Careers - PILnet

Junior Program Officer/Program Officer (Hong Kong)
Part-time Intern (Hong Kong)

ABOUT PILNET

PILnet is an international, locally present non-governmental organization (NGO) that partners with legal professionals and civil society organizations (CSOs) globally to protect civic space, address global challenges, and work to build just, equitable, and sustainable societies. PILnet does this by supporting civil society, engaging legal professionals, and nurturing the next generation of legal professionals in three strategic priority areas: civic space, climate justice, and refugees and people on the move. PILnet currently has offices in New York, Budapest, and Hong Kong, but operates globally.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are looking for a full-time or part-time enthusiastic Junior Program Officer to support the programs and operational needs of the Hong Kong office. You will provide support to PILnet’s pro bono clearinghouses, which facilitate pro bono legal assistance for CSOs and social enterprises in Hong Kong and across Asia. You will also help us in planning and coordinating logistics for workshops and roundtables targeted at CSOs and law firms in Hong Kong. Furthermore, you will support PILnet’s Legal Health Check service, which helps CSOs identify legal and operational risks and creates a plan to address them. In addition, you will help coordinate sessions and support logistics of PILnet’s annual Global Forum held in a different city each year. You are also expected to provide administrative support to the Hong Kong office such as onboarding of new staff, liaising with vendors, designing newsletters, and data entry and management.

Reporting to the Senior Program Officer, you will apply your technical skills, education, and experience to:

Support PILnet’s clearinghouse operations by corresponding via email, arranging meetings with CSOs and social enterprises to understand their legal needs, drafting descriptions of legal needs, and identifying and communicating with lawyers within PILnet’s network who can provide pro bono support.
Support PILnet’s Legal Health Check for CSOs in Hong Kong by corresponding with CSOs and lawyers, reviewing risk assessment reports prepared by pro bono legal teams, and arranging debriefing meetings with CSOs.
Plan and coordinate logistics for PILnet workshops, as well as PILnet Global Forums and other events.
Support the Hong Kong office with all administrative matters.
Support data management for the Hong Kong office.
Other tasks as assigned by the Co-Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

Undergraduate degree in law, communications, social sciences, international relations, public administration, or related field.
Fluency in written and spoken English as well as Chinese (Cantonese).
Minimum 1 year of relevant work experience, preferably in the nonprofit or public interest law field.
Demonstrated interest in public interest law, social justice, and human rights.
Ability to work well under pressure and manage competing priorities, while maintaining a professional approach.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate and work with an international team.
Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Excel, Outlook, Access, etc.) and Google Apps.

LOCATION

You will work alongside a small multicultural team from nonprofit management and legal backgrounds in the Hong Kong office, providing you with a supportive and flexible working environment. You are expected to travel to the PILnet Global Forum held once per year; otherwise, this position is not expected to undertake any international travel. You should have the right to work in Hong Kong. The position is open to full-time and part-time (50-60% capacity) applicant with a salary range of $18,000 – $24,000 (based on experience and qualifications).

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and CV to [email protected] with the subject line “Application for Junior Program Officer/Program Officer (Hong Kong) position,” as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed after January 23, 2026. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis from late January into February 2026.

The cover letter should describe your interest in working with PILnet and should spell out your relevant educational and/or practical experience. We kindly request that applicants do not submit CVs with pictures. PILnet focuses solely on qualifications, skills, and experience relevant to the job requirements.

PILnet is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at PILnet are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications and merit, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. PILnet will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. PILnet encourages applicants of all ages and backgrounds.

Personal data provided by applicants will be used strictly in accordance with PILnet’s Privacy Policy.

ABOUT PILNET

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PILnet is inviting applications from Hong Kong-based law students to join PILnet as a part-time Intern. The Intern will be responsible for providing support to all programs and any operational needs of the PILnet Hong Kong office, and will report to its Program Officer.

Specifically, the Intern will get a chance to learn more about pro bono and public interest law in Hong Kong from the NGO perspective, understand how law firms do pro bono work, develop their legal writing and project management skills, and get a better understanding of how NGOs operate. They will primarily support PILnet’s Hong Kong Pro Bono Clearinghouse, Legal Health Check program, and tentatively the Public Interest Law Mentorship Program.

The Clearinghouse matches NGOs that have organizational legal needs with lawyers who are willing to provide pro bono legal assistance. Typical tasks include joining intake calls alongside staff, conducting background research, and drafting matter descriptions for lawyers. Where possible, the Intern will also be asked to join calls with law firms to get them more involved in pro bono work. For the Legal Health Check program, the Intern will join intake and debriefing calls alongside staff, draft matter descriptions, correspond with CSOs and instruct pro bono teams, and help review work products from pro bono teams, including follow-up questions and assessment reports. The Intern is also expected to help with data entry and back-end administrative tasks for the Clearinghouse and Legal Health Check Program. In addition, PILnet also organizes the Public Interest Law Mentorship Program for law students and young legal professionals in Hong Kong. Tasks typically include drafting/compiling publicity materials, preparing event logistics, and drafting surveys for program evaluation purposes, among others. There may also be opportunities to gain exposure to PILnet’s regional work outside of Hong Kong for applicants who are interested.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY

Currently enrolled in a degree in law or law dual-degree programmes.
Fluency in written and spoken English. Proficiency in written and spoken Chinese (Cantonese) is preferred, but not mandatory.
Strong interest in public interest law, social justice and human rights.
Strong interest in non-profit work and international cooperation projects.
Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate and work well with an international team.
Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Excel, Outlook, Access, etc.) and Google Applications.
The right to work in Hong Kong.

OTHER DETAILS

This is a part-time position from February to April 2026. Upon successful completion of the internship, the Intern will be provided with an allowance of HKD 10,000.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and CV to [email protected] with the subject line “Application for Part-time Intern,” as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be conducted after January 14, 2026.

The cover letter should describe your interest in working with PILnet and set out your relevant educational and/or practical experience. We kindly request that applicants do not submit CVs with pictures. PILnet focuses solely on applicants’ qualifications, skills, and experience relevant to the job requirements.

PILnet is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all staff and to providing staff with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All hiring decisions at PILnet are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications and merit, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. PILnet will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. PILnet encourages applicants of all ages and backgrounds.

Personal data provided by applicants will be used strictly in accordance with PILnet’s Privacy Policy.