Future Leaders Committee Election

Voting now closed

Voting for the Future Leaders Committee (FLC) Election 2024 – blue rotation has now closed.

We congratulate and recognise all candidates and thank the membership for participating and making this election a huge success. We look forward to watching the great work of this new Committee unfold over the next two years!


View the results

Shape the Future

Help shape the future of the Queensland legal profession. The Future Leaders Committee (FLC) is a platform for next generation lawyers to stand out from the crowd and represent the membership in a meaningful and inspirational way. This is your opportunity to lead the profession into the future.   

QLS is excited to hold its third Future Leaders Committee election in February 2024. All elected members hold a two year term running to the financial year. The February 2024 Future Leaders Committee election will be held for six members representing the blue group, democratically elected, to represent and advocate on behalf of their peers for two years, beginning 1 July 2024 and concluding 30 June 2026.

Help shape the future for future lawyers in Queensland. Run for or vote for the Future Leaders Committee.

What does the FLC do?

The FLC serves a very important function in supporting and representing the future leaders cohort. It provides an influential platform for future leaders to advocate on behalf of their peers and colleagues and its responsibilities include:

  • collaborating on a two year Strategic Plan of the Society in supporting the future leaders cohort consisting of young and early career lawyers
  • involvement and support for Queensland Law Society Emerging Leader Award
  • working closely with QLS committees and external stakeholders to advance future leaders 
  • raising awareness on issues affecting young and early career lawyers future leaders
  • developing and conducting programs of interest and value to their colleagues
  • curating and contributing content to The Hub
  • contributing to the Callover Podcast

Who is eligible to run for and vote in the FLC election?

All full members of QLS who are either 35 years old or below or have less than 5 years PAE as of 5 February 2024 are eligible to support candidates and vote in the committee election. So if you are born on or after 6 February 1988 or were admitted on or after 6 February 2018 you are eligible to support candidates and vote in the election.

To nominate you need to be either 35 years old or below or have less than 5 years PAE as of 30 June 2026. So if you are born on or after 1 July 1990 or were admitted on or after 1 July 2020 you are eligible to nominate for the Future Leaders Committee. This ensures the Future Leaders fulfil the eligibility requirements during the two year term. 


What do I need to do? 

Key dates

  • Be a full member or update your member details by: 9am Friday 2 February 2024
  • Close of the Roll of Electors: 9am Monday 5 February 2024
  • Notice of Election and nominations open: Monday 5 February 2024
  • Eligible Nominees names published in order of date received: From Monday 5 February 2024
  • Nominations close: 4pm Tuesday 13 February 2024
  • Publication of all running nominees’ profiles, in the order drawn by electronic lot: From Wednesday 14 February 2024
  • Voting opens: Wednesday 21 February 2024
  • Voting closes: 4pm Thursday 29 February 2024
  • Results announced: From Friday 1 March 2024

Be sure to diarise these dates!

Why nominate?

Nominating in our FLC election is your opportunity to be part of something bigger—a stepping stone to leadership opportunities to advocate on behalf of your peers and yourself and help shape the future of the legal profession. 

If elected, you will play a critical role in setting QLS’ future leaders strategic direction, gain a unique opportunity to interact with like-minded peers and be actively involved in recognising and advancing future leaders through awards and working with QLS policy committee and external stakeholders. Being a committee member also opens doors for you to build leadership skills and allows you to participate in high profile events and forums which can extend your reputation and influence

Why vote?

Voting is key to activating the democratic process. QLS wants to ensure the profession is adequately represented; to give the future of the profession a platform to voice their opinions and shape the future of the legal profession.

The 2024 Future Leaders Committee election is your chance to directly influence a changing legal profession and landscape. Your voice, your future.

Charter

Future Leaders Committee Charter is the governing document setting out the powers and responsibilities of the Future Leaders Committee as well as the Election By-Laws.

Council and committees

What do I need to do?

From now to 9am AEST Thursday 2 February 2024

  • Ensure your details are up to date: Full members are requested to email our records team records@qls.com.au with any updates to their contact details by 9am AEST Friday 2 February 2024 to allow for administrative processing ahead of the close of the Roll of Electors.
  • Become a full member: To be eligible to stand for nomination and vote in the Committee election, eligible practitioners must renew or submit their application to become a full member of QLS by 9am AEST Friday 2 February 2024 to allow for administrative processing ahead of the close of the Roll of Electors. The Roll of Electors will close at 9am AEST Monday 5 February 2024.
  • View our QLS Election Resources: To learn more about Committee and the election process.

Monday 5 February 2024 to 4p, AEST Tuesday 13 February

  • Consider nominating for Future Leaders Committee: Do you know someone who is equally keen in advocating on behalf of their legal peers as they are on behalf of their clients? Nominate a future leader today. 

  • Interested candidates who want a more active role shaping the future of the legal profession are also encouraged to put themselves forward for a seat and become a future leader today.

  • Nominations must be received by the returning officer by 4pm AEST Tuesday 13 February 2024.

  • Read the QLS Election, Media and Engagement Protocol 2024

  • Have you changed firms, email address or phone address? Let us know your updated details by emailing elections@qls.com.au so you don’t miss any election communications.

Wednesday 14 February 2024 to 4pm AEST Thursday 29 February 2024

  • Campaign to the membership: Candidates can begin campaigning as soon as they receive confirmation from QLS that their application for candidacy is accepted. Candidates are then welcome to utilise their personal networks to advocate to the profession. QLS will publish the list of candidates drawn by electronic lot from 14 February 2024. Candidates are to strictly observe the QLS Election, Media and Engagement Protocol 2024

  • Have you changed firms, email address or phone address? Let us know your updated details by emailing elections@qls.com.au so you don’t miss any election communications.

Wednesday 21 February 2024 to 4pm AEST Thursday 29 February 2024

  • Vote: This is your chance to directly influence who you want to represent, promote and advance you. QLS members who are on the Roll of Electors are encouraged to vote.
  • The 2024 Future Leaders Committee election will be hosted by BigPulse, a web-based online service provider who will send a link to members on the Roll of Electors, via their nominated email address and mobile to vote electronically. Emails will be sent from the domain name qls.com.au. Please consult with your IT support provider to add QLS to your Safe Senders List.

Nominate

We encourage you to consider nominating for the FLC. Nominating can help you build your professional profile and pave the way to the next step of your career.

All candidates are running for the role of committee member, There are six elected positions available as ordinary members (silver group) of the Committee. At its first meeting in July 2024, the FLC will appoint office bearers from the FLC committee members.

The Committee Charter sets out the role and obligations of the Future Leaders Committee as a whole. In addition, all Committee members are expected to be ambassadors for QLS and to utilise their experience, knowledge and contacts to assist and support the Society to achieve its strategic goals.

QLS supports inclusion and diversity and encourages regional, First Nations and rainbow representative practitioners to apply and shape the future.

How to nominate?

  1. Ensure you are a full member and included on the Roll of Electors by 9am AEST Friday 2 February 2024.
  2. Read the Notice of Election (emailed and uploaded from 5 February 2024)
  3. Fill out the online nomination form emailed and uploaded from 5 February 2024) as follows:
    1. fill in your contact details;
    2. liaise with three full members on the Roll of Electors to: 
      1. support your application; 
      2. obtain your supporters’ relevant QLS and contact details; and 
      3. obtain their authorisation to fill out their section on their behalf. (It is strongly recommended you keep a written record of each authorisation);
    3. obtain and upload a high resolution headshot for your website profile (between 100KB and 1MB file size); 
    4. prepare and upload a profile piece of no more than 150 words for the QLS website to support your candidacy outlining:
      1. the candidate’s service to Future Leaders’ members, the legal profession or service to the community (or all three); and
      2. the area of law in which you practise or wish to practise; and 
      3. any special interests you may have, whether inside or outside the legal profession.
    5. press “submit” to lodge the online nomination form to the Returning Officer, Queensland Law Society, GPO Box 1785, Brisbane, QLD 4001. 

Nomination forms can be lodged via online web submission (or alternatively via elections@qls.com.au – please email the Returning Officer for more details).

All nomination forms must be received by the Returning Officer by: 4pm AEST Tuesday 13 February 2024.

Looking for more information?

For more information on the Roll of Electors, nominations, voting or the election announcement, contact: