Legal professionals providing child-related legal support services should act now to ensure they meet Queensland's blue card requirements before the transition period ends on 20 September 2026.
The deadline marks the end of the 12-month transition period following reforms that removed the blue card exemption previously available to lawyers and legal support staff.
If you provide child-related legal support services, or operate a legal practice that does, you should determine whether the blue card requirements apply to your role, confirm whether you already hold a blue card and, if required, submit an application before the deadline.
Key information:
- Changes introduced on 20 September 2025 removed the previous exemption available to lawyers and legal support staff when working with children.
- If you commenced providing child-related legal support services after 20 September 2025, you must already hold a blue card before undertaking this work.
- If you were already providing these services before 20 September 2025, transitional provisions gave you until 20 September 2026 to apply for a blue card.
What should practitioners do?
Solicitors, legal support staff and operators of legal organisations who provide child-related legal support services should:
- Step one - review whether the blue card requirements apply to their role
- Step two - confirm whether they already hold a blue card
- Step three - submit an application as soon as possible if required
Further information:
