US firm
Jones Day
The first US firm licensed to practise Hong Kong law, whose China-facing office runs capital markets, disputes and M&A, and trains its own solicitors through a two-year, non-rotational contract fed by a four-week summer internship.
- Category
- US firm
- Origin
- Cleveland/US; one global partnership across 40+ offices
- HK presence
- First US firm licensed in HK law (1996); 30+ years in the region
- HK strengths
- Capital markets, disputes, M&A, private equity, leveraged finance, IP
The Hong Kong practice
What does Jones Day's Hong Kong office actually do?
Jones Day was the first US law firm licensed to practise Hong Kong law, back in 1996, and has spent more than 30 years building one of the most cross-border practices in the region. The office runs the full range: capital markets, dispute resolution, M&A, private equity, leveraged finance, projects, real estate, and intellectual property and life sciences. It advises many of China's top companies on raising capital, expanding and launching technology, so the work is heavily China-facing and multilingual by default. Source ↗
Capital markets and financial markets sit at the centre of the current build-out. The office has been hiring aggressively into equity capital markets and corporate work while some rivals retrench in Greater China, a strategy the partners have been explicit about. That matters for a trainee: the deal flow you would touch is live HKEX listings and cross-border M&A, not a thin pipeline. The office is led by Joelle Lau, a financial markets partner with nearly two decades of experience on major Hong Kong listings.
Structurally, Jones Day is unusual. Globally it runs a non-rotational model, and its Hong Kong training contract reflects that: a structured first year followed by a flexible second, rather than a strict conveyor of six-month seats. If you want early responsibility and exposure across practices rather than being parked in one department at a time, that model is the draw.
Internship & training contract
How do you get into Jones Day Hong Kong?
There are two real routes for law students. The Internship Programme is a four-week placement for penultimate-year law students, running year-round but primarily in June and July, where you do real work for real clients across practices. The Training Contract is a two-year programme applied for directly. Both are set out on the firm's Hong Kong careers page. (There is also a two-week Summer Experience Scheme, but that is for pre-university students, not law undergraduates.)
- InternshipFour weeks, penultimate-year law students, primarily June–July. Submit CV, transcript and cover letter at least four months before your intended start date.
- Training contractTwo years: structured rotation for the first 12 months, flexible placement for the final 12. Apply via the online portal.
- 2028 cohort datesApplications opened 1 October 2025 and closed 31 January 2026.
- Who can applyStrong academic record (at least an upper second class law degree or equivalent); Cantonese or Putonghua preferred. Hong Kong PCLL required before starting.
- ContactsJoelle Lau is the Hiring Partner; applications and queries via hradmin@jonesday.com.
Watch out
The internship has no single deadline: you apply four months ahead of when you want to start, so a June placement means applying around February. That rolling logic is easy to miss. Cross-check windows on the Elite Pathfinder deadline tracker before you plan.
Recent matters worth knowing
Which recent deals has Jones Day's Hong Kong office run?
These are recent, publicly reported matters the Hong Kong office has led, and they cluster exactly where the firm is investing: HKEX listings, cross-border M&A and restructuring. They are the raw material for a strong interview answer.
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OmniVision's US$616m Hong Kong IPOJanuary 2026
Jones Day acted as Hong Kong and US counsel to OmniVision Integrated Circuits Group on its roughly US$616m listing on the Hong Kong exchange, the first A-share company to list in Hong Kong in 2026 and, at listing, the highest market capitalisation among A-share semiconductor companies pursuing an HK listing. Source ↗
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MeiG Smart Technology's HK$1.16bn listingMarch 2026
Jones Day advised CICC Hong Kong Securities, as sponsor, on the IPO and listing of MeiG Smart Technology on the Hong Kong exchange, a deal whose public offering was heavily oversubscribed. Source ↗
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Corporate build-out: Frank Voon joinsMarch 2025
Jones Day added M&A and private equity partner Frank Voon in Hong Kong. Partner-in-charge Joelle Lau framed the hire against rivals retreating from Mainland China and Hong Kong, calling it a signal of the firm's commitment to the region. Source ↗
Insider tip
Notice that Jones Day is hiring into Greater China while others pull back. That is a story you can use: it shows you understand the market and the firm's position in it. Build the habit with our commercial awareness guide, and the Weekly News Digest breaks down one Hong Kong deal a week.
Interview & selection intel
What does the Jones Day Hong Kong selection process look like?
The public process is straightforward: you apply through the online portal (or by email for the internship), and shortlisted candidates are interviewed. Joelle Lau, the office partner-in-charge, is named as Hiring Partner, so senior lawyers are close to the decision. Jones Day publishes little about a Hong Kong aptitude test or a multi-stage assessment day, so treat detailed accounts elsewhere with caution and prepare for a partner-led interview.
The academic bar is explicit: at least an upper second class law degree or equivalent, plus Cantonese or Putonghua for the China-facing work. Because the training contract is non-rotational and gives trainees real responsibility early, interviewers are testing whether you can be trusted with client work quickly, not just whether you can pass exams.
Expect the usual tier-one themes: commercial awareness (why capital markets, why Hong Kong, why Jones Day's model rather than a rotational firm), genuine motivation, and technical reasoning. Language ability is a real advantage here. Our guide to the Hong Kong vacation scheme interview walks through how these conversations actually run.
How to stand out
How do you stand out for Jones Day Hong Kong?
With a lean, senior process and a non-rotational model, the edge is a sharp written application, real commercial fluency on capital markets, and evidence you can carry responsibility early. Here is where to put the work.
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1Speak to Jones Day's model specifically: the non-rotational structure, the China-facing capital markets focus, the fact it is expanding while others leave. A generic US-firm application will not land. Fix the usual errors first; our guide to the top mistakes on HK applications lists them, and the Law Firm Application Academy drills the written craft.
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2The internship is a four-week working interview, and the training contract gives responsibility early. Interviewers want commercial, case-style reasoning under pressure; it helps to know how firms mark case studies first. Practise on real problems in the Online Case Study Centre and pressure-test yourself in the Mock Assessment Centre.
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3A senior, partner-led process rewards candidates who can hold a real conversation about a live deal, in English and ideally in Cantonese or Putonghua. One-to-one coaching is the fastest way to sharpen how you think out loud and answer follow-ups.
Quick answers
Jones Day Hong Kong, in five questions
Does Jones Day run an internship in Hong Kong?
Yes. Jones Day runs a four-week internship in Hong Kong for penultimate-year law students, where you undertake real work for real clients across practices. It runs year-round but primarily in June and July. You submit a CV, transcript and cover letter at least four months before your intended start date.
How do you get a training contract at Jones Day Hong Kong?
You apply through the online application portal. The Hong Kong training contract is a two-year programme: a structured rotation for the first 12 months and a flexible placement for the final 12. For the 2028 cohort, applications opened on 1 October 2025 and closed on 31 January 2026. You must complete the Hong Kong PCLL before starting.
What does Jones Day's Hong Kong training contract look like?
It is a two-year contract combining a structured rotation in the first 12 months with a flexible placement in the final 12 months, rather than fixed six-month seats throughout. Jones Day describes itself as a non-rotational firm globally, giving trainees direct exposure to a range of work.
What does Jones Day look for in Hong Kong applicants?
A strong academic record, at least an upper second class law degree or equivalent, and Cantonese or Putonghua is preferred given the China-facing work. Candidates must complete the Hong Kong PCLL before commencing the training contract.
What is Jones Day's Hong Kong office known for?
Jones Day was the first US law firm licensed to practise Hong Kong law, in 1996, and has more than 30 years in the region. Its strengths span capital markets, dispute resolution, M&A, private equity, leveraged finance, IP and life sciences, with much of the work China-facing.