The Queensland Law Society invites solicitors, barristers, academics, legal technology specialists and other experts to contribute to our annual Symposium on 12 March 2027 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland, Australia.
Our 2027 theme, Recalibrate, invites legal professionals to examine the developments that require us to check our bearings, reassess our assumptions and refine our approach. Whether prompted by legal reform, technological change, new compliance requirements or shifting client expectations, recalibration is the process of ensuring our knowledge, judgment, practices and professional values remain relevant, effective and capable of serving us well amid continual transition.
Why consider presenting
Symposium brings together a broad community of Queensland legal professionals seeking practical insights, emerging ideas, legislative updates, and professional development learning opportunities.
Participation as a presenter offers a distinguished opportunity to share your expertise with peers, contribute to the advancement of the profession, strengthen professional reputation, expand networks, and be recognised as a leader within your area of practice.
Presenting authors are also provided with complimentary conference registration. A contribution toward accommodation and other travel costs may also be provided for some interstate presenters.
Categories of submission
Symposium 2027 seeks to explore multiple interpretations and dimensions of recalibration. We welcome submissions addressing our theme including (but not limited to):
- Legislative developments, case law, regulatory reform and policy changes
- Compliance, governance and risk challenges
- Hard lessons from a case or matter that became a turning point
- How courts, tribunals and regulators are adapting to changing patterns of participation, technological capability and community expectations
- Pricing, productivity and client service in an era of automation and augmentation
- Designing legal services that respond to changing client expectations, communication preferences and the need to provide distinctly human value
- Emerging issues that may require recalibration across the profession
Presentation formats
Our aim is to create a program that provides practical and engaging sessions. As part of your submission, please indicate the best format for your session (workshop, panel, case study, lessons learnt session, presentation etc.), practice area/s, and which of the sub-themes your session fits under.
It is also recommended that your submission allows for at least 1 hour of substantive material, so that it may qualify for a full Professional Development point.
- Lecture: A formal presentation which goes beyond updates to explore how legal developments have challenged established understandings and required practitioners to recalibrate how they interpret, advise and act within their area of practice.
- Panel discussion: A moderated discussion which should encourage and include audience Q&A. Please indicate who you might like to be panelled with (if you have any preferences).
- Workshop: If you would like to contribute to practical skills development or practice management and business skills sessions, a workshop is for you. This type of session will be restricted to registration only. The objective is to develop practitioner skills with a focus around scenarios and practical demonstrations. A workshop contribution should be a minimum of 90 minutes, to allow sufficient time for participants to engage.
- Lessons learned: These sessions are reflections and "stories of recalibration", where practitioners at all levels of seniority are invited to share experiences and lessons from challenging matters. In these sessions, we aim to constructively learn from setbacks, unexpected outcomes and difficult decisions. We encourage practitioners to consider practical wisdom gained through real-world practice.
Submission dates
- Session overview deadline: Monday 26 October 2026
- Notification of acceptance: Friday 30 October 2026
- Full session materials deadline: Monday 15 February 2027
Session overview
Provide details including proposed session title, abstract/session description, presentation format, relevant practice area and applicable conference day, and any supporting documents or materials.
Selection process
We encourage a broad range of submissions. Session overviews will be reviewed against a range of criteria, including thematic alignment, practical relevance, audience benefit, and contribution to the overall program. Where a proposal is not included in the final Symposium 2027 program, there may be opportunities for it to be considered for other QLS educational offerings.
Authors will be advised of acceptance via email by Friday 30 October 2026. All presenting authors must confirm attendance by Friday 6 November 2026.
Ready to submit?
To submit your session overview in just two easy steps, head to our portal today:
In the portal you will find further details on how to submit and our terms and conditions.
