Hong Kong
With the goal of offering on-the-ground support in Asia for the Firm's global client base, Jones Day established its Hong Kong Office in 1986, and became the first U.S. law firm with a presence in Hong Kong. Today Jones Day's team of transactional and litigation lawyers provides one of the most comprehensive arrays of services among global law firms in the entire region.
On any given day, lawyers in Hong Kong are working with lawyers from Sydney, New York, London, Shanghai, or any of Jones Day's other locations. We operate as one team, with the goal of providing outstanding service to our clients. As a result, trainees and lawyers joining Jones Day become part of one of the best legal practices in the world.
Lawyers coming to Jones Day in Hong Kong work with established partners on some of the most complex and intriguing legal matters in the Asia-Pacific.
Jones Day’s Hong Kong lawyers received their legal training in Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore. In addition to English, our lawyers collectively speak Mandarin and various local dialects, such as Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Taiwanese, along with French, German, Spanish, Korean, Hindi, and Kannada.
Contacts
Charles Chau, Hiring Partner
Human Resources at hradmin@jonesday.com
Jones Day
31st Floor, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark
15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong
(T) +852.2526.6895
Our Work
Jones Day advises clients in jurisdictions around the world on challenging, demanding, and complex matters. Lawyers in each of the Firm's offices serve not only local clients, but our entire global client base.
To learn more about Jones Day's areas of practice, click on the links below.
Information for Trainee Solicitors and New Lawyers
Our Distinct Training Contract
How It's Different
During your first year, you will rotate through three practice seats in order to gain solid exposure to both contentious and non-contentious matters. Each seat will last for a period of four months.
The final 12 months of your training contract will consist of a “floating” seat, in which you will have the opportunity to work with the practices of your choice so that you can decide which area interests you the most. During this time, we will work closely with you to help you transition to the practice that you may eventually join as an associate.
Why It's Different
During your time as a trainee, you can expect things such as:
Exposure to a broad range of top-quality regional an international work;
Opportunities to develop relationships with the Firm’s top-tier clients;
The perfect combination of a friendly and dynamic office environment with the established resources of a large global law firm;
“Real” work that puts you in contact directly with partners, associates, and clients; and
A culture that promotes individuality, flexibility, adaptability, and innovation.
Your Support Network
Compensation and Benefits
We offer our trainees a highly competitive salary, as well as other benefits, including medical, dental and life insurance.
Jones Day offers experienced lawyers a superior platform from which to develop their practices. Our global footprint attracts lawyers who seek a more cross-office, cross-practice, client-focused and team-oriented environment in which to practice. Our collaborative, global approach attracts lawyers searching for a more cross-office, cross-practice, client-focused, and team-oriented environment in which to practice.
Lawyers joining Jones Day have the opportunity to be part of a firm that has repeatedly earned high rankings for client service by the BTI Consulting Group, which bases its rankings on survey results from Fortune 1000 corporate counsel. We are proud of our unwavering commitment to client service, and expect all of our lawyers to share our dedication.
Depending on the specific needs of our offices and practices, we hire accomplished attorneys at various levels of experience. We always welcome inquiries from lawyers who share our commitment to providing outstanding client service.
Interns
The Hong Kong Office offers a four-week internship programme for law students in their penultimate year of law school (with preference usually given to applicants seeking to start as trainee solicitors in Hong Kong). Our interns undertake real work for real clients and derive a realistic picture of what it is like to be a Jones Day lawyer. Interns work with paralegals, associates, and partners on a wide variety of tasks from conducting legal research, drafting simple documents, attending court, and learning about the mechanics of closing a deal. As in our training programme, we do not "seat" interns in one specific practice and we encourage them to take on assignments from any practice.
We accept students throughout the year but most students join the internship programme in the Hong Kong summer (June to July). If you are interested in participating in our internship programme, please submit your CV, academic transcript and covering letter at least four months before your intended commencement date.
Trainee Solicitors
The Hong Kong Office trainee system has two key objectives: to ensure that our trainees gain in-depth exposure to all our practices, and to identify and cultivate our trainees' strengths so that they may become associates in the practice that best aligns their professional aspirations with the goals of the office. The first 12 months of a trainee's contract are spent in a structured rotational system, followed by a flexible final 12 months during which each trainee transitions to the position of associate.
Trainees are assigned to a supervising partner who, during the entire course of their training, ensures they receive proper supervision and support. Formal reviews take place regularly to discuss performance and solicit feedback. The office also runs regular internal training seminars to ensure that trainees obtain appropriate experience in the major areas of practice. Most importantly, trainees receive continual practical training and feedback from the lawyers they work with. We also encourage our trainees to further develop their legal knowledge by participating in a wide range of external training seminars, and provide support for additional study that would benefit a trainee's practice.
Candidates for trainee solicitor positions with the Hong Kong Office should apply in the first semester of their penultimate year of law school and are required to enroll and complete the Hong Kong Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) before commencing their training.
Learn more about our distinct training contract.
Who Should Apply?
We look for candidates with a strong academic record (at least upper second class law degree or equivalent), who are commercially minded, confident and keen to take on responsibility. The ideal candidate is able to think laterally, adapt to different cultural settings, and can cope well under pressure. Candidates with great interpersonal skills and a hands on “can do” approach will fit well here. Bilingual or trilingual students, particularly those speaking Cantonese or Putonghua, with ability to read and write simplified or traditional Chinese will be highly regarded. The offer of a training contract is conditional upon a successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) course in Hong Kong.
When To Apply?
Summer Interns (2024) / Trainee Solicitors (2026)
Applications open 1 Oct 2023
Applications close 31 Jan 2024
How To Apply?
Apply online.
We offer a two-week summer experience scheme for pre-university students.
Who Should Apply?
Our summer experience scheme is intended mainly for pre-university students who are planning to pursue law studies, interested in learning more about working life as lawyers or wishing to have an early exposure to our leading professionals.
When To Apply?
Applications close 30 April 2024
How To Apply?
Interested parties are welcome to send in their CVs to hradmin@jonesday.com
Jones Day seeks to employ the most qualified people for every position in the Firm, continually delivering superior client service through professional excellence and teamwork. We offer competitive compensation and benefits in a stimulating work environment. When a position opens, it will appear, below, along with a link to an email to which you can attach your resume and a cover letter.