Job Description

Our Vacation Placement is the perfect introduction to Pinsent Masons if you would like to be considered for our Hong Kong Training Contract. We design, structure and develop the placement programme to give you an experience which is practical and enjoyable whilst authentically reflecting the Trainee Solicitor experience. Working alongside lawyers and trainees on real client projects, you’ll enjoy structured work-based learning, skills training and presentations.

We carefully and thoughtfully plan our Vacation Placement programme to offer a combination of a day-one induction, skills and information workshops together with networking opportunities and social events.

To ensure well-rounded development, you will have exposure to different practice groups in our Hong Kong office and you will be paired up with an Associate as your supervisor and a trainee as your buddy. Their job is to guide, support and encourage you throughout the course of your placement. Throughout the programme, you can look forward to:

• tasks which will help you to develop your existing knowledge and skills, as well as picking up some new ones
• access to client work whilst being supervised and supported
• getting involved in a range of additional activities
• working with, and learning from, solicitors who are leaders in their respective fields
• a non-hierarchical structure with the emphasis on approachability and a collegiate working culture

We hope your Vacation Placement experience will fuel your interest in joining the firm as a Trainee Solicitor. If you gain a placement, it is because we already see you as a potential Trainee Solicitor. You will have undertaken some assessments in the process of applying for the placement. To be considered for a Training Contract, we ask you to take one or two final assessments. We will also get feedback from people you have worked with during your placement. If you meet our core capabilities and perform well throughout both the assessments and the placement, we will offer you a Training Contract.

We are now looking for candidates for our Winter Vacation Placement, running 3 weeks in January 2027. Successful candidates will be considered for our Training Contract for year 2027 onwards.

We review applications, schedule interviews and extend offers on a rolling basis. If your application is shortlisted, you’ll be invited to complete a video interview. You'll then be invited to attend an interview with lawyers and HR.

Eligibility Requirements:

• 2:1 degree already gained or predicted to achieve.
• Commendation or above in overseas / postgraduate legal studies and completion of the PCLL conversion examination. (For final year law students / law graduates)
• English and Chinese (Mandarin preferable) and other languages preferable (e.g. Japanese / Korean).

Applications for Vacation Placement should include the following:

1. Cover letter indicating your preferred area of practice, interested year of Training Contract & your availability for the Vacation Placement
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. Current degree transcripts
4. Academic transcripts at HKDSE / HKCEE (or equivalent)
5. Any other supporting documentation you consider relevant

If you have any queries relating to Vacation Placement in Hong Kong, please contact us at graduatehk@pinsentmasons.com.

Should you have any issues with your application, please email applications@pinsentmasons.com.