Applications are invited from candidates who are permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to fill Legal Trainee vacancies under the Legal Trainee Scheme (LTS) from 3 August 2026. For the purpose of this Scheme, those pursuing practical training under the Solicitor Stream are called Legal Trainees (Solicitor) and under the Barrister Stream Legal Trainees (Barrister).
| Eligibility | ||
| Candidates should be - | ||
| (a) | penultimate year students of undergraduate law programme in post-secondary institutions who will have obtained Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) in 2026; | |
| (b) | have attained ‘Level 2’ [Note] or above in English Language and Chinese Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE) or the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE), or equivalent. | |
| Note | For appointment purpose, ‘Grade E’ in English Language (Syllabus B) and Chinese Language in the HKCEE before 2007 is accepted administratively as comparable to ‘Level 2’ in English Language and Chinese Language in the 2007 HKCEE and henceforth. | |
Duties
Legal Trainees will undergo practical training under professional guidance designed to satisfy the training requirements of the Law Society of Hong Kong or the Hong Kong Bar Association. The training period is two years for Legal Trainees (Solicitor) and one year for Legal Trainees (Barrister). Legal Trainees are not civil servants and do not occupy any posts on the establishment. They are not appointed on civil service terms of appointment and conditions of service.
Salary
Legal Trainees will receive, in the first 12 months, a monthly salary equivalent to the pay on point 27 of the Master Pay Scale (MPS), and in the second 12 months, a monthly salary equivalent to the pay on point 28 of the MPS.
The pay equivalent to point 27 of the MPS is $60,065, and the pay equivalent to point 28 of the MPS is $62,895 currently.
Legal Trainees are subject to the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485).
How to apply
Candidates should submit, on or before 6:00 p.m., 28 March 2024, duly completed application forms [G.F. 340 (Rev. 7/2023)] to the Collection Box, G/F, Main Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong [Re: Application for the post of Legal Trainee (2026 Intake) (Attn: Personnel and Establishment Section)]. Please ensure that sufficient postage is paid if the application is sent by post. Late applications will not be accepted. Application forms are obtainable from any Public Enquiry Service Centre of District Offices of the Home Affairs Department or from any Job Centre of the Employment Services Division of the Labour Department. The form can also be downloaded from the Civil Service Bureau's website (http://www.csb.gov.hk). Candidates should specify the post title they apply for, i.e. Legal Trainee (Solicitor) (2026 Intake) or Legal Trainee (Barrister) (2026 Intake). Candidates who have no specific preference may indicate this by inserting Legal Trainee (Solicitor/Barrister) (2026 Intake) under “Title of job applied for”. Candidates under this last category may be assigned to a stream the Selection Board finds most suitable for them in accordance with their performance at the selection interview. Completed application forms should be accompanied by -
| (a) | copies of documents in respect of academic and language qualifications with full details of examination results at the (i) HKDSEE/HKCEE, and (ii) CRE (if applicable); |
| (b) | latest academic transcript; and |
| (c) | supplementary letters detailing personal interests and other relevant information. |
Enquiries
Enquiries can be made to Executive Officer (Personnel) 4 or Clerical Officer (Training) of the Department of Justice at 3703 6535 or 3703 6563.
General Note
As an Equal Opportunities Employer, the Government is committed to eliminating discrimination in employment. The vacancy advertised is open to all applicants meeting the basic entry requirement irrespective of their disability, sex, marital status, pregnancy, age, family status, sexual orientation and race.