The Queensland Law Society invites specialist solicitors, barristers, academics and other experts to contribute to the QLS Specialist Practice Conference, to be held from 7–9 October 2026 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland, Australia.
Specialist practice demands sustained, sophisticated expertise, and requires ongoing engagement with complex developments in law, procedure and professional standards. The QLS Specialist Practice Conference is designed to support practitioners with the ongoing responsibility of maintaining heightened expertise by providing specialist level education aligned to recognised areas of practice.
Why consider presenting:
The conference brings together leading and emerging experts to share advanced knowledge, practical insights, and critical developments within their areas of specialisation. The audience will comprise accredited specialists and practitioners progressing toward specialisation, seeking substantive content directly relevant to their field.
Participation as a presenter provides an opportunity to help shape the direction and quality of education within your area of practice, and support the continued strength and credibility of specialist practice in Queensland. Presenting is additionally an opportunity to contribute recognised expertise, share specialist perspectives with peers, and expand your networks.
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.
Conference structure and practice areas
The conference program is structured by specialist area, with each stream delivered on a specific day. Contributors must indicate the relevant practice area and be available on the day for which that practice area is scheduled.
Wednesday 7 October 2026
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Succession and Elder Law
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Workplace Relations
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Personal Injury Law
Thursday 8 October 2026
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Property Law
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Commercial Law
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Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Friday 9 October 2026
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Family Law
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Criminal Law
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Domestic and Family Violence
Categories of submission
Submissions should be practice focused and pitched at a specialist audience. Contributors are encouraged to propose sessions that advance understanding, refine practice, or address emerging challenges within their area of law.
The QLS Specialist Practice Conference seeks submissions that deliver depth, relevance, and practical value for specialist audiences. We welcome contributions including (but not limited to):
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Legislative, regulatory or case law updates relevant to specialist practice
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Advanced analysis of complex or evolving areas of law
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Practical guidance on procedural strategy, advocacy, drafting or risk management
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Insights drawn from significant or challenging matters
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Reflections on how specialist practice is evolving in response to courts, regulators, clients or professional standards
Presentation formats
Our aim is to develop a program that delivers practical, high‑quality specialist education. As part of your submission, please indicate the most suitable format for your session, the relevant practice area, and the conference day for which it is proposed. Other than workshops, sessions should be designed to be 30 or 60 minutes of substantive content to aid scheduling, with 10 minutes allocated to introductions and questions at the end.
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Lecture: A formal presentation focused on a specific specialist topic. For example, a legislative or case law update or a structured analysis of a complex issue relevant to specialist practice.
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Panel discussion: A moderated discussion on an advanced or contested issue within a specialist area, led by experienced practitioners or experts. Audience Q&A is encouraged. Please indicate any preferred panellists.
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Workshop: Practical skills‑based sessions focused on specialist procedures, techniques, or problem‑solving. Workshops are registration‑restricted and should be a minimum of 90 minutes to allow sufficient participant engagement.
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Lessons learned: Reflective sessions where practitioners share insights and professional judgment gained from complex or challenging cases. These sessions aim to constructively examine experience, including difficulties, errors or unexpected outcomes, for the benefit of specialist practice.
Submission dates
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Session Overview deadline: Sunday 31 May 2026
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Notification of acceptance: Friday 12 June 2026
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Full session materials deadline: Monday 7 September 2026
Session Overview:
Provide details including proposed session title and objective, abstract / session description, presentation format, relevant practice area and applicable conference day, and any supporting documents or materials.
Selection process
Submitted session overviews will be reviewed for quality, relevance, and suitability for a specialist audience. If a session is not selected or does not fit within the conference program, there may be opportunities to present as part of other QLS education offerings.
Authors will be advised of acceptance via email by Friday 12 June 2026. All presenting authors will be required to confirm attendance by the date specified in their acceptance correspondence.
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.
