Hong Kong - Training Contract
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If you're a law student in your penultimate year or beyond, you can apply for our 2-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.
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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.
Once you have applied you will be emailed a link to complete three aptitude assessments:
Cognify – requires you to complete a series of online games measuring your problem solving and analytical skills.
Emotify – requires you to complete two online games measuring your ability to accurately perceive emotions and effectively understand the connections between emotions, and situations that lead to specific emotional reactions.
Values Fit – helps us identify candidates who have similar values to Ashurst, ensuring the best cultural fit for you and Ashurst.
The assessments take about 45 to 60 minutes to complete.
You will meet face-to-face with our lawyers and members of our People & Culture team for a conversational interview that is 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.
If you progress to the next stage following your interview, then you will be required to complete a written assessment to showcase your language capability.
Key dates
Applications open
9 September 2023
Applications close
7 January 2024
Events
Campus Talk CUHK
16 November 2023
Campus Talk HKU
28 November 2023
Campus Talk CityU
TBC
Testimonials
"My traineeship so far has been both challenging and rewarding. There are many opportunities for me to shoulder responsibilities and work on tasks independently, while knowing that I have the team's support and guidance at all times. Ashurst is a firm of incredibly friendly and approachable people, and the partners and associates are willing to invest time and effort to give clear instructions and feedback in order to help us grow. The firm also cares about maintaining a collegiate, inclusive and fun working environment, and there are plenty of social activities for us to engage in and get to know our colleagues on a more personal level – in fact, the finance teams in Asia are all going to Macau for a retreat this month!"
Rachel Wong, Trainee Solicitor 2023
"Now having qualified into the Global Loans team, there are often moments which I immensely appreciate the training I received in each of the four seats at Ashurst. The fact that we are a global full-service firm has enabled me to have exposure to a wide array of cross-border transactions and contentious matters. Despite a steep learning curve, the experience has equipped me with a technical foundation, and has built up my confidence to resolve new and challenging issues which have never come up before. Partners and Associates take extra effort to invest in the wellbeing and the long-term career development of juniors including trainees. Even at the early stage of my career as a trainee, I felt that my work made a difference and was appreciated."
Aaron Kwong, Solicitor 2020 Trainee
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 email address: ethics.counsel@ashurst.com.
Please note that this email address 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.