Hong Kong Trainee Solicitor

We offer a limited number of Hong Kong trainee solicitor contracts each year. We expect the candidates to have at least a predicted or achieved 2:1 (or equivalent) law degree or JD from leading universities. Our offer of a Hong Kong trainee solicitor contract will be conditional upon the candidate successfully completing the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws course in Hong Kong before commencement.

Apart from a strong academic background, we also expect the candidates to be self-motivated and in constant pursuit of excellence.

Our Hong Kong trainee solicitors complete four six-month seat rotations, providing broad exposure to a range of practice areas and clients. The first three seats will cover at least three of our core practice areas, ensuring a strong foundation across the firm's key disciplines. For their final seat, trainees are typically given the opportunity to express a preference for their chosen practice area, allowing them to further develop their interests and career aspirations, in line with business needs.

In addition to the training partner who serves as a trainee’s principal throughout the two-year program, our trainees are supported by a dedicated supervising partner in every seat. This structure provides exposure to a wide range of working styles, clients and matters, enabling our trainees to build strong relationships across the Hong Kong office and other global offices. By the end of their training, every trainee will have developed a well-rounded understanding of the firm’s practice areas and will typically have had the opportunity to work closely with most, if not all, of the partners in the Hong Kong office.

We are now considering applications for our 2028 Hong Kong trainee solicitor contracts. All applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the end of September 2026, and candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible. We expect to issue offers by the end of November 2026. 

Applications should be by email to HKTraineeRecruit@klgates.com attaching the following:

1. Cover letter;
2. Curriculum vitae; 
3. Academic transcripts and certificates (including university entrance examination results); and
4. Reference letters/testimonies on work experience (if available). 

Should you have any question regarding our Hong Kong trainee recruitment process, please feel free to contact William Ho, Flora Chiang, or Candy Ho.