Before joining the Supreme Court, he had a distinguished career in law, including serving as state secretary during the early years of World War II, where he played a key role in legislative matters.
[3] However, he left active service at the Court of Appeal as early as 1932 to assist with the preparation of legislative matters in the Ministry of Justice in Stockholm, a task that lasted until 1935, with only a brief interruption for a short-term appointment as judge referee in 1933.
[3] From 1935 to 1939, Hellquist was the head of the legislative affairs division (chief of the Criminal Law Office (straffrättsbyrån)) in the Ministry of Justice.
[3] He served as a regular judge referee from 1937 to 1943[3] and acted as director-general for administrative affairs (expeditionschef) in the Ministry of Justice in 1939.
[2] From 1939 to 1943, he was state secretary in the same ministry, a demanding role, especially given the extensive and urgent legislative activity during the first years of World War II.