Choosing a conveyancing solicitor is more straightforward than many Queensland buyers and sellers expect. There is no single accreditation to look for, no lottery of referrals, and no mystery to the process. A few practical checks tell you whether a solicitor is registered, experienced in property law and clear about what they charge.
In Queensland, conveyancing is a legal service that can only be provided by qualified solicitors and law practices. Unlike some other states, licensed conveyancers without a legal qualification cannot do conveyancing work here. That means every firm you consider holds a practising certificate issued by the Queensland Law Society, and you can check that before you call.
Brookwater Legal helps clients across Greater Springfield and Ipswich with conveyancing, from reviewing contracts before signing through to settlement day.
Here is how choosing a conveyancing solicitor generally works in Queensland, and what to look for at each step.
Key takeaways
- Queensland conveyancing can only be done by a solicitor holding a current practising certificate.
- The Queensland Law Society's register lets anyone check a solicitor's registration for free.
- Getting a detailed costs quote before signing anything is a standard step, not an imposition.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Every situation is different, and you should speak with a solicitor about your own circumstances.
What does a conveyancing solicitor actually do in Queensland?
A conveyancing solicitor handles all the legal steps that happen after a property sale contract is signed, to ensure the land is registered in the buyer's name at Titles Queensland, according to the Queensland Government. For a buyer, that means checking the contract before signing, reviewing the seller disclosure documents, carrying out title searches, explaining the results, and then dealing with the seller's side to handle the final payment on settlement day and transfer the title.
For a seller, the solicitor can draft the contract, help complete the disclosure documents the seller is required to give under Queensland's seller disclosure scheme, receive the final payment at settlement and arrange the transfer. Since 1 August 2025, sellers of existing residential property must give buyers a signed seller disclosure statement and prescribed certificates before the buyer signs the contract, according to the Queensland Government. A solicitor guides sellers through what that requires for their property.
What the Queensland Government describes as the core of the solicitor's role, dealing with the financial side of settlement and arranging the title transfer, now happens almost entirely through an Electronic Lodgment Network, either PEXA or Sympli, under a mandate that has applied since 20 February 2023, according to Titles Queensland. A buyer or seller does not subscribe to those platforms; their solicitor does. Choosing a solicitor with active experience in electronic conveyancing is part of what the Queensland Government recommends looking for.
What should you look for when comparing solicitors in Queensland?
The Queensland Government's own guidance on appointing a solicitor for conveyancing recommends shopping around for experience, services and costs, finding a firm that specialises in property or conveyancing, and making sure the solicitor is not connected to any other party in the transaction.
The Legal Services Commission lists the questions worth asking before any engagement begins:
- › What are my options? A good solicitor explains what paths are open, not just what they recommend.
- › What will the total cost be? Ask for a detailed quote. The Queensland Government notes that some conveyancing solicitors may charge a set price; others bill by time.
- › Are there extra costs and could they change? Disbursements such as title search fees and government duty are payable regardless of how the engagement ends.
- › What is the process and how long does it take? The Queensland Government describes settlement as typically occurring four to six weeks after the contract is finalised, though the period is negotiable between the parties.
- › Who will I deal with day to day? Knowing whether you will have a single point of contact or be passed between staff affects how the relationship works in practice.
How do you check that a solicitor is properly registered in Queensland?
Every solicitor practising in Queensland must hold a current practising certificate issued by the Queensland Law Society, according to Queensland's Legal Profession Act. The Society keeps a public register of the lawyers it grants certificates to, open to anyone at no charge through its website or at its office, according to the Queensland Law Society. The register shows the practitioner's name, the type of certificate, the law practice they work at and office contact details.
Searching is straightforward. The Queensland Law Society's Register of Solicitors page allows a search by solicitor name or organisation name. If a name does not appear, a certificate may have lapsed, which the Society distinguishes from cancellation. Barristers appear on the Bar Association of Queensland's register rather than the Law Society's, according to the Legal Services Commission.
The Legal Services Commission also keeps a Queensland Discipline Register of orders finding that a lawyer engaged in professional misconduct. Checking both the Law Society register and the Commission's register before engaging a solicitor takes a few minutes and is publicly available.
Specialist accreditation in property law is a formal status the Queensland Law Society awards to solicitors who demonstrate enhanced skills, superior knowledge, significant experience and high proficiency in a specialty area. A firm that is accredited says so with that recognised status. "Experienced in conveyancing" and "practises in property law" are the everyday descriptions a firm without formal accreditation uses.
How does a conveyancing solicitor handle a property transaction in Queensland?
Step 1: Talk to us
Get in touch and we'll explain how the conveyancing process generally works and what the next steps look like for your transaction.
Step 2: Review the contract and disclosure documents
We review the contract before it becomes binding and check the seller disclosure documents the Queensland Government now requires for established residential property, explaining any conditions, searches or issues that need attention before you sign or before the contract proceeds.
Step 3: Carry out searches and manage the transaction
We carry out title searches through Titles Queensland, manage transfer duty lodgement with the Queensland Revenue Office within the required timeframes, and deal with the other side's solicitor throughout the transaction to keep contract dates on track.
Step 4: Settle and transfer the title
We complete settlement through the electronic workspace, arrange the final payment, and ensure the title is transferred and registered correctly with Titles Queensland, so the new owner has clear, indefeasible title to the property.
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What do costs disclosure and costs agreements mean for a Queensland conveyance?
A Queensland law practice must make its costs disclosure in writing before, or as soon as practicable after, it is retained, according to the Legal Services Commission. Where legal costs are likely to exceed $1,500 excluding GST and disbursements, the practice must disclose its services in general terms, explain how costs are calculated, provide an estimate and advise the client of their rights. Detailed written disclosure is required where costs are likely to exceed $3,000.
A costs agreement is a contract for legal costs. A client has the right to receive bills, request itemised bills within 28 days at no charge, apply for an independent costs assessment if they dispute a bill, and be told in writing about any substantial change in the likely total costs.
A solicitor who does not make the required disclosure cannot recover legal costs from the client until a costs assessment is completed, according to the Legal Services Commission. Asking for a written costs estimate at the first call is not unusual; it is what the Queensland Government and the Legal Services Commission both recommend.
When does it matter that your conveyancing solicitor knows about recent Queensland law changes?
Three significant changes have applied to Queensland conveyancing in the twelve months to October 2026, and not all firms have updated their client communications to reflect them.
The seller disclosure scheme commenced 1 August 2025 under Queensland's Property Law Act, according to the Queensland Government. Sellers of existing residential property, commercial property and vacant land must now give buyers a signed seller disclosure statement and prescribed certificates before the buyer signs. A buyer who does not receive them may, in some circumstances, be able to terminate the contract at any time up to settlement.
AML/CTF verification requirements commenced 1 July 2026 for lawyers and conveyancers, according to AUSTRAC. Clients of a Queensland law practice now go through formal identity verification as part of every conveyancing engagement. A solicitor should explain what documents are needed before the first appointment.
The citizenship requirement for Queensland duty concessions took effect 1 August 2026, according to the Queensland Revenue Office. Buyers claiming a home, first home or first home vacant land concession must now be Australian citizens, permanent residents or specified foreign retirees. This affects eligibility for the first home concession, which applies to established homes valued under $800,000 and saves up to $24,525.
A solicitor whose contract review, duty advice and client onboarding reflect these three changes is working with current Queensland law. Asking directly about each one at the first meeting is a reasonable way to gauge how current a firm's practice is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a licensed conveyancer handle my Queensland property purchase?
No. Conveyancing in Queensland is a legal service that can only be provided by qualified solicitors and law practices, according to the Legal Services Commission. Licensed conveyancers without a legal qualification cannot do this work in Queensland, unlike some other Australian states.
How do I check that a conveyancing solicitor is registered in Queensland?
Search the Queensland Law Society's Register of Solicitors by name or firm, which is free and open to the public, according to the Queensland Law Society. You can also check the Legal Services Commission's Queensland Discipline Register for any professional misconduct orders.
What questions should I ask a Queensland conveyancing solicitor before engaging them?
The Legal Services Commission recommends asking about your options, the total cost, any extra costs that could change, and the likely process and timeframe. Asking whether the firm has experience with the seller disclosure scheme and the AML/CTF requirements that commenced in 2026 is also worthwhile.
Does a conveyancing solicitor in Queensland have to give me a written costs estimate?
Where costs are likely to exceed $1,500 excluding GST and disbursements, the law practice must make costs disclosure in writing before or as soon as practicable after being retained, according to the Legal Services Commission. A practice that does not disclose costs cannot recover them without a costs assessment.
What does the Queensland seller disclosure scheme mean for buyers choosing a solicitor?
Since 1 August 2025, sellers must give buyers a signed disclosure statement before the buyer signs the contract, according to the Queensland Government. A solicitor reviewing a contract for a buyer checks those documents and advises whether the disclosure is complete before the buyer commits.
Do you need a conveyancing solicitor for a property purchase in Springfield or Ipswich QLD?
A buyer can technically do their own conveyancing, though the Queensland Government recommends getting legal advice even then. In practice, the seller disclosure requirements, AML/CTF identity checks, electronic settlement workspace, title searches and transfer duty lodgement make qualified conveyancing solicitors the standard approach for buyers and sellers in Greater Springfield and Ipswich.
What is specialist accreditation in conveyancing in Queensland?
Specialist accreditation is a formal Queensland Law Society status recognising solicitors with demonstrated superior knowledge and proficiency in an area such as property law, according to the Queensland Law Society. Accreditation is not required to practise in conveyancing, and most practitioners who do this work hold a general practising certificate.
Your Next Steps
Getting conveyancing right in Queensland depends on choosing a solicitor who is registered, current on recent law changes and clear about costs before any contract is signed. For buyers and sellers in Springfield and Ipswich, that combination matters from the first call, not just on settlement day.
If you're working through a property purchase or sale, the right advice early makes the process simpler. Contact the Brookwater Legal team or call (07) 3437 8555 to talk through where you stand.
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External Resources
Brookwater Legal · This article contains general information only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not take into account your individual circumstances. You should obtain legal advice about your own situation before acting on anything in this article. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
