Government Counsel

To be deployed in the Department of Justice undertaking criminal advocacy, civil litigation, legal advisory work (criminal, civil, national security and public international law), bilingual legislative drafting, commercial law, mutual legal assistance, legal policy work as well as formulation and implementation of law-related policies, etc. For operational or career development purposes, Government Counsel will be deployed to work in any offices/divisions of the Department of Justice, such as the Secretary for Justice’s Office, Civil Division, Prosecutions Division, Constitutional and Policy Affairs Division, International Law Division, Law Drafting Division or National Security Prosecutions Division. More information about the Department’s work can be found at the website (https://www.doj.gov.hk).

A career as Government Counsel in the Department of Justice offers a unique opportunity to apply and develop your professional ability. Government Counsel work with various bureaux and departments as well as law enforcement agencies and participate in legal decisions and processes concerning matters of public importance. Diverse and challenging roles that are not found in the private sector are available. We invite applications from both newly qualified lawyers (including those who expect to finish their training in summer 2027) and those with experience. We offer considerable job satisfaction, competitive salaries and fringe benefits, with prospects for promotion to higher positions. Candidates - (a) must be - (i) solicitors admitted in Hong Kong (Note : Candidates who will complete their training as a trainee solicitor in Hong Kong on or before 30 September 2027 may also apply. Their appointment, however, will be subject to their admission as solicitors in Hong Kong); or (ii) barristers with one year’s professional experience since attaining the right to full practice in Hong Kong (Note : Barristers with right to full practice in Hong Kong but who do not possess one year’s professional experience since attaining the right to full practice may also apply. If selected, they will enter at an appropriate point below the minimum of the Government Counsel pay scale. Candidates who will complete their pupillage in Hong Kong on or before 30 September 2027 may also apply. Their appointment, however, will be subject to their admission as barristers in Hong Kong with satisfactory completion of pupillage); (b) must have a Level 2 result [see Note (1)] in the Use of English [see Notes (2) and (3)] paper and a Level 1 result in the Use of Chinese [see Note (2)] paper in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE). Candidates without the requisite CRE results but who have met the other entry requirements may also apply. Appointment will be subject to their obtaining Level 2 in the Use of English paper and Level 1 in the Use of Chinese paper of the CRE on or before 31 August 2027. Candidates who do not have Level 1 in the Use of Chinese paper of the CRE by the time of appointment may also be appointed. However, only a limited number of applicants who do not possess the requisite Chinese language proficiency may be appointed subject to the operational needs of the Department. Please visit Civil Service Bureau’s website at https://www.csb.gov.hk for details of the CRE; and (c) must have a pass result in the Basic Law and National Security Law Test [see Note (4)].