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Hong Kong trainees

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Applications for Kennedys Hong Kong Training Contracts are now open to high-performing and energetic law students with an interest in our core practice areas of Liability Defence, Healthcare, Financial Lines, Commercial Disputes & Regulatory, and Corporate & Commercial.

Apply your degree to real-world challenges and build your skills for a rewarding and successful career with us.

The application process:

Stage 1: Submit online application.

Stage 2: The interview process opens in mid-January to March each year, and involves written assessments and two rounds of interviews with Of Counsels and Partners.

Stage 3: Successful candidates will be contacted with an offer.

Scheme / Event

Dates

Who can apply?

Applications open

Applications close

Training Contract 2026

2026

Candidates who are eligible for a training contract in 2026

1 November 2023

Applications are now closed

Summer Vacation Scheme 2025

June & July 2025

Candidates who are eligible for a training contract in 2027

1 November 2024

31 March 2025

Training Contract 2027

2027

Candidates who are eligible for a training contract in 2027

1 November 2024

Until all positions are filled

Summer Vacation Scheme 2026

June & July 2026

Candidates who are eligible for a training contract in 2028

1 November 2025

31 March 2026

Who can apply?

To be considered for a summer scheme and training contract, you will need to have achieved, or be on course to achieve a 2.1 degree in law or equivalent. Additionally, before you start your training contract, you must complete the PCLL and pass this on your first attempt.

The candidate must have an excellent command of English and Chinese and strong interpersonal skills.

Seat rotation:

During the training contract, trainees usually experience four six-month seats, to ensure they gain experience in at least three of the following areas: Liability Defence, Healthcare, Financial Lines, Commercial Disputes & Regulatory, and Corporate & Commercial. Trainees are allocated a mentor and a Partner (who acts as their Principal) during their training at Kennedys.

As a Kennedys Trainee you will:

  • Be given opportunities to use and enhance your legal skills through working with our teams across our core practice areas (Liability Defence, Healthcare, Financial Lines, Commercial Disputes & Regulatory, and Corporate & Commercial).
  • Learn skills and best practices to provide practical legal advice and services tailored to help solve clients’ legal problems.
  • Assist in a wide range of tasks including but not limited to conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, attending mediation, negotiation sessions, court and tribunal hearings.
  • Be given opportunities to attend and take a leading role in organising internal and external events including CSR related events.

Our partners and senior lawyers will:

  • Help you develop an understanding of the legal landscape, particularly in insurance law and litigation.
  • Support your participation in workplace training, in-house seminars and technical training via our global online learning management system.
  • Provide you with dedicated mentoring support and daily work supervision.

Learn more about careers and life at Kennedys Hong Kong:

  • View our other career opportunities here.
  • Find out more about Kennedys in Hong Kong.
  • Download Kennedys Hong Kong trainee recruitment programme brochure here.

Social and CSR events

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1 / 18 To celebrate Christmas, our Hong Kong team enjoyed a day at the Ocean Park followed by staycation at the Marriott hotel.
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2 / 18 Our Kennedys team along with our clients and friends from Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore, enjoyed sunny and fun weekend at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens.
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3 / 18 Our office organised ‘Pawsitive Vibes: Pet and de-stress event’ where participants could cuddle and pet dogs to promote well-being.
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4 / 18 In line with Kennedys ECO efforts, we invited the farmers of AuLaw Organic Farm to our office, where they shared their knowledge of organic and sustainable farming.
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5 / 18 Our colleagues participated in a charity spinning marathon challenge to raise funds for mental health initiative.
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6 / 18 To ‘konnect’ the whole team, we organised escape room mystery solving fun day at the office.
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7 / 18 In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we organised a pink charity sale event at our office.
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8 / 18 Our ECO committee held talks on sustainable development from time to time, to educate what we can do to reduce energy, waste and water as an office.
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9 / 18 Our Hong Kong office welcomes the lion dance troupe to celebrate Chinese New Year of the Dragon.
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10 / 18 2) Our office has achieved Platinum rating for operational environmental performance under Swire Properties Green Performance Pledge Award.
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11 / 18 Kennedys is keen to be a part of the meaningful force to raise awareness about the critical issues of food waste and food insecurity and encourage surplus food donation.
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12 / 18 4) Our team volunteered at Sai Kung Stray Friends dog kennel in Sai Kung, the home of 180 rescue dogs.
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13 / 18 5) Our staff helped showering the furry friends at Sai Kung Stray Friends kennel in a very hot day.
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14 / 18 6) Our staff enjoyed a fun filled Spring dinner where we all had great food, a good laugh, and an exciting lucky draw!
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15 / 18 Our staff, along with clients and families participated in the Pink Walk, not only embarked a delightful stroll at the Peak and but also helped to raise awareness of breast cancer.
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16 / 18 Our CSR team visited the Hong Chi Association residents and made positive impact to our community.
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17 / 18 Our staff participated in Feeding Hong Kong's Bread Run and collected surplus bread for bakeries at night and brought them to designated collection point.
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18 / 18 Vivek Mahbubani, a stand-up comedian, shared with us the power of diversity and inclusion in workplace, in a fun and light-hearted way!
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Chantel Pang, Of Counsel - Hong Kong early careers

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