Our history - Queensland Law Society

The Society's story began on 7 August 1873, when 15 solicitors met at the Supreme Court in Brisbane to establish Queensland's first law society. Their vision was to create a body that would uphold professional standards, support the legal profession and serve the public interest.

Although the original Society ceased operating within a decade, its purpose endured. In 1883, the Queensland Law Association was formed, and in 1927 Queensland Law Society was incorporated by statute, establishing the organisation that continues today.

From a small volunteer-run association, QLS has grown into the peak body for Queensland solicitors, representing more than 14,000 practitioners and carrying important statutory responsibilities under the Legal Profession Act 2007.

Throughout our history, we have helped shape the profession through advocacy, education, ethics support, professional standards and public service.

Our Milestones

Year	What happened?
2026	Retirement of Nita Leigh, QLS’s longest-serving employee, after 42 years of dedicated services.
2025	Publication of the inaugural Proctor Annual, with 5,000 copies distributed to members featuring legal analysis, professional insights and stories from across the profession.
2024	Launch of You & The Law, the Society’s first community-focused website.
2023	Celebration of 150 years since the establishment of Queensland’s first law society.
2020	Proctor transitions from print to an online news platform during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020	Delivery of a $9 million support package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, subsidising practising certificate and membership fees in the 2020-21.
2019	Incorporation of the QLS Ethics and Practice Centre as a subsidiary incorporated legal practice (ILP) of the Society.
2012	Introduction of the Australian Solicitors Conduct Rules, developed with significant input from QLS.
2011	Launch of the first Advocacy Annual program.
2010	Introduction of the Limitation of Liability Scheme, providing protections for legal practices. Establishment of the Ethics Centre.
2008	Launch of LawCare, providing free, confidential counselling and wellbeing support for members, their families and legal support staff.
2007	Establishment of the Legal Practitioners Admission Board.
2005	Launch of the Dispute Management Centre. Introduction of the mandatory Continuing Legal Education (now Continuing Professional Development).
2004	Commencement of the Legal Profession Act and Legal Services Commission. QLS Authorised Nominating Authority established.
2001	Establishment of Lexon Insurance Pte Ltd (Lexon) (formerly QLS Insurance) to help protect solicitors from increases in professional indemnity insurance premiums.
1996	Cessation of the Queensland Law Society Journal and expansion of Proctor.
1995	Establishment of the St Paul Insurance Company, replacing the Law Claims Levy Fund as the provider of professional indemnity insurance. Launch of the Specialist Accreditation program. Endorsement of the Queensland Law Foundation to support member-focused initiatives, business developments and diversification.
1993	Acquisition of the second floor of Law Society House from Rider Levett Bucknall, now home to QLS reception, auditoriums, meeting rooms and mediation facilities.
1991	Introduction of computers for all staff. Implementation of a computerised membership database.
1988	Launch of the Practice Management Course (PMC) for solicitors intending to practise as principals.
1987	Establishment of the Law Claims Levy Fund to provide professional indemnity insurance protection. Relocation to the second Law Society House, a purpose-built premises at 179 Ann Street, Brisbane.
1986	Introduction of library services.
1982	Launch of Proctor magazine.
1981	Establishment of the first Law Society House at 96 Albert St, Brisbane.
1980	Expansion of continuing legal education through the use of audio and video technology to reach practitioners in regional and remote Queensland. Amendment of the Queensland Law Society Act, reducing the Presidency from a two year to a one-year term.
1978	Introduction of the compulsory professional indemnity insurance scheme.
1977	Official commencement of continuing legal education (CLE).
1966	Establishment of LAWASIA, strengthening collaboration among legal associations across the Asia-Pacific region. Introduction of Legal aid for the broader community through the Queensland Legal Assistance Act.
1965	Formation of the Young Lawyer Committee.
1964	Introduction of the first Queensland Law Society Symposium.
1952	Enactment of the Queensland Law Society Act.
1941	Appointment of Beryl Donkin as the Society’s first full-time employee, beginning more than 40 years of service to the profession.
1940	Implementation of wartime legal aid schemes for servicemen and their dependants.
1939	Coordination of free wills and powers of attorney for soldiers by Queensland solicitors.
1935	Establishment of Queensland’s first university law school, the University of Queensland Faculty of Law.
1931	Introduction of the Fidelity Guarantee Fund to protect clients of defaulting solicitors. The Rules which governed the Fund were gazetted in April. Amendments made to the Trust Accounts Act followed.
1928	Enactment of the Queensland Law Society Incorporation Act.
1927	Incorporation of the Queensland Law Society, with a membership of 312 solicitors.
1883	Formation of the Queensland Law Association.
1873	Establishment of Queensland’s first law society meeting of 15 solicitors at the Supreme Court in Brisbane on 7 August.