narrow 21-day remission rule may matter; it is not a universal appeal period. |
Official starting points: Notice of Selection, Jury Summons and attending court. These instructions do not submit an application for you. Do not put juror identifiers or trial material in a public enquiry.
How to request excusal or move your jury-service dates
Under sections 7–9, deferral changes the service period; excusal may cover part or all of a period, or be permanent where justified. Section 7 allows deferral within the next twelve months. The normal form process offers narrower scheduling choices; follow the actual form and ask about difficulties.
Good reasons under section 8 include illness or incapacity, substantial personal/financial hardship, excessive travel, dependent care where alternatives are not reasonably available, advanced age and other specified circumstances. Ordinary work inconvenience is not automatically enough. Evidence and the actual decision matter.
If already summoned, the official guide directs you to the statutory declaration on the summons, witnessed by an authorised person and returned through the listed portal/email/fax channel. Do not invent a reason or omit relevant information.
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| Circumstance | Relevant evidence or official process |
|---|---|
| Illness or continuing poor health | The official process requires a medical certificate for medical reasons; explain the effect on service and relevant dates. |
| Care responsibilities | Explain the dependent’s care needs and why alternative care is not reasonably available during service. |
| Self-employed or independent contractor | Provide ABN and trading name in the Eligibility Form; after a summons, include them in the witnessed declaration requesting excusal. |
| Small-business employee or unpredictable casual hours | Give the workforce/leave or employment details requested by Juries Victoria. Do not assume a particular business size or automatic approval. |
| Age 70 or over | You may request permanent excusal through the official process. It is not automatic removal from the selection process. |
| Travel distance or excessive difficulty | Section 8 lists travel over 50 km to Melbourne or over 60 km outside Melbourne, and separately excessive time/inconvenience. Give the address, court and travel facts. |
A qualifying application under section 7, 8 or 9, with no notification of refusal before the summons attendance date, is expressly a reasonable excuse under section 71(2). This does not turn the request into approval: check messages, retain proof and confirm arrangements promptly. An intention to apply is not an application. Section 10 provides an appeal route from a refusal before panel membership, subject to the court’s extension power; ask promptly about the correct process.
How much are you paid for jury duty in Victoria?
The Gazette notice under section 51 fixes attendance rates, and current Juries Victoria guidance confirms the usual $40/$80 amounts. Attendance in response to a summons normally qualifies whether or not you are selected. Section 51(2) has exceptions for an excused attendee who delayed raising a known reason or knowingly supplied a misleading questionnaire.
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| Attendance | Daily remuneration or rule |
|---|---|
| First six days | $40 per day. |
| After six days, through twelve months | $80 per day. |
| Beyond twelve months | $159 per day under the notice. |
| Final trial day longer than eight hours, excluding meal adjournments | Twice the prescribed daily amount. |
| Travel | Separate allowance rules apply. Current normal regional guidance is 42 cents per kilometre beyond eight, for one direction only; confirm unusual residence/court combinations. |
The Gazette travel rule refers to residence outside the Melbourne jury district and one journey per day; the court guide describes regional attendance and no Melbourne Law Courts allowance. Ask Juries Victoria about an unusual cross-district case. Melbourne parking fees/fines are not reimbursed under its published court information. Do not assume every travel expense is covered.
Employer make-up pay: use expected earnings, not a flat allowance
Section 52 entitles a summoned employee who attends court to the difference between juror remuneration and earnings they could reasonably have expected from the employer for that period. Independent contractors are excluded. The Victorian obligation runs for the whole service; the ordinary federal ten-day make-up-pay limit is not the limit on this entitlement.
Worked example: if reasonably expected daily earnings are $250 and the relevant court remuneration is $40, employer make-up pay is $210. This is an illustration with those assumptions, not a calculation for every roster. A separate travel allowance is not deducted as juror remuneration.
Regular, predictable casual hours can support an expected-earnings entitlement; variable hours, multiple jobs and shift arrangements need their actual facts checked. The official work/pay guide explains those situations. A non-work day does not itself create lost wages. More beneficial rights under applicable laws or employment instruments should also be checked.
Notify your employer as soon as possible and supply attendance/payment details under section 53. The employer guide requires release for service and says jury absence must not be deducted from annual/sick leave. Section 76 prohibits dismissal, threats or prejudice because of jury absence. Preserve messages and pay records if a dispute arises.
Attendance, duration and questions during a trial
Confirm the current attendance requirement the previous business day; bring the summons and photo ID, allow for security and plan transport. Tell the court about accessibility needs. The official guide asks you to plan for up to two weeks, but the trial judge gives an estimate and some trials run longer. Initial attendance can also extend beyond one day.
You first join the jury pool, then may be drawn onto a trial panel and selected. Raise a connection to a party, witness or trial issue with the judge through the instructed process. If ill or late during a trial, promptly use the contact supplied by the judge’s staff; do not simply leave or stay away.
Section 78A restricts outside enquiries from trial-panel selection through the relevant release/discharge. Do not research the parties, evidence or trial issues with Google, social media, AI or other people. Questions must follow the judge’s directions and authorised court process.
Sections 77–78 protect juror identity and deliberations, including after service. Specific reporting, treatment and other exceptions exist; they are not a general licence to publish or discuss a case. Section 78(5) permits a former juror’s specified disclosures to a registered doctor or psychologist in treatment about jury service. Ask the official service about appropriate support and reporting.
Do not send trial evidence or deliberations to Legal Hotline’s AI information line, website or an unrelated adviser. Current-trial concerns go through the court. Jurors normally go home at night, but the judge can require the jury to remain together while deliberating.
Missed a form deadline or jury attendance?
Contact Juries Victoria or the issuing court promptly, keep the paperwork and explain the actual reason. A missed questionnaire, a missed summons and absence after empanelment are different. The statutory reasonable-excuse qualification matters, including the pending-application rule above.
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| Conduct without reasonable excuse | Statutory maximum | 2026–27 fine equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Failing to return the questionnaire as required: section 67 | 30 penalty units. | $6,273; section 67 itself does not state imprisonment. |
| Failing to comply with a jury summons: section 71(1) | 30 penalty units or three months imprisonment. | $6,273; section 71(2) expressly addresses a qualifying application where refusal has not been notified. |
| Already empanelled and failing to attend until discharged: section 71(3) | 60 penalty units or six months imprisonment. | $12,546. |
The 2026–27 unit is $209.10 for the relevant offence period. A court chooses the outcome; these are maxima. Section 81 permits remission of specified summary nonattendance fines if the court is satisfied of a reasonable excuse within 21 days after imposition. Get the actual order and remedy checked promptly; do not treat that as a universal appeal right or wait until the last day.
Jury-service evidence checklist
Keep a dated copy of what you submit and any acknowledgement or decision. Give relevant evidence through the official channel; seek urgent help without waiting for a perfect bundle.
Scroll the tables sideways to compare all columns.
| Task | Useful records |
|---|---|
| Eligibility, deferral or excusal | Letter/summons, receipt date, juror number, attendance details, reasons and supporting medical/care/business/travel records; declaration, submission proof and decision. |
| Employer make-up pay | Employer notification, rosters, payslips, expected hours/earnings, Certificate of Attendance, juror remittance and relevant messages. |
| Fine or other court notice | Complete notice/order, imposition/service dates, missed attendance date, explanation, supporting evidence and prior application/response. |
| Court attendance | Latest official directions, summons and photo ID; travel/access arrangements and the court contact details. |
Legal advice for a jury-service pay dispute or penalty
Most forms, attendance and payment administration can be handled directly with Juries Victoria. A lawyer may help assess a disputed employer obligation, refusal or court penalty. Bring the relevant documents and dates, and ask about the available process, evidence and further costs. Current-trial issues must be raised through the court.
The optional Australian service has a $295 including GST matching and arrangement fee for an initial one-hour consultation with an independent lawyer, with no additional lawyer charge for that first hour. Suitability and availability must be confirmed. Further work and fees are agreed separately.
The free 1800 951 176 line uses Jen, an AI assistant providing general legal information. Individual legal advice is separately arranged with a lawyer. Legal Hotline is not a law firm or Juries Victoria. Calling or booking does not apply for excusal, excuse attendance, extend a deadline or include representation. Do not share trial evidence or deliberations with the AI service.
Official help and free legal information
Use Juries Victoria first for routine jury-service questions. Other assistance depends on the issue, eligibility and service scope; no paid booking is needed to use the official information below.
Juries Victoria
(03) 8636 6800; info@juries.vic.gov.au. Official help with forms, eligibility, excusal/deferral, attendance and payments. If already serving on a trial, use the contact and directions supplied by the judge’s staff.
Victoria Legal Aid
1300 792 387, Monday–Friday 8 am–6 pm, excluding public holidays. Legal information and referrals; advice and representation depend on eligibility and the service available.
Fair Work Ombudsman
13 13 94, Monday–Friday 8 am–5:30 pm, excluding public holidays, for workplace information. Juries Victoria is the specific starting point for the Victorian jury-payment entitlement.
Juror Support Program
The official program offers free confidential counselling after jury service, including for attendees not selected for a trial: up to six one-hour phone/video sessions with registered psychologists. This is support, not legal representation.
Common questions about jury duty in Victoria
How much is jury duty pay in Victoria?
Standard attendance remuneration is $40 per day for the first six days and $80 after six days through twelve months. The Gazette notice also provides $159 beyond twelve months and double the daily rate for a final trial day exceeding eight hours excluding meal adjournments. Attendance normally qualifies even without trial selection, subject to section 51 exceptions. Travel rules are separate.
Does my employer have to pay me for the whole jury service?
Section 52 requires employee make-up pay equal to reasonably expected earnings less juror remuneration for the period, without a ten-day cap. Independent contractors are excluded. Predictable casual earnings can qualify; variable hours and shift arrangements need assessment. Notify the employer promptly and supply attendance and payment evidence. The law also prohibits dismissal or prejudice because of jury absence.
Can I be excused from jury duty at age 70?
People aged 70 or over can request permanent excusal under the published Juries Victoria process. This is an application route, not automatic removal from selection. Complete the required response and provide the relevant information; continuing ill-health and other good reasons can also support an application under the Act.
Can a self-employed person apply to be excused?
Yes. Juries Victoria directs self-employed people and independent contractors to provide their ABN and trading name in the Eligibility Form. After a summons, request excusal in the witnessed statutory declaration and provide those business details. Follow the official submission process and check the response. Different information may be needed for small-business employees or unpredictable-hours casuals.
What if I applied for excusal but have not received a decision?
Section 71(2) says a person who applied under section 7, 8 or 9 and was not notified of refusal before the summons attendance date has a reasonable excuse for the section 71(1) offence. This is not automatic approval. Retain submission proof, check messages and contact Juries Victoria promptly to confirm arrangements and follow any directions. An unsubmitted intention to apply does not meet that rule.
How long should I allow for jury duty in Victoria?
The current summons guide asks you to plan for up to two weeks. Initial attendance may extend beyond one day; if selected, the judge provides a trial estimate and some trials last longer. Check the latest attendance directions and tell your employer promptly. Jurors normally go home at night, but a judge can require them to stay together during deliberations.
Sources and update record
Sources checked on 23 October 2026. The Juries Act version 060, effective 10 February 2025, remains the listed current version. Standard pay is supported by the section 51 Gazette notice and current court guidance. Penalty-unit figures are for 1 July 2026–30 June 2027; some court webpages retain older dollar examples. This check is separate from the previously recorded personal review date. Actual summons directions, employment facts and court orders matter.
- Juries Act 2000 (Vic), current version 060
- Gazette S19/2012: payment notice under section 51(4)
- Juries Victoria: Notice of Selection
- Juries Victoria: Jury Summons
- Juries Victoria: attending for service
- Juries Victoria: work and payment
- Juries Victoria: employer obligations
- Juries Victoria: serving on a jury
- Juries Victoria: contact
- Juries Victoria: juror support
- Juries Victoria: Melbourne court facilities
- Sentencing Advisory Council: current penalty-unit value
- Fair Work Ombudsman: jury duty and more beneficial entitlements
- Fair Work Ombudsman: contact hours
- Victoria Legal Aid: contact
- Australian consultation booking and scope
- Legal Hotline customer terms
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.