Often times when trying to click in the QUICK SEARCH textbox, I will accidently click one of the links right above it, such as the Log Out link. I have had this complaint from a few more of our JIRA users, asking if the links can be moved up, since they too often click on them by accident trying to use the QUICK SEARCH box.

My suggestion would be to just move them up top aligned with the top row (a few pixels from the top of the page).