Doug was called to the Bar in 2007 whilst a Judge’s Associate before commencing private practice, where he remains to this day.

His academic qualifications include:

• Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
• Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (Merit)
• Bachelor of Arts

During his early years at the Bar, Doug taught criminal law and evidence law, after-hours, as a sessional academic with the Queensland University of Technology. He received an award for excellence in teaching during this time.

His principal areas of practice are:

• Criminal law. He regularly appears in the higher courts, including the Court of Appeal, for those accused of crimes such as murder, manslaughter, large scale drug trafficking and importations, complex frauds, sexual offences and assaults generally.
• Domestic violence. Doug is regularly briefed on behalf of individuals, such as executive officers of national and multinational corporations, serving police officers, military officers, lawyers and others who are confronted with applications for domestic violence orders.
• Succession Law. Doug holds a particular interest in rural succession law matters. His interest in succession planning for large scale farming operations stems from his family’s involvement in grazing enterprises in the Brisbane Valley and Darling Downs regions.

His cross-examination ability was recognised by The Hon. Walter Sofronoff KC, the former President of the Qld Court of Appeal, in the murder trial of R v Appleton [2017] QCA 290:

“The applicant’s counsel (Doug Wilson) also cross-examined them [the defendants]. That cross-examination was skilful, succinct and pointed.”

He is a current member of the Qld Bar Associations ‘new bar committee’ and a former member of the ‘criminal law committee’ where he appeared on behalf of the President at meetings of the Criminal Sentencing Advisory Council.