Hong Kong - Allen & Overy

Hong Kong
View from
the bridge
Managing Partner Tom Brown
gives his personal perspective on
the market and the opportunity
for prospective lawyers
Success stories
Associates and a Trainee
reflect on what has made their
experience of training with
Allen & Overy distinctive
and rewarding
Essential reading
Your need-to-know guide
to our vacation schemes and
training contracts
Beyond the office
Life at Allen & Overy is not
just about deals and contracts
Start at the top
A Career in Law
www.allenovery.com/careers
How to do well
Advice on how to stand out at
application and interview

www.allenovery.com/careers
Welcome
Vicki Liu
Graduate Recruitment Partner, Hong Kong
Welcome and thank you for choosing to find out more
about careers with Allen & Overy in Hong Kong. Having
qualified in Australia I joined the firm in Hong Kong in 1995
and I can honestly say that there has never been a more
exciting time to be a lawyer in Hong Kong, or a trainee at
Allen & Overy.
I chose Allen & Overy for its reputation, the quality of its
work, its international reach and above all for the calibre
and approachability of the people I met here. Those
features remain as important and relevant today as they
were then. In fact, I think as a firm we have raised our
game on all fronts since then – and our profession is more
international than ever before. Nowhere is that more true
than here in Hong Kong where we operate as a regional
practice supporting clients throughout the Asia Pacific
region and interacting with our colleagues in Europe and
the US every day. Unsurprisingly we are handling an
increasing volume of work relating to China, but Indonesia
and Australia are also important growth areas for us.
As a trainee you’ll very quickly be at the heart of this
work. You’ll need to pick things up fast, embrace change
and innovation, and be ready to push yourself hard. It’s
a challenge, definitely, but you’ll be working and learning
from legal practitioners who are among the very best in
their fields and benefiting from training that is second to
none. You’ll need an organised mind and a desire to learn
and to keep learning. For me as a partner, one of the chief
appeals of my job is the way that it continues to evolve and
offer up new challenges and opportunities – both in client
work and in the pro bono initiatives that we support.
This brochure will give you a good insight into what our firm
has to offer and I hope you find it useful. I’d like, however,
to add my own perspective. Joining a firm like ours is a big
commitment. You’re going to invest a lot time and emotion
in what you do here so you should look at the people you
meet and think hard about whether you could work with
them – because that’s exactly what we will be doing when
we meet you. In the end, it’s the people that make the
difference. Good luck.

Tom Brown
Managing Partner,
Asia Pacific
Tom joined Allen & Overy in
1988 as a trainee in the
firm’s London office having
studied Law at Cambridge
University. He qualified into
the Banking practice and
moved to Hong Kong in
1996 becoming Managing
Partner for the APAC region
in 2007.
VISION
Being an Allen & Overy lawyer in Hong Kong is all
about pace. We all know that business is changing
fast but I can’t think of an arena where that change
is happening faster than right here in Hong Kong.
The relentless rise of China as a global economic
power, as well as the continuing expansion of what
we used to call emerging markets, puts Hong Kong
at the centre of business events like never before.
And, unsurprisingly, China really is the big story here.
Its banks, companies and state-owned entities are
seeking to put their huge foreign reserves to work
by acquiring assets and companies overseas. With
perhaps the broadest platform of any firm across the
Asia-Pacific region – including our recently opened
offices in Australia and Jakarta – we’re seeing new
kinds of transactions and breaking new ground as
investors look to expand their interests.
We opened our office in Hong Kong in 1988 and
since then our practice has expanded to become
a major powerhouse of commercial legal advice for
the region, and a gateway for clients here to access
the Allen & Overy global network. It may be a cliché
to suggest that Hong Kong lies at a crossroads for
international business, but it’s nonetheless true and
our office here is an extremely important piece of the
Allen & Overy jigsaw across APAC.
What does all this mean for our people? Well, as
I’ve already indicated, it means pace – this is an
incredibly dynamic business environment. I’ve been
in Hong Kong since 1996 and Managing Partner
here since 2007. In that time the one constant I
have observed is change.
“What does all this mean for our
people? ...it means pace – this is
an incredibly dynamic business
environment.”
The economic cycles tend to be more compressed
here than elsewhere so the peaks and troughs can
be more extreme and this means that as lawyers we
have to be versatile. Personally I see that as exciting
and positive – it leads to the development of lawyers
who are strong on the fundamentals of business
and able to think on their feet and adapt quickly to
changing circumstances. These are qualities that
we appreciate at Allen & Overy.
It also means an international outlook. By its very
location Hong Kong is an international business
arena and our client base here reflects the global
nature of modern business. Our clients correlate
closely with those of our European and US
counterparts – with the addition, of course, of our
ever-deepening relationships with Chinese banks
and businesses.
That in turn means that we are looking for people
whose own personal horizons are broad, people
with an appetite for international exposure – and
potentially international travel. Coming to our firm
as a trainee is, I believe, a great opportunity. I am
confident that the training we offer, both in terms
of the formal requirements and the more informal
mentoring and ongoing professional development,
is among the very best available. And, as I’ve
already suggested, the work we handle is at
the forefront of an evolving business and legal
landscape, tackling the deals that make the
headlines and set new precedents.
“I am confident that the training
we offer, both in terms of the formal
requirements and the more informal
mentoring and ongoing professional
development, is among the very best
available.”
On their own these are good reasons to look at our
firm. But I think beyond this, our firm offers a unique
environment and culture. I think we take our work
very seriously – indeed I’d go so far as to say that
we have a culture of excellence that is hard-wired
– but I’d say we are a group of individuals who
don’t take ourselves too seriously. I think one of the
things that we are very good at is remembering or
maintaining our sense of purpose. We are first and
foremost a service business. We are not the reason
that any particular deal is taking place – instead
our role is to help to make things happen. Even
as Managing Partner for the region I’d say that I
am rarely if ever the most important person in the
room – that is exclusively the domain of our clients.
So if I’m allowed to offer any advice to potential
applicants that would be my first suggestion –
remember what you are going into and do it to the
absolute best of your ability. The second pointer I
could offer is more about choosing which law firm
to join and my advice here is simple. Meet the
people and picture yourself working with them.
If that makes an attractive image then you’re
heading in the right direction.
These are exciting times for Hong Kong, for the
legal profession, and especially for Allen & Overy.
I hope you find this document useful in narrowing
your career search and look forward, perhaps, to
meeting you one day as part of the next generation
of Allen & Overy lawyers.
01.02
WELCOME / VISION

www.allenovery.com/careers

HONG KONG
Allen & Overy has been in Hong Kong nearly 24 years. We are part of the Greater China team which
also includes offices in Beijing and Shanghai. We help banks, financial institutions and multinational
corporations to fulfil their commercial strategies in Greater China. Providing solutions based on
our local and international experience, our team of lawyers draws on knowledge held by more than
5,500 staff and 530 partners worldwide (as at figures of July 2012). We are based in 40 offices in 29
countries across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Americas, the Middle East and South East Asia.
“Our China practice lawyers advise
on Hong Kong, UK and US law,
offering clients an integrated
approach across legal areas and
jurisdictions.”
With over 100 internationally-qualified lawyers,
Allen & Overy’s China offices offer comprehensive
legal services in the China market. Much of the
multi-jurisdictional work performed by lawyers in
each of these offices covers cross-border deals
such as listing work for Chinese clients, inbound
investment by international clients and outbound
investment by Chinese companies.
Our China practice lawyers advise on Hong Kong,
English and US law, offering clients an integrated
approach across legal areas and jurisdictions.
The Hong Kong office is the regional hub for
Allen & Overy in Asia Pacific, servicing clients with
businesses in Greater China, South Korea, Taiwan,
the Philippines and South East Asia and our team
also includes the U.S. China Group, based in New
York and our China Desks in London and Paris.
We pride ourselves on the service we offer
to clients:
• Our Greater China team is sensitive to all the
local legal and related matters needed to maintain
good working relationships with regulators and
governments throughout the region
• We hold an impressive track record in handling
complex, high-profile and multi-jurisdictional
transactions for multinational corporations,
banks and financial institutions
• Instant access to Allen & Overy’s regional and
global resources enables the Greater China team
to deliver timely and cost-effective services
• Adopting a partnership style of working with
clients, we seek to develop long-term
relationships and an in-depth understanding
of our clients’ business
• We work proactively to explore commercially
viable opportunities
• We judge our success by the extent to which we
satisfy our clients and motivate our people.
Law capabilities
• English law
• U.S. (New York and federal) law
• Hong Kong law
Key practice areas
• Acquisition finance
• Arbitration
• Asset finance
• China outbound investment
• Commodities
• Communications, media and technology
• Debt capital markets
• Derivatives
• Employment
• Energy and resources
• Equity capital markets
• Equity-linked capital markets
• Funds
• General corporate
• General lending
• Insurance
• International arbitration
• Islamic finance
• Joint ventures
• Litigation investigations/disputes
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Private equity
• Projects and project finance
• Real estate and REITs
• Real estate finance
• Regulatory, data protection, anti-corruption
(including FCPA and UK Bribery Act)
• Restructuring
• Retail products
• Securitisation
• Structured finance
03.04
HONG KONG

Sheila Ahuja
Sheila is an Associate in our Litigation practice. She studied Law at
Cambridge and joined the firm as a graduate trainee in 2007.
Sheila is now an associate in the Litigation Department.
By the time I was looking for a training contract I already had a lot of paralegal experience
with law firms and corporates, plus I had done some mini-pupilages with chambers so I
was examining a lot of options. Allen & Overy seemed the best fit because it offered such
a good training platform, including secondment in London, it was so strong in the areas
that interested me and I was so impressed by the people I met.
My first seat was in Corporate, advising banks on their regulatory position. I wrote the
first drafts of our advice, drafting final documentation and spent a lot of time researching.
Then I moved to Capital Markets where I was given responsibility for drawing up and
issuing warrants – a kind of financial instrument for listing on the stock exchange. I also
worked on some larger transactions, co-ordinating the documentation and ensuring
that everything was where it was supposed to be. With my previous experience Litigation
was always at the back of my mind so I was very lucky when my six-month seat in
Arbitration was extended to include my three-month secondment in London. I gained
very wide-ranging experience including a number of court appearances as an advocate
in Hong Kong.
When I returned I spent another three months in banking to complete my training contract
and then qualified into Litigation. What I like about this area is that you are working at
the cutting edge of evolving law – you’re looking and thinking about how things should
be, not just responding to how they are.
I don’t think there’s an A&O type but people here are very internationally minded, focused
and driven. They are good at what they do and they like doing it – being a part of that
kind of culture is very exciting.
www.allenovery.com/careers
Ester Chow
Ester studied Social Sciences, Government and Law at the University of Hong
Kong. After a postgraduate certificate in law in 2008 she took a gap year,
during which she worked as a paralegal, and joined the firm as a graduate
trainee in 2009. Ester is now an associate in the Banking Department.
I was introduced to the firm when I did a legal internship at an investment bank. I was very
impressed by the calibre and professionalism of the people but also by their friendliness
and the way they seemed to function as a team. You can see support extended by the
senior people to their more junior team members. I decided that it was the place for me.
I am now qualified into Banking where I am working with both the general banking team and
restructuring team.
I took four rotations as a trainee. The on-the-job training and exposure was superb. My first
rotation was split between Litigation and Real Estate and then I moved into Corporate where
I headed up a very large due diligence exercise. There were literally thousands of documents
to review and I led a team featuring all the Chinese-speaking Hong Kong trainees as we
trawled through all these documents. My third seat was with the restructuring team of Banking
where I worked on some of the issues that have arisen from the failure of Lehmans and the
wave of the Chinese corporate distress in the 2008-2009 financial crisis. My last seat was a
half-year secondment to International Capital Market at our London flagship office. Whilst
the work was interesting, having the chance to live in London itself was the main highlight.
I have been impressed by the firm’s commitment to training. The formal training is of a very
high quality but I also value the informal support and the opportunities that you are given. In
my first trainee rotation I was sent to a pan-Asian office off-site in Malaysia to participate in
team building and networking.
To be successful here you have to be flexible – things can change very quickly so you have
to be able to adapt and think on your feet. I was recently called in to a client meeting with 30
minutes’ notice to hear that all the work we had done on a restructuring arrangement would
have to be revisited because our assumption that the shareholders would consent had
proved inaccurate. We had to find a new approach that would satisfy them. And, you have
to want to deliver service as part of a team. Everything here is about team work.

Angela Lai
Summer student, 2005
Trainee Solicitor 2008-2010
Banking Associate, since Sept 2010
On secondment to London Banking, May 2012
Yet in addition to running the deal process, we brush up our legal as well as commercial knowledge and skills. This is because very often our transactions involve
legal issues, novel structures or specially regulated sectors which require in-depth analysis and cross-departmental or office collaboration. We research the law,
discuss, and help prepare practical advice for the client. We learn not only what the law says, as we do from books; we also learn how to analyse issues and
apply the law in practice, and how to best communicate the advice to the client.
The lively team culture, among other things, impressed me when I interned at A&O
in 2005, and this is what helped me adapt to the role of a trainee, and subsequently
as an associate. Busy though they are, partners and other colleagues take the time
to explain transaction backgrounds, discuss relevant issues and hear our views.
Human resources and other business services groups provide constant advice and
support. Needless to say, there are many fun hang-outs and pro bono activities
outside of work, which in turn bring the team closer together.
During the two years of training, I was rotated to different departments to obtain
experience in major areas of A&O’s work. This included a six-month secondment to
the Derivatives and Structured Finance team in London to broaden my perspective.
Upon qualification, I joined the Hong Kong Banking department. With the partners’
and my seniors’ supervision and guidance, I took on more responsibilities, considering
structural issues arising in deals, drafting transactional documents, negotiating against
learned counterparts and liaising with the clients directly. What we endeavour to do,
however, is to work hard and play hard - this is why the A&O experience has been so
fruitful and enjoyable!
Theresa Chow
Summer Placement 2008 - June Scheme
BA Law, Cambridge University, 2006-2009
PCLL in HK, 2009-2010
Trainee Solicitor, 2010-2012
My 2-year training contract with the firm has afforded me a more extensive period of time in each of
the Banking, International Capital Markets and Litigation departments in Hong Kong. It has been exciting
to play a part in many cross-jurisdictional projects, including international mergers and acquisitions,
extradition procedures, project financings, restructuring and launches of structured products. Even as
trainees, we were given the responsibilities of doing the first cuts of legal advice, commercial
contracts, corporate documents and court filings.
I was also placed on a 6-month secondment to the London Corporate department. An international
secondment makes one appreciative of the strength of a global network, high quality of work and
conforming corporate culture. Being an international firm with strong local presence and high interoffice
collaboration is one of the key reasons why Allen & Overy attracts and retains such an enviable
clientele. It has been a most enjoyable and impactful experience to see how the firm is run from its
headquarters.
The early stage of one’s career is all about learning – learning what working in a reputable international
corporation is like, learning how to learn on the job, and learning how best to contribute to a team.
And that is training at Allen & Overy for you.
Picture with Eva Tse, Jennifer Yu, trainees of my year group 2010-2012.
Since I joined Allen & Overy, Hong Kong as a trainee solicitor, I have been
involved in challenging and interesting deals. A&O frequently advises on
complex, multi-jurisdictional matters, many at the forefront of the industry.
Even as trainees, we were part of the action: drafting fee proposals, appointing
and liaising with foreign counsel, conducting due diligence, preparing
transactional documents and advice, reviewing closing documents and
assisting with signing meetings (yes, sometimes with backdrops, cameras
and champagne).
Angela graduated from the University of Hong Kong with double degrees (BSocSc
(Govt & Laws) (2005) and LLB (2007)) and completed her PCLL there in 2008.
She holds a Master’s degree in Politics and International Relations Research from
University of Oxford (2006). Outside work she loves reading, music and travelling.
Angela is on secondment to the London Banking team from May 2012 and is
expected to return to Hong Kong in May 2013.
Allen & Overy has given me the perfect start to a legal career. During my
one-month summer internship in the Banking and Corporate departments of
the Hong Kong office, I was given a taster of what it is like to work in the local
office of an international law firm. We live in a “flat” world where technology
and instant communication break down geographical barriers. It is essential
to be a strong team in which each member has the support and freedom to
realise their full professional potential. I was deeply impressed by how senior
members of the firm orchestrate transactions in a well-paced manner by their
skilled management of the legal teams, the clients and the counterparties.
05.06
SUCCESS STORIES

Applying for a training
contract or vacation
placement can seem
nerve-wracking –
especially if you’ve decided
this is something you really
want. And then, if you’re
successful, there’s the
case study interview and
more nerves.
“Relax and be yourself
– here are our hints
and tips for a successful
application.”
Graduate recruitment team,
Allen & Overy, Hong Kong
www.allenovery.com/careers
HINTS AND TIPS
Completing your application form How to shine at interview
Academic achievement is essential to make it
into the world of law, but don’t forget to make the
most of your extra curricular activities and work
experience to show that you are an ambitious and
a well-rounded candidate.
Know your goals
Creating an application form that stands out from
the rest of the crowd and sells your skills can be
a challenge. In the first instance, make sure that
you know exactly what’s required by familiarising
yourself with the selection criteria. Communication,
teamwork, interpersonal skills and commercial
awareness are just some of the skills we look for
at Allen & Overy, so prepare some examples to
demonstrate your experience of each.
Stay up-to-date
You should expect to be asked questions about
topical, commercial or business issues so start
reading up on stories in the papers or online, and
be prepared to discuss your opinions at interview.
We want to find out what you think and why you
think that way.
Show a rounded personality
Try to demonstrate your appetite for responsibility
and your capacity to shape events and outcomes.
We want to find out what type of person you are,
so try to showcase yourself in your application.
We expect successful candidates to be on track
for a 2.1, but your application will also stand out if
you show that you have experienced life outside the
library. Volunteering, or joining a society or team,
is valuable, especially if you take responsibility for
a task, such as managing a budget or project.
Focus on the firm
At Allen & Overy we recognise that you will be
applying to a number of law firms and that can mean
a lot of forms. However, it’s worth taking the time to
focus on each individual application form – it may
take longer but the effort will be worth it if you secure
an interview. The questions asked by different firms
may look similar, but it is unlikely you will be able to
use the same answer each time.
Be accurate
Ensure your form is free from spelling and grammatical
errors – attention to detail is a fundamental skill for a
lawyer – so we expect you to exhibit this skill in your
application. We’re not looking for poetry but we are
looking for accuracy. Your interview is an opportunity
to substantiate what you have said about yourself in
your application and for us to get to know you better,
and vice versa. Naturally, if you’ve come this far you
want to impress so make sure you get the basics right
and remember to be yourself throughout.
Revise and practice
Remember to revisit your application form before
your interview and try to anticipate the questions
you will be asked. These are likely to include details
about school and university studies, your interests
and achievements, work experience, why you have
chosen this career and why you want to work at
Allen & Overy. University careers services may offer
mock interviews, so book one if you can.
Get the logistics right
Before your interview, ensure you know the dress
code, directions and the selection process from the
invitation that you receive.
Make an impression
First impressions count so dress appropriately,
smile, maintain eye contact and offer a confident
handshake. It’s not simply a case of impressing your
interviewer – getting the first bits right will make you
feel better and more confident, which will help you in
the interview itself. Be confident and self-assured –
if you have been invited to the case study selection
interview, we already think you have potential, so
remember this.
Ask pertinent questions
An interview is a two-way process, so while you will
be expected to do most of the talking in an interview
(around 80%), this is also your opportunity to see
whether the firm is right for you. Prepare a couple of
questions to ask at the end of the interview covering
issues you genuinely want to learn more about.

5,500
530
staff
42major centres
partners
– worldwide
07.08
HINTS AND TIPS / STATS

“We want you to succeed and to
develop a long-term career with
Allen & Overy and our retention
rates on qualification reflect this.”
Vicki Liu, Graduate Recruitment Partner,
N2K
Need to know
in Hong Kong
www.allenovery.com/careers
Allen & Overy, Hong Kong
1
2
3
4
5
6
Meet us
Summer vacation placement scheme
The training contract
Financial assistance and benefits
What we look for
Key dates, contact us

1.
Meet us
We give presentations/information sessions and attend
law fairs in Hong Kong, the UK and Australia (Canberra,
Melbourne & Sydney). We also join other events organised
by university careers services, law faculties and student
societies throughout the academic year. These events offer
a great opportunity to get a feel for the type of firm we are,
the work we do and the people who have already joined us.
Meeting us early and in person is also a good way to get
your questions answered and gain insights into our culture
and values.
Visit our website at www.allenovery.com/careers (look
for ‘Hong Kong’) to keep up-to-date with our application
schedule and case-study events. The website will give you
all the information you need ahead of making your
application or attending the case study interview. When
you come to any event, you will meet representatives from
the Hong Kong office and learn more about what life as an
Allen & Overy lawyer and trainee actually entails.
2.
Summer vacation
placement scheme
Our summer vacation placement scheme is the best way to
get to know us better and experience first-hand our culture
and work. During the scheme you will gain practical hands-on
experience in two of our core practice areas, working alongside
partners, associates and trainees on real deals and active cases.
In addition to your legal work, you will attend workshops and
presentations aimed at broadening your understanding of our
business and helping you to develop some of the skills you will
need to be a successful commercial lawyer. You will also work
with fellow vacation-scheme students on a project designed
to sharpen your research skills and expose you to our practice
areas and our global and local know-how database. Finally,
you will complete an individual technical exercise that will give
you an insight into the day-to-day roles and responsibilities of
a trainee at Allen & Overy.
But it’s not all work. Our summer vacation placement scheme
features numerous opportunities to meet and socialise with
other Allen & Overy people – both in the office and outside
– helping you to broaden your knowledge and extend your
contacts around the firm. Just as a vacation placement is a
good way to get to know us, it is also a good way for us to
get to know you. We gather feedback on all our students from
their trainers at the end of each rotation and you will have a
training contract interview at the end of your placement. Many
summer-vacation students go on to secure a training contract
offer and subsequently join the firm.
You will receive HK$10,000 for the 4 weeks.
09.10
N2K

Summer vacation placement scheme
(continued)
The selection process
Our 4-week summer vacation placement scheme is aimed
at penultimate or final year law undergraduates or final year
non-law undergraduates. There are two placement periods,
June and July and there are a total of 20-24 places available.
The summer vacation placement scheme takes place on
the following dates:
• 4 weeks in June (for 2013: approximately 03 – 28 June 2013,
for 2014: approximately 03 – 27 June 2014)
• 4 weeks in July (for 2013: approximately 02 – 26 July 2013,
for 2014: approximately 30 June – 25 July 2014)
Applications must be made online at
www.allenovery.com/careers
If your initial application is successful you will be invited to
attend a case-study interview with our graduate recruitment
partner and manager in either HK, London, UK or Australia
(Melbourne or Sydney).
You can apply for our summer vacation placement scheme
between mid-September and March. Please check our website
for closing dates and be aware that there are different deadlines
for Hong Kong, Australia and UK-based students – and different
timetables for the case-study interviews.
www.allenovery.com/careers
3.
The training contract
Your training
Spanning 24 months, your training contract will be divided
into four or five rotations or ‘seats’ in our core practice areas
– banking, corporate, international capital markets and/or
litigation. During your contract, you will spend six months in
our London office on an overseas secondment. This
secondment will usually be your penultimate or final seat.
On each seat you will sit with a partner or associate and
actively contribute to the day-to-day work of that department
– working on transactions and cases, taking real responsibility
and gaining plenty of client exposure. As your experience
grows and knowledge builds we anticipate that your level of
responsibility will also rise.
At the beginning of each seat, you will attend information
sessions and seminars to help you understand and
contextualise the work of the practice area. In addition
to your seat-based learning, you will also benefit from an
in-house programme of more formal lectures, seminars
and workshops throughout your training contract.
Your development is key and you will receive training and
support in a variety of ways, including mentoring from your
trainer and attending department-specific courses. You will
find that people in every part of the firm will help and support,
while ensuring that you have the appropriate balance between
supervision and being allowed to work independently. Our
focus is to give you everything you need to succeed and
develop a long-term career with Allen & Overy. Our retention
rates on qualification average 91% in Hong Kong.
Associate development
Qualifying as a solicitor, while an important milestone, is
not however the end of your professional development at
Allen & Overy. After qualifying into one of our practice areas,
you will continue to benefit from professional development
through a suite of Business Skills programme 1 and 2. These
have been designed to build the core non-technical skills that
you will need to take your career further and meet the demands
of your evolving associate role. Designed to enhance the core
competencies we value in our professionals, the main elements
of these programmes cover topics such as Managing Yourself,
Managing Others, Connecting with Clients and Managing
your Practice.

4.
Financial assistance
and benefits
Financial support during law school
When you accept our offer of a training contract we will
undertake to provide financial support for your Postgraduate
Certificate in Laws (PCLL) studies. The PCLL providers we
recognise are The University of Hong Kong, City University
of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Candidates studying for the PCLL will receive an annual
maintenance grant of HK$50,000 plus a further HK$10,000
to cover the PCLL conversion examinations and exemption
fees. We will also cover your PCLL tuition fee in full for
full-time one-year PCLL courses. In addition, we award a
HK$6,000 prize to future trainees who achieve a first-class
LLB degree and/or a distinction in the PCLL.
Trainee solicitor current salary
• Our salary is competitive within the market
Health and financial security
• Mandatory Provident Fund
• Life insurance
• Permanent health insurance (medical)
• Personal accident insurance
• Business travel insurance
• Medical insurance
Annual leave
22 days’ annual leave
5.
What we look for
Individuality
There’s no such thing as a typical Allen & Overy candidate.
Quite the opposite in fact. We’re open-minded and we’re
interested in people who share that quality. Naturally we
are looking for individuals who can demonstrate strong
academic performance – we hope you’ll be heading for a 2.1
(or equivalent) graduate degree from any discipline, and have
340 UCAS points (AAB) at A Level (or equivalent). It is an
advantage to your application if you speak Putonghua and/or
Cantonese, and have reading and writing skills in either
simplified or traditional Chinese.
Beyond this we want to see evidence of teamwork, motivation
and drive, communication skills, planning and organisation,
critical thinking, commercial awareness and commitment –
both to a career in law and to a career with Allen & Overy.
And, we are serious when we say that your university and
degree subject are not significant to your application – at
least 25% of our trainees are from non-law backgrounds
and we do not have a shortlist of preferred universities.
11.12
N2K

6.
Key dates, contact us
Recruitment talk/ information sessions
• Invitation flyers will be despatched to students through the
careers offices of universities and/or the students’ societies
or associations
• Overseas law students are also welcome to attend if they
are in Hong Kong
• Registration for attendance is by phone, details will be
posted on the flyers when making the broadcasting.
We currently run the following information sessions
each year:
• Hong Kong – two or three sessions in September,
and one session each in December and/or January
• Australia – six or seven sessions in March/April
• UK (London) – one session in February and/or
• three or four sessions to be given during the UK Law
Fairs in November (time to be confirmed).
How to apply
The application window will be open each year from mid-
September to end of March. Case study interviews will take
place in January/February each year in Hong Kong and in
London, UK, and in March in Australia. You must submit your
application online via our website. Your resume and other
information can be attached to your online application. Case
study interviews in Australia will take place during the time of
the law fairs in Melbourne and Sydney, usually in March and
April.
www.allenovery.com/careers
(look for ‘Hong Kong’)
Please check our website for any updated or revised
information or schedules.
Training contract
We prefer to, and typically do, offer our training contracts
to applicants who have completed our summer vacation
placement scheme. We will post details of the training contract
application on our website, usually in August, following
completion of the summer vacation placement June and July
scheme.
www.allenovery.com/careers
Contact us
Allen & Overy, Hong Kong
9th Floor, Three Exchange Square
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2974 7000
Fax: +852 2974 6999
Web: www.allenovery.com/careers
(look for Hong Kong)
“At Allen & Overy we never
stop learning. We help you to
be the best, to give the best to
our clients”
Graduate recruitment team,
Allen & Overy, Hong Kong

The firm has won many awards and accolades in
relation to our client work, human resources and
innovation. Here’s how we’ve been described by
clients and commentators in the legal press...
‘This “dedicated, client-friendly
and technically excellent team” has been
“consistently achieving extraordinary results
for its clients,” say interviewees.’
Chambers, 2011
‘a strong team which provides faultless legal
advice and always acts in our best interests – I’d
rather have them in our corner than against us.’
Legal 500, 2011
‘Clients appreciate the team’s ability to handle highly
complex projects and its long-standing experience in the
market: “The lawyers are very focused, totally professional
and extremely responsive. They have everything we need”.’
Legal 500, 2011
‘Clients say “the team is very strong, has great depth and
dedicated client service”.’
Legal 500, 2011
‘This firm continues to dominate the restructuring and insolvency area,
where it is applauded for its “unparalleled academic excellence and its
consistent and high-quality commercial advice”.’
Chambers, 2011
‘Clients see Allen & Overy as “the banking and finance firm of choice”,
Legal 500, 2010
praising its “good business acumen and industry knowledge”.’
Legal 500, 2010
13.14
N2K / LEGAL PRESS

PRO BONO
“We strongly encourage our
graduate trainees to get involved
across the full range of our
different pro bono and corporate
social responsibility activities.”
www.allenovery.com/careers
Our extensive global pro bono and community affairs programme
is an important part of who we are and an expression of the values
on which we build our business. This is no less true in Hong Kong,
where we dedicate significant resources and time to pro bono
work and community-based projects.
In 2010 and also in 2011, the firm was named
Asian Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year by the leading
independent publisher, International Financial Law
Review. This pan-Asian award reflects the personal
time, commitment and dedication of our staff
throughout Asia to pro bono and volunteering work.
The judges’ commented that Allen & Overy stood out
above all other law firms for the comprehensive nature
of our giving. In particular we were praised for our
volunteering work where in the past 12 months we
have actively supported over 20 charitable groups in
their work for the disadvantaged, elderly and children.
And in Hong Kong, we have received the Caring
Company Award, which recognises and promotes
good corporate citizenship, for nine consecutive
years. We strongly encourage our graduate trainees
to get involved across the full range of our different
pro bono and corporate social responsibility activities
for a number of reasons. The first is that, typically, they
are the kind of people who are motivated to lend their
talents and energy to such projects and we want to
support them in this. We also recognise that some of
the experiences and perspectives they gain through
such work have an ancillary benefit to our firm, not
least in the teamwork and sense of shared purpose
that they foster. And, ultimately, as a firm of high
achieving individuals we have a strong sense of both
our capacity and our responsibility to effect positive
change where we can.
In addition to substantial donations to a variety
of charities and other bodies, our pro bono
legal projects include supporting:
• Helpers for Domestic Helpers (HDH) – provides
paralegal advice, counselling and guidance for
foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong facing
issues relating to employment, immigration and
human rights. Allen & Overy staff volunteers help
with the HDH Sunday rota – the day when most
domestic staff are released from work – and the
Litigation department delivers valuable support
through a formal referral system.
• International Centre for Missing and
Exploited Children – Allen & Overy staff are
helping to coordinate the establishment of an
Asia Pacific Financial Coalition to fight commercial
sexual exploitation of children over the internet.
• Enlighten – works to improve the quality of life
for people with epilepsy and their family members.
Allen & Overy advised Enlighten on registering the
charity in Hong Kong and provides ongoing legal
support.
• ADM – Allen & Overy has been advising this
agricultural processing conglomerate on its
charitable work promoting environmentally
sustainable growth in South East Asia in a manner
that is sensitive to local cultures, and alleviating
child poverty.
• The World Bank – Allen & Overy is one of
the largest contributors to the Doing Business
Project, which aims to identify through research
the business regulations that best encourage
economic growth.
• Hong Kong Red Cross – we provide ad hoc
assistance on legal aspects of its work, such as
the recent development, sale and distribution of
an updated first aid manual.
We are also active in local volunteering projects that
benefit the people in our immediate communities,
including St Mary’s Home for the Aged, the Hans
Andersen Club and Crossroads.

Volunteers from Allen & Overy Hong Kong for the Community Business ENGAGE Programme. Delivered Christmas gifts and hosted
celebration for the children at the Guangzhou Orphanage. Painting day for the elderly home. Visit to St. Mary’s Home for the Aged
Community Business Give and Gain Activity. Elderly visit to Asbury Methodist Social Service.
15.16
PRO BONO

1
3 4
2

5
1, 2, 4 – Allen & Overy offices
3, 5 – Hong Kong city and harbour
You can find out more about
careers with Allen & Overy
in Hong Kong and read the
stories of more of our people on
our website.
Visit
www.allenovery.com/careers
and select Hong Kong.

Allen & Overy, Hong Kong
9th Floor, Three Exchange Square
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2974 7000
Fax: +852 2974 6999
Web: www.allenovery.com/careers
(look for Hong Kong)
Allen & Overy is an international legal practice with approximately 5,500 staff, including some 530
partners, working in 42 major centres worldwide. Allen & Overy LLP or an affiliated undertaking
has an office in each of:
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Amsterdam
Antwerp
Athens (representative office)
Bangkok
Beijing
Belfast
Bratislava
Brussels
Bucharest (associated office)
Budapest
Casablanca
Doha
Dubai
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Frankfurt
Hamburg
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Ho Chi Minh City
Hong Kong
Istanbul
Jakarta (associated office)
London
Luxembourg
Madrid
Mannheim
Milan
Moscow
Munich
New York
Paris
Perth
Prague
Riyadh (associated office)
Rome
São Paulo
Shanghai
Singapore
Sydney
Tokyo
Warsaw
Washington, D.C.
Allen & Overy means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. The term partner is
used to refer to a member of Allen & Overy LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent
standing and qualifications or an individual with equivalent status in one of Allen & Overy LLP’s
affiliated undertakings.
© Allen & Overy LLP 2012