Legal Profession (Strengthening Disciplinary Matters) Amendment Bill 2026

Introduced: 12/5/2026By: Hon D Frecklington MPStatus: Referred to Committee

This summary was generated by AI and has not yet been reviewed by a human.

Plain English Summary

Overview

This bill moves the disciplinary system for Queensland lawyers from QCAT to the Supreme Court. It implements the findings of a statutory review that recommended the Supreme Court as a more appropriate venue for hearing serious misconduct cases against legal practitioners, while keeping the process accessible and less formal than typical court proceedings.

Who it affects

Legal practitioners facing disciplinary action, people who have lodged complaints about lawyers, and anyone appealing decisions about practising certificates or fidelity fund claims.

Key changes

Lawyer disciplinary hearings move from QCAT to the Supreme Court, heard by a single judge assisted by two panel members (one legal professional, one community member)
Decisions by the Queensland Law Society and Bar Association about practising certificates can now be appealed to the Supreme Court instead of reviewed by QCAT
Lawyers will not be ordered to pay costs for disciplinary charges they successfully defend
Legal professional panel members will now be paid for sitting on disciplinary hearings, matching lay panel members
Cases already being heard by QCAT will continue there, while cases not yet started will transfer to the Supreme Court

How this affects you

Justice & Rights

•Complaints about Queensland lawyers will now be heard by the Supreme Court instead of QCAT, providing a higher-level forum for disciplinary mattersClause 39The Legal Services Commissioner may apply to the Supreme Court for an order against a legal practitioner, instead of applying to QCAT.
•Lawyers who successfully defend some disciplinary charges will no longer be forced to pay the full costs of proceedingsClause 44Nothing in section 462(1) requires the disciplinary body to make an order requiring the person to pay costs for conduct that was not prescribed conduct.
•If you appeal a decision about your practising certificate, your appeal goes to the Supreme Court with a fresh hearing, not limited to the original evidenceClause 52 (s 581PR)The appeal is by way of a fresh hearing unaffected by the decision. Fresh evidence may be given on the appeal.
•Community members continue to have a voice in lawyer discipline through lay panel members who sit alongside the judgeClause 52 (s 581PG)The Supreme Court is to be helped by 2 panel members: 1 member of the lay panel and 1 member of the practitioner panel.

Bill Journey

Introduced12 May 2026View Hansard

First Reading12 May 2026View Hansard

▸Committee12 May 2026View Hansard

Referred to Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee

Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committeeportfolio

6 members

Committee Findings

The Legal Profession (Strengthening Disciplinary Matters) Amendment Bill 2026 was referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee on 12 May 2026. The committee's inquiry is ongoing and it has not yet tabled a report. No findings or recommendations are available at this stage.

AI-generated summary — may contain errors

Referenced Entities

Sectors Affected

Legal Services Courts

Classified using AGIFT/ANZSIC Australian government standards

Source Documents

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