CAREERS – LEGAL
Mandarin-Speaking Lawyer Careers in Jakarta
Join Schinder Law Firm's China Practice at Any Career Level
LOCATION
Jakarta, Indonesia
EMPLOYMENT
Full-Time
DEPARTMENT
Legal - China Practice
CAREER LEVEL
Junior Associate, Associate, and Senior Associate
EXPERIENCE
Any
LANGUAGE
Mandarin Chinese, English, and Bahasa Indonesia
Role Overview
Schinder Law Firm welcomes Mandarin-speaking lawyers at Junior Associate, Associate and Senior Associate levels to join our China Practice in Jakarta.
The firm has extensive experience advising Chinese investors, multinational companies and project sponsors on entering, investing and operating in Indonesia. Our work includes foreign investment, company establishment, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial transactions, major projects, business licensing, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution.
Mandarin-speaking lawyers at Schinder Law Firm do more than translate legal documents. They connect Chinese headquarters with Indonesian operations, explain Indonesian law within the client’s commercial context and help ensure that legal advice is understood, accepted and implemented across languages and jurisdictions.
The responsibilities and qualification standards for each candidate will correspond to the applicable Junior Associate, Associate or Senior Associate position.
The Special Role of Mandarin-speaking Lawyers
Mandarin-speaking lawyers are expected to:
- Communicate directly with Chinese clients, overseas headquarters, Indonesian operating companies and local counterparties.
- Explain Indonesian laws, regulations and legal risks clearly and accurately in Mandarin Chinese.
- Understand the business objectives, internal decision-making processes and commercial expectations of Chinese companies investing in Indonesia.
- Ensure that legal terminology, commercial meaning and risk allocation remain accurate across Mandarin, English and Bahasa Indonesia documents and communications.
- Identify potential misunderstandings between Chinese business expectations and Indonesian legal or regulatory practice.
- Help clients translate legal advice into practical implementation steps for their Indonesian investments and operations.
- Participate in client meetings, negotiations, due diligence, transactions, projects and dispute-resolution matters involving Chinese-speaking stakeholders.
- Coordinate effectively with the firm’s Indonesian lawyers and multilingual teams.
- Support the development of Chinese-language legal updates, client briefings, seminars, training programmes and publications.
- Contribute to the continued development of Schinder Law Firm’s China Practice and its relationships with Chinese companies, professional advisers and business organisations.
Special Career Opportunities
Mandarin-speaking lawyers at Schinder Law Firm have the opportunity to:
- Work directly with Chinese investors, multinational groups, state-owned enterprises, private companies and project sponsors operating in Indonesia.
- Gain experience in significant Indonesian and cross-border transactions, investments, projects and disputes.
- Participate directly in communications with clients’ senior management and overseas headquarters.
- Develop expertise in translating Indonesian legal and regulatory requirements into commercially workable solutions for Chinese businesses.
- Build professional capability across law, business, cross-cultural communication and client management.
- Contribute to Chinese-language thought leadership, legal education and client-development initiatives.
- Help shape the strategy, professional standards and long-term growth of the firm’s China Practice.
- Progress through the firm’s career pathway from Junior Associate to Associate, Senior Associate and, for suitable candidates, toward leadership and partnership.
Career Levels
Mandarin-speaking Junior Associate
Suitable for strong fresh graduates and lawyers with up to two years of relevant experience.
Candidates will support legal research, drafting, due diligence, regulatory processes, client communications and other assigned workstreams under supervision.
The full responsibilities, qualifications and career-development standards applicable to this level are set out on the Junior Associate career page.
Mandarin-speaking Associate
Suitable for lawyers with two to four years of relevant experience.
Candidates will handle defined legal matters and workstreams, communicate directly with Chinese-speaking clients and begin supervising more junior team members under the direction of a Senior Associate or Partner.
The full responsibilities, qualifications and career-development standards applicable to this level are set out on the Associate career page.
Mandarin-speaking Senior Associate
Suitable for experienced lawyers with five to nine years of relevant experience.
Candidates will lead legal matters, manage Chinese client relationships, supervise multilingual legal teams and contribute to the strategic development of the firm’s China Practice.
The full responsibilities, qualifications and partnership-development standards applicable to this level are set out on the Senior Associate career page.
General Requirements
Candidates should possess:
- A bachelor’s degree in law from a reputable university.
- Professional fluency in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
- Knowledge of Indonesian law appropriate to the relevant career level.
- Strong legal research, drafting, analytical and problem-solving skills appropriate to the relevant career level.
- The ability to explain Indonesian legal concepts clearly to Chinese-speaking clients and management teams.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work across different legal, business and cultural environments.
- Commercial awareness and a practical, solution-oriented approach.
- High ethical standards, sound judgment and a strong sense of responsibility.
- The ability to work effectively within a collaborative and multilingual team.
Admission to the Indonesian Bar and a valid advocate licence are preferred for Associate roles and strongly preferred for Senior Associate roles.
Mandarin proficiency will be assessed as part of the recruitment process.
Career Development
Mandarin-speaking lawyers follow the same professional standards, performance requirements and promotion criteria as other lawyers at Schinder Law Firm.
Language ability is an important professional advantage, but progression is based on the lawyer’s complete capability, including legal excellence, commercial judgment, matter ownership, client trust, leadership and contribution to the firm.
Lawyers who consistently demonstrate these qualities may progress through the firm’s career pathway and may ultimately be considered for leadership or partnership.
How to Apply
Please send your CV, academic transcript and supporting documents to career@schinderlawfirm.com.
State the relevant position in the email subject line:
- Mandarin-Speaking Junior Associate Application
- Mandarin-Speaking Associate Application
- Mandarin-Speaking Senior Associate Application
Applications may be submitted in English. Candidates may also include a Mandarin-language CV or professional profile.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process.