diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/AGENTS.md b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/AGENTS.md
index adc2e90d5..3b91473ad 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/AGENTS.md
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/AGENTS.md
@@ -141,6 +141,31 @@ The Promote button on release detail pages must follow a three-state model:
 Use `showPromote` (computed, boolean) for visibility and `canPromote` (computed, boolean) for the enabled/disabled state.
 Use `promoteDisabledReason` (computed, string | null) for the disabled tooltip.
 
+## Quick Links Convention (MANDATORY)
+
+All pages that include navigational quick links **must** follow these rules:
+
+1. Use the `<stella-quick-links>` component — never raw `<nav>` with dot separators
+2. Pass `layout="aside"` for page-level quick links (use `inline` only for inline/contextual links)
+3. Include a `description` for every link explaining what the user will find there
+4. Place quick links in a right-aligned aside panel with a border and elevated background
+5. Include a `label` (e.g., "Related", "Quick Links", "Shortcuts")
+
+**Pattern:**
+```html
+<aside class="page-aside">
+  <stella-quick-links
+    [links]="quickLinks"
+    label="Quick Links"
+    layout="aside" />
+</aside>
+```
+
+Each link must have `label`, `route`, and `description`:
+```typescript
+{ label: 'Security Posture', route: '/security', description: 'Risk posture and advisory freshness' }
+```
+
 ## Metric / KPI Cards Convention (MANDATORY)
 
 All metric badges, stat cards, KPI tiles, and summary indicators **must** use `<stella-metric-card>`.
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/dashboard-v3/dashboard-v3.component.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/dashboard-v3/dashboard-v3.component.ts
index 7badb7a0f..c85780d9b 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/dashboard-v3/dashboard-v3.component.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/dashboard-v3/dashboard-v3.component.ts
@@ -453,8 +453,10 @@ interface PendingAction {
           </a>
         </div>
 
-        <!-- 6. Quick Links -->
-        <stella-quick-links [links]="dashboardQuickLinks" label="Quick Links" />
+        <!-- 6. Quick Links (right aside) -->
+        <aside class="dashboard-aside">
+          <stella-quick-links [links]="dashboardQuickLinks" label="Quick Links" layout="aside" />
+        </aside>
       }
     </div>
   `,
@@ -1112,6 +1114,14 @@ interface PendingAction {
       text-decoration: underline;
     }
 
+    .dashboard-aside {
+      margin-top: 1rem;
+      border: 1px solid var(--color-border-primary);
+      border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+      padding: 0.75rem 0;
+      background: var(--color-surface-elevated);
+    }
+
     /* Status dot (reused in summary cards) */
     .status-dot {
       display: inline-block;
@@ -1372,12 +1382,12 @@ export class DashboardV3Component implements OnInit, AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   readonly riskTableAtTop = signal(true);
 
   readonly dashboardQuickLinks: StellaQuickLink[] = [
-    { label: 'Release Runs', route: '/releases/runs' },
-    { label: 'Security & Risk', route: '/security' },
-    { label: 'Operations', route: '/ops/operations' },
-    { label: 'Evidence', route: '/evidence' },
-    { label: 'Platform Setup', route: '/ops/platform-setup' },
-    { label: 'Diagnostics', route: '/ops/operations/doctor' },
+    { label: 'Release Runs', route: '/releases/runs', description: 'Deployment timeline and run history' },
+    { label: 'Security & Risk', route: '/security', description: 'Posture, findings, and reachability' },
+    { label: 'Operations', route: '/ops/operations', description: 'Platform health and execution control' },
+    { label: 'Evidence', route: '/evidence', description: 'Decision capsules and audit trail' },
+    { label: 'Platform Setup', route: '/ops/platform-setup', description: 'Environments, integrations, topology' },
+    { label: 'Diagnostics', route: '/ops/operations/doctor', description: 'Run health checks on your deployment' },
   ];
 
   // -- Loading states -------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/evidence-audit/evidence-audit-overview.component.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/evidence-audit/evidence-audit-overview.component.ts
index 789b3cb29..34c9db71e 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/evidence-audit/evidence-audit-overview.component.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/evidence-audit/evidence-audit-overview.component.ts
@@ -109,10 +109,9 @@ type EvidenceHomeMode = 'normal' | 'degraded' | 'empty';
         </div>
       </section>
 
-      <section class="shortcuts-section" aria-label="Evidence home shortcuts">
-        <h2 class="section-title">Shortcuts</h2>
-        <stella-quick-links [links]="shortcutLinks" />
-      </section>
+      <aside class="evidence-aside" aria-label="Evidence shortcuts">
+        <stella-quick-links [links]="shortcutLinks" label="Shortcuts" layout="aside" />
+      </aside>
 
       <!-- Quick Stats (auditor detail: audit events, proof chains) -->
       <section class="stats-section" aria-label="Evidence statistics">
@@ -136,11 +135,9 @@ type EvidenceHomeMode = 'normal' | 'degraded' | 'empty';
         </div>
       </section>
 
-      <!-- Cross-domain links -->
-      <section class="cross-links" aria-label="Related domain links">
-        <h2 class="section-title">Related Domains</h2>
-        <stella-quick-links [links]="relatedDomainLinks" />
-      </section>
+      <aside class="evidence-aside" aria-label="Related domains">
+        <stella-quick-links [links]="relatedDomainLinks" label="Related" layout="aside" />
+      </aside>
 
       <!-- Trust ownership note -->
       <aside class="ownership-note" role="note">
@@ -443,19 +440,19 @@ export class EvidenceAuditOverviewComponent {
   readonly mode = signal<EvidenceHomeMode>('normal');
 
   readonly shortcutLinks: StellaQuickLink[] = [
-    { label: 'Audit Log', route: '/evidence/audit-log' },
-    { label: 'Export Center', route: '/evidence/exports' },
-    { label: 'Evidence Bundles', route: '/releases/bundles' },
-    { label: 'Replay & Verify', route: '/evidence/verify-replay' },
-    { label: 'Proof Chains', route: '/evidence/capsules' },
-    { label: 'Trust & Signing', route: '/setup/trust-signing' },
+    { label: 'Audit Log', route: '/evidence/audit-log', description: 'Cross-module audit trail for compliance' },
+    { label: 'Export Center', route: '/evidence/exports', description: 'Export profiles and StellaBundle generation' },
+    { label: 'Evidence Bundles', route: '/releases/bundles', description: 'Sealed evidence bundles for auditors' },
+    { label: 'Replay & Verify', route: '/evidence/verify-replay', description: 'Deterministic replay of past decisions' },
+    { label: 'Proof Chains', route: '/evidence/capsules', description: 'Signed decision capsules with evidence' },
+    { label: 'Trust & Signing', route: '/setup/trust-signing', description: 'Signing keys and certificate management' },
   ];
 
   readonly relatedDomainLinks: StellaQuickLink[] = [
-    { label: 'Release Control', route: '/releases/runs', hint: 'Evidence attached to releases and promotions' },
-    { label: 'Trust & Signing', route: '/setup/trust-signing', hint: 'Key management and signing policy' },
-    { label: 'Policy Governance', route: '/ops/policy/governance', hint: 'Policy packs driving evidence requirements' },
-    { label: 'Findings', route: '/security/findings', hint: 'Findings linked to evidence records' },
+    { label: 'Release Control', route: '/releases/runs', description: 'Evidence attached to releases and promotions' },
+    { label: 'Trust & Signing', route: '/setup/trust-signing', description: 'Key management and signing policy' },
+    { label: 'Policy Governance', route: '/ops/policy/governance', description: 'Policy packs driving evidence requirements' },
+    { label: 'Findings', route: '/security/findings', description: 'Findings linked to evidence records' },
   ];
 
   readonly quickViews = computed((): EvidenceQuickViewTile[] => {
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/shared/components/stella-quick-links/stella-quick-links.component.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/shared/components/stella-quick-links/stella-quick-links.component.ts
index 8aa989a68..8b0ccc526 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/shared/components/stella-quick-links/stella-quick-links.component.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/shared/components/stella-quick-links/stella-quick-links.component.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ export interface StellaQuickLink {
   icon?: string;
   /** Tooltip text */
   hint?: string;
+  /** Short description shown below the label in aside layout */
+  description?: string;
 }
 
 @Component({
@@ -36,32 +38,59 @@ export interface StellaQuickLink {
     @if (label) {
       <span class="sql-label">{{ label }}</span>
     }
-    <nav class="sql-nav" [attr.aria-label]="label || 'Quick links'">
-      @for (link of links; track link.label; let last = $last) {
-        <a
-          class="sql-link"
-          [routerLink]="link.route"
-          [title]="link.hint || link.label"
-        >
-          @if (link.icon) {
-            <svg class="sql-icon" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none"
-                 stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"
+    @if (layout === 'aside') {
+      <nav class="sql-aside" [attr.aria-label]="label || 'Quick links'">
+        @for (link of links; track link.label) {
+          <a class="sql-aside-link" [routerLink]="link.route" [title]="link.hint || link.label">
+            @if (link.icon) {
+              <svg class="sql-aside-icon" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none"
+                   stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"
+                   stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
+                <path [attr.d]="link.icon"/>
+              </svg>
+            }
+            <div class="sql-aside-content">
+              <span class="sql-aside-title">{{ link.label }}</span>
+              @if (link.description) {
+                <span class="sql-aside-desc">{{ link.description }}</span>
+              }
+            </div>
+            <svg class="sql-arrow" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none"
+                 stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.5"
                  stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
-              <path [attr.d]="link.icon"/>
+              <path d="M9 6l6 6-6 6"/>
             </svg>
-          }
-          <span class="sql-text">{{ link.label }}</span>
-          <svg class="sql-arrow" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none"
-               stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.5"
-               stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
-            <path d="M9 6l6 6-6 6"/>
-          </svg>
-        </a>
-        @if (!last) {
-          <span class="sql-sep" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+          </a>
         }
-      }
-    </nav>
+      </nav>
+    } @else {
+      <nav class="sql-nav" [attr.aria-label]="label || 'Quick links'">
+        @for (link of links; track link.label; let last = $last) {
+          <a
+            class="sql-link"
+            [routerLink]="link.route"
+            [title]="link.hint || link.label"
+          >
+            @if (link.icon) {
+              <svg class="sql-icon" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none"
+                   stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"
+                   stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
+                <path [attr.d]="link.icon"/>
+              </svg>
+            }
+            <span class="sql-text">{{ link.label }}</span>
+            <svg class="sql-arrow" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none"
+                 stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.5"
+                 stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
+              <path d="M9 6l6 6-6 6"/>
+            </svg>
+          </a>
+          @if (!last) {
+            <span class="sql-sep" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+          }
+        }
+      </nav>
+    }
   `,
   styles: [`
     :host {
@@ -152,6 +181,84 @@ export interface StellaQuickLink {
       font-size: 0.875rem;
       line-height: 1;
     }
+
+    /* Aside layout — vertical list with descriptions */
+    :host([layout=aside]) {
+      border-top: none;
+      padding-top: 0;
+      margin-top: 0;
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside {
+      display: flex;
+      flex-direction: column;
+      gap: 0;
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside-link {
+      display: flex;
+      align-items: flex-start;
+      gap: 0.5rem;
+      padding: 0.625rem 0.75rem;
+      text-decoration: none;
+      color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+      border-left: 2px solid transparent;
+      transition: background 120ms ease, border-color 120ms ease, color 120ms ease;
+      cursor: pointer;
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside-link:hover {
+      background: var(--color-surface-secondary);
+      border-left-color: var(--color-brand-primary);
+      color: var(--color-text-primary);
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside-link:focus-visible {
+      outline: 2px solid var(--color-focus-ring);
+      outline-offset: -2px;
+      border-radius: 2px;
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside-icon {
+      width: 16px;
+      height: 16px;
+      flex-shrink: 0;
+      margin-top: 1px;
+      opacity: 0.5;
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside-link:hover .sql-aside-icon {
+      opacity: 0.8;
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside-content {
+      flex: 1;
+      min-width: 0;
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside-title {
+      display: block;
+      font-size: 0.8125rem;
+      font-weight: 600;
+      line-height: 1.3;
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside-desc {
+      display: block;
+      font-size: 0.6875rem;
+      line-height: 1.4;
+      color: var(--color-text-muted);
+      margin-top: 0.125rem;
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside-link:hover .sql-aside-desc {
+      color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+    }
+
+    .sql-aside-link .sql-arrow {
+      margin-top: 2px;
+      flex-shrink: 0;
+    }
   `],
 })
 export class StellaQuickLinksComponent {
@@ -160,4 +267,7 @@ export class StellaQuickLinksComponent {
 
   /** Optional heading label (e.g. "Related", "Shortcuts", "Jump to"). */
   @Input() label?: string;
+
+  /** Layout variant: 'inline' (horizontal dots) or 'aside' (vertical with descriptions). */
+  @Input() layout: 'inline' | 'aside' = 'inline';
 }