For lawyers looking to move to the next level in their career, the job market is proving more and more receptive according to the results of the latest Robert Walters Asia Jobs Index. The news for lawyers in both Singapore and Hong Kong was positive; Singapore saw the number of jobs advertised for lawyers up 39per cent on last quarter, behind jobs in property management and customer service. Hong Kong job ads were also up a healthy 16per cent, due to the buoyant IPO market maintaining its momentum. More European and Chinese companies look to Hong Kong as a place to list.

As well as a number of banks increasing the size of their legal team, this is producing some significant opportunities for those in Hong Kong firms wanting to move to an international firm, as the work is spread across both reputable local firms and the large UK and US firms.

The requirements for the larger firms haven’t changed, but there are now local candidates who fit the bill for the larger firms, according to Ricky Mui, manager of the Hong Kong legal division at Robert Walters. “It is probably [still] limited to candidates with strong corporate experience, academics and willingness to move,” he added. Mui also said that one candidate he recently placed from a Hong Kong law firm into a US firm who has doubled their salary with the move. While it is rare for a local lawyer to place directly into a leading US firm, Mui said with very strong experience and time abroad either studying or working candidates will be considered, especially by the second tier US firms.

Other areas where firms are hiring in Hong Kong are construction and energy. “There are a lot of energy and construction projects going on in China, and we are hearing a lot from Australian law firms, as well as the English firms you’d expect such as Herbert Smith and Clyde & Co,” Mui concluded.