Becoming a lawyer is tough; the pandemic has made the journey more difficult. Pat yourself on the back if you have completed the law degree or landed your first legal job during this unprecedented period, in the middle of lockdowns and worldwide recessions. When starting a legal practice career, whether working in private practice orContinue reading “5 tips for law graduates and young lawyers”
Category Archives: Career Advice
Should a Lawyer be a Coder?
“Everybody should learn to program a computer because it teaches you how to think,” said Steve Jobs in 1995[1]. At that moment, programming seemed a foreign language for many industries, including the legal profession. However, after almost three decades, coding is now accorded as a compulsory subject every school child must learn[2]. Should this alsoContinue reading “Should a Lawyer be a Coder?”
Building a network in a post-pandemic world
If you are a junior associate or in-house counsel, networking in the legal profession is vital in making connections, finding clients, creating collegial collaborations, and building referral relationships. However, networking for lawyers poses a few challenges in the wake of the pandemic. For more than a year, lawyers have not been able to attend industryContinue reading “Building a network in a post-pandemic world”
Tips to prepare for a legal internship
An internship nowadays is vital to a lawyer’s career. Summer internships are an important opportunity to learn about areas of the law you might want to pursue. Also, perhaps even more importantly, having a good internship could increase your chances of landing a dream job after law school. There are a set of things youContinue reading “Tips to prepare for a legal internship”
Lawyers’ career planning during the pandemic
We are living in unprecedented times in many ways and legal career decisions have become even more pivotal. No matter if you are an experienced law practitioner planning a career transition, a new graduate navigating opportunities for the first time, or a law student seeking an internship, we would provide the following tips: Think thoroughlyContinue reading “Lawyers’ career planning during the pandemic”
Now is the right time to consider changing jobs
When the Covid-19 pandemic erupted in the legal industry last year, many professionals felt blessed to retain their jobs even with the challenges of working remotely and coping with additional challenges like childcare, home schooling and health risks. These combined stresses prompted the “Great Resignation” (also known as the “Big Quit”). As a result, highContinue reading “Now is the right time to consider changing jobs”
How to ace your partner interview
Partner recruiting in general is a complex and lengthy process. It can take anywhere from a couple of months to over a year. At the core of the process are the interviews with prospective colleagues and leaders at other firms. In preparing a partner-level interview, you have to be able to present a compelling appraisalContinue reading “How to ace your partner interview”
Tips To Take You To The Top
For many law students and attorneys, becoming a top law firm partner is the ultimate career milestone. What does it take to make partner? Certain things you can learn in law school, but the path to partnership is forged in the workplace. Nowadays, delivering very high-quality legal work and being a rainmaker may no longerContinue reading “Tips To Take You To The Top”
Non-Financial Incentives for Lawyers
As the economy continues to struggle through the pandemic, law firms and companies are increasingly competing to acquire and retain top talent. Competitive compensation levels can be important, but truly effective motivation requires a more in-depth approach and a real commitment to people. In many cases, other motivational non-monetary tools can be much more powerfulContinue reading “Non-Financial Incentives for Lawyers”
Handy Interview Tips to Help You Succeed in a Job Interview
We have continued to see good levels of recruitment activity in Asia. Many companies and major law firms are actively hiring across the region. Early 2021 could be the right moment for you to plan your next career move and get prepared. It is essential to know what kinds of questions to expect so youContinue reading “Handy Interview Tips to Help You Succeed in a Job Interview”
What Makes You A Leader?
What adjectives come to mind when you think of the word “leader”? Passionate? Inspirational? And humble? Some people still hold mistaken thoughts that leaders must be in high-level positions, such as supervisors, partners, government officials etc., but these are not necessarily what defines a leader. Everyone may have their own interpretation of leadership, but ourContinue reading “What Makes You A Leader?”
Thinking of making a move to an offshore firm?
There are more offshore law firms in service than ever before to meet these increasing needs in Hong Kong. In parallel, we have observed a growing number of lawyers expressing interest in moving into the offshore environment. Considering the rapid growth of the offshore firms’ presence in the Hong Kong market, we are happy toContinue reading “Thinking of making a move to an offshore firm?”
Working in Law: private practice or in-house?
For lawyers who have worked in private practice for several years, it is not uncommon for them to consider making a career change to an in-house position. Although working in private practice can be a rewarding experience for many lawyers (to gain deep knowledge and practical experience in a specific area of law and let’sContinue reading “Working in Law: private practice or in-house?”
Interview with Charles Chau, Graduate Recruitment Partner, Jones Day
We are delighted to have Charles Chau, a corporate Partner at Jones Day’s Hong Kong office, join us to share his insights on how to build a successful legal career. As the Graduate Recruitment Partner, Charles also shares his advice on what he looks for when recruiting and the importance of giving back through volunteerContinue reading “Interview with Charles Chau, Graduate Recruitment Partner, Jones Day”
A modest recommendation/suggestion
How often have you heard people say something like “I recommend you to see a lawyer”? This structure is very common in Asia but is never used by native speakers (unless they’ve soaked up too much of the local patois). Unfortunately no rule applies to this situation. The correct form is simply a matter ofContinue reading “A modest recommendation/suggestion”
Acing the Law Firm Interview – A practical guide for interns, trainees and junior candidates
To successfully secure a job offer at a law firm, you must know how to prepare for the interview. The interview is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your suitability for the role by showing the interviewer your ability to analyze complex legal information, communicate with colleagues and clients, and to work under tight deadlinesContinue reading “Acing the Law Firm Interview – A practical guide for interns, trainees and junior candidates”
5 tips to thrive in BigLaw
Throughout these years, a number of law graduates and junior lawyers have commented that international law firms, especially those renowned as the Magic Circle or White-Shoe firms, are so aggressive that even if you get a chance to work there, only the cream-of-the-crop will thrive and progress up the ranks. We believe that every drivenContinue reading “5 tips to thrive in BigLaw”
The Wednesday Writer with Bill Lawrence
Hello, everyone, and welcome to the first of what I hope will be numerous instalments of The Wednesday Writer. Just in case I get hit by a bus in the coming week, I want to go straight to the feature that affects comprehension more than any other. Did you think “long sentences”? Bravo, you areContinue reading “The Wednesday Writer with Bill Lawrence”
Interview with Mary Schaus, Attorney Recruitment & Development Regional Leader
We are thrilled to have Mary Schaus, an experienced leader in attorney recruiting and development from Skadden, to share her thoughts on legal recruitment, talent management, and diversity in the workplace. In the interview, Mary shares her insights about Skadden’s recruiting approach, successful workplace environments, lateral hiring integration, and the importance of grit, curiosity andContinue reading “Interview with Mary Schaus, Attorney Recruitment & Development Regional Leader”
Covid-19, cutbacks and closures
Covid-19 continues to hog the headlines as Hong Kong edges along in reducing social distancing rules and China moves more boldly towards returning its cities to normality. Every day seems to bring further news of international firms instigating cost-cutting measures and, officially or unofficially, freezing all hiring globally even as Asia looks to weather theContinue reading “Covid-19, cutbacks and closures”