Training Contract
If you're a law student in your penultimate year or beyond, you can apply for our vacation scheme, which offers a pathway to a two-year training contract.
As a trainee you will rotate through four practice areas to give you experience across the breadth of law we practice, and help you find the area you would like to focus on. A thorough induction kicks off your life as a trainee, introducing you to all the resources you will need to support your work and training.
Learn more - Create your own story at Ashurst
What we can offer you
PCLL sponsorship & stipend
All our trainees must complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) prior to commencing a training contract. We offer a stipend during your 1-year PCLL studies and reimburse the full costs for the course once you start your training contract.
Welcoming culture
Our people make our culture! We have a culture focused on collaboration, communication and equality across all levels of roles. Our Partners are especially supportive of our Trainees and want to help you succeed.
Secondment opportunity
One of the four seats is likely to be an international secondment to one of our overseas offices.
The recruitment process
To be eligible you need to be on track for a strong 2.1 in your law degree. Strong English and Chinese skills are also required and any additional foreign language skills are welcome.
If you haven't met this criteria and there are mitigating circumstances there will be an opportunity for you to provide us with this information in your application.
Showcase your talent by sharing why you want to be a lawyer and why you want to join Ashurst. By providing concise responses to our online application, you can share your insights into the legal industry and more details about yourself.
You will be asked to complete an online assessment which measures a range of critical reasoning and behavioural strengths that align to a trainee role at Ashurst. The assessment has been designed to give you a realistic preview into life at Ashurst and the types of scenarios you might experience as a trainee.
Whilst we recommend completing the online assessment in one sitting, it is untimed so you can complete it at your own pace. It will take around 60 minutes to complete. Once completed, you’ll be sent an individual feedback report outlining your key strengths and development areas.
You can learn about the types of questions you may be asked in the assessment on our Preparation Hub.
You’ll meet face-to-face with our Graduate Recruitment Partner(s), lawyers, and People & Culture team for both conversational and group interviews designed to assess your personal and technical skills.
It’s also an opportunity for you to find out more about us, so please come prepared with your questions.
Key dates
Applications open
6 September 2025
Applications close
4 January 2026
Events
Hong Kong Law Fair
6 September 2025
Connecting with Future Legal Leaders at the 2025 Hong Kong Law Fair
On 6 September 2025, our Hong Kong team engaged with aspiring lawyers and trainee solicitors at the Hong Kong Law Fair. Beyond recruitment, we made a social impact by pledging HKD200 per QR code scan to the Centre for Refugees, totaling HKD50,000. This initiative reflects our commitment to community support and professional excellence. Learn more about our responsible business practices.
Campus Talk CityU
10 September 2025
Campus Talk CUHK
11 September 2025
Campus Talk HKU
8 October 2025
Testimonials
"My two years of training at Ashurst have been both rewarding and transformative. Each of my seats through restructuring and special situations, corporate transactions, and global loans gave me exposure to high-profile matters that pushed me to learn quickly and think on my feet. The partners and associates I worked with were not only incredible mentors but also generous with their time and guidance. What makes Ashurst stand out to me is the mix of challenging work and a genuinely supportive culture: you’re trusted with responsibility early on, but you never feel like you’re on your own. And while there are plenty of office drinks along the way, the real highlight has been working alongside such smart, driven, and down-to-earth colleagues (and yes, our cutting-edge legal AI technology has more than earned its place on the team)."
Ivana Gu, 2022 Trainee, 2024 Newly Qualified Lawyer
"Training at Ashurst has been an incredibly rewarding journey. The firm’s strong emphasis on collaboration and knowledge-sharing gave me the opportunity to work closely with talented professionals across a wide range of practice areas and jurisdictions. The firm has also been a pioneer in integrating AI into its daily legal operations, which has significantly enhanced the way we work and deliver value to clients. After completing my two-year traineeship, I joined the litigation team. The team is made up of legal enthusiasts who are genuinely passionate about the law and the work we do. Among them is my deskmate, a proud father and an active footballer for the Hong Kong Law Society Football Team, who scored the first-ever goal at the new Kai Tak stadium. Day to day, I am working alongside colleagues who bring both intellectual rigour and personal warmth to the workplace."
Kun Ou, 2022 Trainee, 2024 Newly Qualified Lawyer
Applicant Resource Hub
For answers to all your frequently asked questions and information on application & interview tips, the benefits we provide, life at Ashurst, our L&D programmes, and our IDB initiatives.
Visit hub
Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging
Our inclusive and diverse culture stands at the heart of everything we do. For more information on our initiatives and the support we provide please follow the link below.
More informationContact us
If you can’t find answers to your questions on this page or on the Applicant Resource Hub then please contact our Early Careers team.
Agencies
Agency submissions and candidate introductions will only be accepted with prior approval from a member of the Ashurst Talent Acquisition team. To submit or introduce a candidate, an agency must have valid agreed terms of business in place with Ashurst. Any agency submissions or candidate introductions made without prior approval or without the agreed terms of business in place will be considered invalid.
Diversity
We are committed to offering a safe and welcoming environment for our employees and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. With diversity and inclusion at the heart of what we do we place a strong emphasis on working with people from diverse communities and aim to make a positive impact through our Social Impact programmes.
Speak up!
Ashurst is committed to ensuring an accountable workplace culture. Candidates are encouraged to report any ethical or conduct concerns to our confidential portal.
Please note that this portal should not be used for general enquiries about, or applications for, job positions available at Ashurst as they will not be passed onto the relevant team. Any recruitment enquires should be directed to globalresourcing@ashurst.com.