diff --git a/src/hqt/tui/screens/new_session.py b/src/hqt/tui/screens/new_session.py
index 3ff3070..2b24413 100644
--- a/src/hqt/tui/screens/new_session.py
+++ b/src/hqt/tui/screens/new_session.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from textual.app import ComposeResult
+from textual.binding import Binding
 from textual.containers import Horizontal, Vertical
 from textual.screen import ModalScreen
 from textual.widgets import Button, Checkbox, Input, Label, Select, Switch
@@ -10,6 +11,14 @@ from hqt.sandbox import SandboxPolicy
 class NewSessionScreen(
     ModalScreen[tuple[str, str, str | None, str | None, SandboxPolicy | None] | None]
 ):
+    # Soft vim-style field navigation: j/k walk the dialog's focus chain. Inputs
+    # consume printable keys first, so j/k type literally while editing text and
+    # only move focus when a toggle/select/button is focused.
+    BINDINGS = [
+        Binding("j", "focus_next", "Next field", show=False),
+        Binding("k", "focus_previous", "Prev field", show=False),
+    ]
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         harness_names: list[str],
@@ -21,6 +30,14 @@ class NewSessionScreen(
         self.sandbox_available = sandbox_available
         super().__init__()
 
+    # focus_next/focus_previous are screen methods, not binding actions, so the
+    # j/k bindings need these thin action_* wrappers to dispatch to them.
+    def action_focus_next(self) -> None:
+        self.focus_next()
+
+    def action_focus_previous(self) -> None:
+        self.focus_previous()
+
     def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
         with Vertical(id="new-session-dialog"):
             yield Label("New Session")
diff --git a/tests/test_tui.py b/tests/test_tui.py
index ae6dce0..afb1746 100644
--- a/tests/test_tui.py
+++ b/tests/test_tui.py
@@ -1913,3 +1913,54 @@ def test_dialog_focus_highlight_uses_accent():
     ):
         assert selector in css, f"missing focus rule: {selector}"
     assert "border: tall $accent;" in css
+
+
+def test_new_session_has_jk_focus_bindings():
+    """j -> focus_next, k -> focus_previous, declared on the screen."""
+    from hqt.tui.screens.new_session import NewSessionScreen
+
+    actions = {b.key: b.action for b in NewSessionScreen.BINDINGS}
+    assert actions.get("j") == "focus_next"
+    assert actions.get("k") == "focus_previous"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_jk_moves_focus_between_controls():
+    """On a non-text control, j moves focus to another control."""
+    app = HqtApp()
+    async with app.run_test(size=(120, 40)) as pilot:
+        from hqt.tui.screens.new_session import NewSessionScreen
+        from textual.widgets import Switch
+
+        app.push_screen(
+            NewSessionScreen(["claude"], is_git_repo=True, sandbox_available=True)
+        )
+        await pilot.pause()
+        switch = app.screen.query_one("#sandbox-switch", Switch)
+        switch.focus()
+        await pilot.pause()
+        assert app.focused is switch
+
+        await pilot.press("j")
+        await pilot.pause()
+        assert app.focused is not switch
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_jk_typed_into_input_is_literal():
+    """Inside a text input, j/k type literally and do not move focus."""
+    app = HqtApp()
+    async with app.run_test(size=(120, 40)) as pilot:
+        from hqt.tui.screens.new_session import NewSessionScreen
+        from textual.widgets import Input
+
+        app.push_screen(NewSessionScreen(["claude"], is_git_repo=True))
+        await pilot.pause()
+        nickname = app.screen.query_one("#nickname-input", Input)
+        nickname.focus()
+        await pilot.pause()
+
+        await pilot.press("j", "k")
+        await pilot.pause()
+        assert nickname.value == "jk"
+        assert app.focused is nickname