In JIRA 5.0 and earlier, it is possible to use a Saved Filter or Saved Search to drill down to a list of tickets that should be linked. The new Link Issue functionality does not include this feature, nor the capability to use a JQL with the order-by argument.

today I was paid a visit by a rather irate development manager. When linking issues, the "Issue Selector" screen is gone. When we linked issues in 4.3, there was a "+" sign next to the issues box, and this would take you to an "Issue Selector" screen. From there you could choose a filter. We had filters specifically set up for this, and used it frequently - we have a certain project that makes very heavy use of issue links.
Now in 5.1, the "+" sign is gone and is replaced by a "search for an issue" link. It does not appear possible to simply specify a filter as it was in the past. This is problematic. The entry of a search is cumbersome and error prone.
All in all, something that used to be pretty easy turned into something that prompted a visit from an irate manager. I'm disappointed in a loss of functionality from one version to the next.