LAA salary 2026/27
The Legal Aid Agency administers legal aid funding in England and Wales. It publishes medians from AA to Grade 6, and there is no SCS figure.
Legal Aid Agency salaries: pay by grade
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | £24,520* | £1,689 | 24 of 26 |
| AO | £25,450* | £1,742 | 69 of 73 |
| EO | £29,850 | £1,993 | 81 of 92 |
| HEO | £36,210* | £2,334 | 80 of 93 |
| SEO | £46,500* | £2,914 | 68 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £64,400* | £3,756 | 38 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £72,790* | £4,130 | 73 of 84 |
Median full-time salary at 31 March 2026 from Cabinet Office Civil Service Statistics. * Our estimate from the official 2026 figure for the combined level and the 2025 figure for the grade. Rank compares LAA with every department and agency that publishes a figure for that grade. Take-home is full time, alpha member, tax code 1257L, no student loan.
Low pay, matching HMCTS at the early grades
The Agency ranks 24th of 26 at AA, 69th of 73 at AO and 81st of 92 at EO. These figures, £24,520, £25,450 and £29,850, are the same as those for HM Courts and Tribunals Service.
Pay improves at Grade 7, where it is 38th of 91, then drops back to 73rd of 84 at Grade 6. The step from EO to HEO is worth about £342 a month in take-home.
Against the typical department
| Grade | LAA median | Typical department | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | £24,520 | £27,440 | -£2,920 |
| AO | £25,450 | £28,100 | -£2,650 |
| EO | £29,850 | £32,460 | -£2,610 |
| HEO | £36,210 | £39,440 | -£3,230 |
| SEO | £46,500 | £48,220 | -£1,720 |
| Grade 7 | £64,400 | £63,110 | +£1,290 |
| Grade 6 | £72,790 | £78,270 | -£5,480 |
The typical department is the middle one when every department and agency that publishes a figure for that grade is put in order, at 31 March 2026.
What each step up is worth
| Move | Extra gross a year | Extra take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| AA to AO | £930 | £53 |
| AO to EO | £4,400 | £251 |
| EO to HEO | £6,360 | £342 |
| HEO to SEO | £10,290 | £580 |
| SEO to Grade 7 | £17,900 | £841 |
| Grade 7 to Grade 6 | £8,390 | £375 |
Extra take-home is smaller than the extra gross pay because of tax, National Insurance and the higher alpha contribution rate that applies as pay rises.
Grades with too few staff to publish a figure are left out. LAA may also pay more in London and for specialist roles, and most departments have paid a 2026/27 award since 31 March 2026.
Common questions
How much does an AA earn at LAA?
The median AA salary at Legal Aid Agency was about £24,520 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £1,689 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an AO earn at LAA?
The median AO salary at Legal Aid Agency was about £25,450 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £1,742 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at LAA?
The median EO salary at Legal Aid Agency was £29,850 at 31 March 2026, which is about £1,993 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does LAA pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At Grade 7, LAA ranks 38 of 91 departments that publish a figure. At AO it ranks 69 of 73.
What pension do LAA staff get?
Civil servants join the alpha pension scheme. You pay 4.6% to 8.05% of your pay depending on what you earn, and build 2.32% of your pensionable pay as pension each year.