diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx b/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx
index 36a5748..cf62a1e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx
@@ -109,13 +109,13 @@ export function QCDetail() {
   const [assignLanguage, setAssignLanguage] = useState('');
   const [assigningLinguistId, setAssigningLinguistId] = useState('');
 
-  // Load all active internal staff for assignment dropdown (exclude clients)
+  // Load linguist users for assignment dropdown
   const { data: usersData } = useQuery({
-    queryKey: ['users-list-staff'],
-    queryFn: () => apiClient.listUsers({ active_only: true, size: 500 }),
+    queryKey: ['users-list-linguists'],
+    queryFn: () => apiClient.listUsers({ role: 'linguist', active_only: true, size: 100 }),
     enabled: showAssignModal,
   });
-  const linguistUsers = (usersData?.users ?? []).filter(u => u.role !== 'client');
+  const linguistUsers = usersData?.users ?? [];
 
   const approveLanguageMutation = useMutation({
     mutationFn: ({ lang, notes }: { lang: string; notes?: string }) =>