Hong Kong firm
Haldanes
A litigation-led independent firm recruiting four trainees a year into civil, corporate and commercial, criminal and family rotations, with published annual deadlines and a demanding language test.
- Category
- Hong Kong firm
- Trainee intake
- Four a year
- Start
- Usually August
- Languages
- Excellent English, Cantonese and Mandarin required
The Hong Kong practice
What does Haldanes actually do?
Haldanes has operated in Hong Kong for more than 50 years. Its published practices span criminal defence, civil litigation, fraud and asset tracing, corporate and commercial work, family and matrimonial law, IP, private client, property and regulatory matters. It is particularly distinctive for criminal, media, entertainment and sports work alongside its broader disputes and commercial practice.
The trainee programme is structured around four departments: Civil, Corporate & Commercial, Criminal and Family. That is a materially different rotation from the finance-and-corporate-heavy training at most international firms.
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026
How does The Legal 500 rank Haldanes in Hong Kong?
The current Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026 guide ranks the firm’s Hong Kong practice across 5 practice areas. Open any area below to see the corresponding Legal 500 table and editorial.
- Tier 2Private Client and Family ↗
- Tier 3Regulatory: white-collar, compliance and investigations ↗; TMT ↗
- Tier 4Leading independent Hong Kong law firms ↗
- Tier 5Intellectual property ↗
These are third-party market rankings, not recruitment rankings. The tables can change with each edition; this summary was checked on 25 July 2026.
Trainee & internship programme
How do you get into Haldanes?
The firm recruits four trainee solicitors a year. It accepts applications throughout the year, with a cut-off of 31 March for the following year's intake. Under that published annual rule, the 2027–29 deadline passed on 31 March 2026; candidates targeting the next intake should confirm the next deadline with the firm.
- TraineeshipUsually starts in August, rotating through four legal departments.
- Summer internshipTwo weeks between mid-June and late August; apply by 31 March of the internship year.
- Winter internshipOffered occasionally from December to early January; published deadline 30 September.
- How to applyEmail a cover letter, detailed CV, transcripts or certificates, references and relevant supporting information to career@haldanes.com.
Selection process
What should applicants expect?
The trainee process runs from the latter half of May to late August. It begins with a written test and a first interview that includes oral Mandarin and Cantonese testing, followed by a second interview for shortlisted candidates. The firm requires excellent English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and any offer is conditional on completing and passing the Hong Kong PCLL.
Plan ahead
The 31 March deadline applies a year before the traineeship begins. Confirm the target intake with the firm before sending an application.
Quick answers
Haldanes, in three questions
How many trainees does Haldanes recruit?
The firm says it recruits four trainee solicitors a year.
What is the application deadline?
Applications are accepted throughout the year, but the cut-off is 31 March for the following year's intake.
Does Haldanes test Chinese?
Yes. The first-round process includes oral Mandarin and Cantonese testing, and the firm requires excellent command of both alongside English.