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EARLY CAREERS in Australia

Graduate programme

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Unlock your potential

We offer graduate positions across all our DLA Piper offices in Australia. During your graduate programme, you’ll experience three six-month rotations throughout our seven different practice areas to gain a broad range of experience. Explore the intersection between law and business. Discover how an international law firm makes an impact in Australia and around the world. Develop the skills you need for a global legal career. You’ll do all this and more on our 18-month graduate programme.

Our graduate programme is designed for people who have a global mindset and appreciate the nuances of local contexts. You'll do the most stimulating work, immerse yourself in diverse cultures, and navigate the complexities of our interconnected world.

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Unlock your potential

What you will do

  • Complete three, six-month rotations in our practice groups
  • Access placement opportunities in our responsible business and business advisory teams
  • Work on high-profile, cross-border projects at the forefront of legal innovation
  • Collaborate with a friendly, forward-thinking team and build a global network
  • Grow through structured learning and development opportunities with support from supervisors, buddies, mentors and a dedicated Early Careers programme manager
  • Graduate as more than a lawyer – become a global business advisor ready to shape the future of law
What you will do

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for people from a diverse range of backgrounds who have the potential to thrive at our firm.

Self-motivated and highly driven

Self-motivated and highly driven

You are proactive and strive for excellence. You pursue goals with purpose and determination, whether working independently or as part of a team.

Excitement for international law and business

Excitement for international law and business

You are curious about global legal developments, regulatory shifts and geopolitical trends.

Strong collaborator with social awareness

Strong collaborator with social awareness

You are an excellent communicator, active listener and team player who contributes to an inclusive, supportive work environment.

Entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to challenge the norm

Entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to challenge the norm

You think creatively, embrace new ideas and challenge conventional approaches. You thrive in challenging environments and aim to excel.

Ability to think critically, adapt and take ownership

Ability to think critically, adapt and take ownership

You have an ability to assess situations from multiple perspectives, adapt quickly to change and take responsibility for delivering exceptional results.

Growth mindset, seeing setbacks as opportunities

Growth mindset, seeing setbacks as opportunities

You are resilient, reflective, and always eager to learn, leveraging setbacks as an opportunity to sharpen your thinking.  

Are you eligible?

We fill our graduate positions through priority offers made to candidates who complete our clerkship. More information on our clerkship programme can be found here, including how and where to apply.

You need to have the right to work in Australia for the duration of the programme. We are unable to sponsor visas, and only accept applications from Australian or New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.

Key dates

Our graduate intake starts in mid-February for all our Australian offices.

Key dates

Recruitment roadmap

Please refer to our clerkship programmes for an outline of our clerkship recruitment process.

Recruitment roadmap

Accessibility

At DLA Piper, we are committed to making reasonable adjustments and removing disability-related barriers. This is so everyone, irrespective of a visible or non-visible disability, neurodivergence, a long-term health condition or injury, has an equitable opportunity to succeed in our recruitment process.

If you think you may need adjustments or additional support to enable you to participate in our recruitment process, please get in touch with our Early Careers team and we will be happy to support you.

We understand that sharing your needs with us may feel daunting. We will have an open discussion with you about what will work best for you in the recruitment process, and you only need to share what you feel comfortable with. Our team will ensure that the information you provide will be treated confidentially. The information will only be shared with others involved in the process, on your approval, and where necessary.

We will use the information you share to put adjustments in place for you at any stage, or at multiple stages, of the recruitment process. This is to enable you to perform to the best of your ability, and to have an equitable opportunity to perform and thrive.

Accessibility
    Tom Keyser, Solicitor, Brisbane

    You hear a lot about the international aspects of a firm like DLA Piper. It was not until I joined the firm that I appreciated how broad and active the international network was. In my first year working in Corporate, I was regularly in contact with clients and colleagues from all around the globe.

    Tom Keyser
    Joanne Wang, Graduate, Melbourne

    I joined DLA Piper as a paralegal, then completed a clerkship, and now I am a graduate. The firm’s mentoring culture really stands out! Mentoring happens every day.

    Joanne Wang
    Carol Lin, Graduate, Sydney

    DLA Piper is not just another global law firm; it truly operates as a global team within which I feel supported to pursue my career and personal goals.

    Carol Lin
    Cassian Ho, Senior Associate, Sydney

    No matter how excellent any individual is, success is achieved through working as a team. In my view, DLA Piper’s team culture is great, and there is a real emphasis on ensuring that we’re friends as well as colleagues.

    Cassian Ho
    Elliott Cheung, Partner, Sydney

    At DLA Piper, I have always felt part of a global community rather than simply part of a local office. The firm offers international travel opportunities at all career stages. I was lucky to have participated in some of these.

    Elliott Cheung
      FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

      Your questions,
      answered

      We offer approximately 25 graduate positions across Australia each year. 

      The graduate programme starts in mid-February for all graduates nationally. 

      As a global firm, we offer a range of international opportunities supporting you to develop a global mindset, share knowledge and work collaboratively across borders. This includes the types of matters and clients that our clerks and graduates work on, as well as the international experiences our people participate in, such as international conferences, secondment opportunities andlearning and development opportunities.

      We are committed to providing our colleagues with the opportunity to experience working internationally. Secondments benefit our clients, our business and our people. We offer both short and long term secondment opportunities and launched the New Deal in 2022 which has 4 global secondment programmes that colleagues can participate in.

      We prioritise opportunities for our lawyers at the 1 – 3 year level to have an international experience as we understand that living and working in a new location and experiencing a new culture provides fantastic personal and career opportunities. 

      If you complete our clerkship, you’ll be considered for a graduate position. We fill all of our graduate positions through priority offers made to candidates completing our clerkship in the year prior. 

      No, you can only apply to one position in one office each year. 

      You should apply for a clerkship in the office where you would like to complete your graduate programme. 

      No, we have no minimum academic entry criteria. 

      Unfortunately not. Eligibility for our early careers programmes in Australia is limited to people studying Australian law degrees.

      Unfortunately, no. Current eligibility for our early careers programmes in Australia is limited to Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.

      You’ll need to provide evidence of your academic achievements (e.g. exam certificates/transcripts) when submitting your online application.

      Yes. There are practice assessments online, which we encourage you to complete before sitting the assessment. 

      Yes, we encourage you to detail any mitigating circumstances on your application. You may be asked to produce documentary evidence. 

      Please contact our Early Careers team who’ll be happy to help.

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