Judicial Associates (Criminal Appeals) are to provide assistance in the Criminal Appeals Registry of the Court of Appeal of the High Court. In criminal matters the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal is primarily to determine applications for leave to appeal, and appeals, against conviction and/or sentence from the District Court and the Court of First Instance. The Criminal Appeals Registry of the Court of Appeal provides the mechanisms by which applications for leave to appeal are received, processed and managed. Main duties of the post-holder include - (a) Assisting members of the Court of Appeal in all aspects of case management and the drafting of summaries for the use of the court in preparation for and conduct of applications and hearings; (b) Assisting to ensure that all applications are effective, in particular that the applications comply with the Practice Directions and the issues are properly identified; (c) Preparing case summaries of the facts and legal issues arising in applications for leave to appeal against conviction and/or sentence in cases considered by either a single judge, in an application for leave to appeal, or by the full court at the hearing of appeals or renewed applications; (d) Conducting legal research in providing advice to the judges of the Court of Appeal, and to the Registrar and Deputy Registrars of the High Court; and (e) Conducting research and giving advice on subjects and matters as assigned by the judges.

(a) Applicants must – (i) be solicitors or barristers admitted/called in Hong Kong or any other common law jurisdiction and have at least two years’ post-qualification experience of criminal law as a solicitor or barrister by 31 August 2015; or (ii) have previous experience as a Judicial Assistant in the Hong Kong Judiciary; (b) Applicants must be permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; (c) Applicants should have a thorough knowledge of criminal law and procedure and the ability to acquire expertise in the practice and procedure of the Criminal Appeals Registry and the Court of Appeal, together with a knowledge of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, the Criminal Appeals Rules and the Criminal Practice Directions; (d) Applicants are expected to have the ability to identify the material issues in complex matters effectively and to articulate that analysis succinctly and accurately, orally and in writing, applying sound legal judgment; (e) Applicants are expected to have the ability to work under pressure, both as to volume of work and time; (f) Excellent writing skills are essential; and (g) Proficiency in Chinese will be a clear asset.