EARLY CAREERS in Czech Republic
Negotiation competition

Step into the shoes of a legal strategist
Become a master negotiator! Test your legal and negotiation skills at the Czech-wide Negotiation Competition 2025, organised in cooperation with ELSA Czech Republic.
This simulated legal and business negotiation will be between the German company SAEL GmbH and the Czech company PADL Technologies s.r.o. Will you negotiate the best terms for your client?

Draft, negotiate, dominate
You'll prepare a draft contract agreement regulating key aspects of delivering an AI application. You'll find a balanced solution that considers data protection, licensing arrangements and the parties' liability. The AI application automates PADL's internal processes, including customer support and administrative tasks. Your draft should include key contractual provisions such as:
- liability for damages when using the application;
- licensing terms and protection of AI deliverables;
- SAEL's rights to use PADL data for further development; and
- terms and conditions for using the knowhow gained from using the application.
Remember: Focus on the balance of the contract – no party should be disadvantaged.

Win the room. Win the reward.
The four best teams from the competition's first round will join us to negotiate their contract agreements against a DLA Piper partner on 16 April 2025 at DLA Piper's Prague office. Find more information and the competition rules here.
This competition is a great opportunity to develop your negotiation tactics and demonstrate your knowledge of contract law. You'll develop valuable experience for your CV, and could win a prize:
- 1st place: CZK12,000
- 2nd place: CZK8,000
- 3rd place: CZK4,000
Ready to take on the challenge? Apply now to explore how we can unlock your potential, together.

Hear from our finalists
Step into the real world of high-stakes legal strategy in this behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 Negotiation Competition.
Hear from the finalists as they reflect on their experience of navigating tricky contract clauses, working in teams and thinking on their feet, all while under pressure.

English | Czech |
What was your overall impression of the competition and negotiation final? David: Since we’re in our second year, this was our first experience with contract negotiations. It was challenging, but we were glad we made it to the final round and got to try it out. Josef: I think it's a great experience, and we grow through tough moments like this. Klara: It was enjoyable. We learned something new and got a taste of how it works in real life, since it was our first time. I really enjoyed it. Michal: It was fun, though we were occasionally caught off guard by the other side's demands, but I think we found common ground. Marek: I am glad it's done, but it was more pleasant than I expected. Katerina: I think we did well. It was interesting to negotiate a bit differently than we usually do in competitions. |
Jaký byl váš celkový dojem ze soutěže a vyjednávaciho finále? David: Byla to zkušenost, jelikož studujeme druhý ročník, tak to pro nás byla první zkušenost s vyjednáváním smluv. Bylo to náročný, ale jsme rádi, že jsme se vůbec dostali do finálního kola a vyzkoušeli jsme si to. Josef: Myslím si, že to je fajn zkušenost a že těmi těžkými okamžiky v životě rosteme. Klara: Já myslím, že to bylo příjemné, že jsme se zas něco naučili, že jsme si zkusili, jaké je to vlastně doopravdy, protože to pro nás byla první zkušenost a musím říct, že mě to i hodně bavilo. Michal: Bylo to zábavné a občas jsme byli trošku zaskočeni požadavky protistrany, ale myslím, že jsme našli společné řešení. Marek: Jsem rád, že to mám za sebou, ale bylo to příjemnější, než jsem si myslel. Katerina: Za mě nám to šlo pěkně, bylo to zajímavý, si zase zavyjednávat trošku jinak, než jsme zvyklí ze soutěží. |
How did you approach drafting the contract? Marek: Since it was a specific contract, we tried to combine some templates we found to work with. Josef: The AI outputs were probably the hardest part for us, since artificial intelligence isn’t yet fully established in this area, so there weren’t many resources to draw from. Klara: Probably the scope, right? Michal: Yes, the scope was challenging. It was hard to stay within the 9,000 character limit. Klara: We handled it by moving a lot of things into the annexes. We worked on how to adjust them so all key information was included while still meeting the competition’s length requirement. |
Jak jste přistupovali k sestavování smlouvy? Marek: Vzhledem k tomu, že to byla specifická smlouva, tak bylo potřeba zkusit spojit nějaké vzorové smlouvy, které jsme k tomu našli. Josef: Obecně asi pro nás byli nejtěžší ty výstupy AI, jelikož ta umělá inteligence ještě právě není tolik zakotvená, takže tam nebylo tolik zdrojů, z čeho čerpat. Klara: Asi ten rozsah, že? Michal: Ten rozsah byl náročný, bylo náročné vejít se do těch 9000 znaků. Klara: Vyřešili jsme to vlastně tím, že jsme hodně věcí se snažili dát do přílohy, takže jsme potom přemýšleli, jak uzpůsobit ty přílohy, aby všechny ty důležité informace, které potřebujeme k té smlouvě, tam byly, ale zároveň abychom splnili ten rozsah, který je požadavek této soutěže. |
What are you taking away from this competition for the future? Marek: What I'm taking away is the experience of negotiating itself. It was a bit tense, but still professional. Katerina: I think we did well. It was interesting to negotiate a bit differently than we usually do in competitions. Jakub: For me, it's the ability to react quickly to what the other side brings to the table. You have to improvise, analyse clauses on the spot, and immediately grasp what rights and obligations they create. David: The experience, definitely – knowing what contract negotiations look like and getting motivation for future challenges. Josef: We definitely broadened our horizons, especially in software contracts and licensing. Michal: It gave me a good insight into how contract negotiations can work when handled by experienced professionals. |
Co si z této soutěže odnášíte do budoucna? Marek: Odnáším si asi ten zážitek toho samotného vyjednávání, přijde mi, že je taková zajímavá věc. Je to vlastně trošku napjaté, ale profesionální. Katerina: Nové zkušenosti určitě, ty se vždycky hodí. Jakub: Já bych řekl třeba, že si odnáším schopnost rychle reagovat na to, co přinese druhá strana na stůl, takže nějaké improvizační schopnosti. Tím, že druhá strana přišla vždycky s nějakou smluvní klauzulí a člověk se musel rychle zorientovat, co ta klauzule obsahuje, jaké z toho vznikají práva a povinnosti. David: Podle mě zkušenosti - asi že víme, jak vypadá vyjednávání smluv a motivaci do další práce. Josef: Určitě jsme si velice rozšířili obzory v tomto tématu, v softwarových smlouvách a třeba v licenci. Michal: Určitě mi to dalo dobrý vhled - jak může fungovat vyjednávání o těch smlouvách právě ze strany někoho zkušenějšího. |
If you were to give advice to students thinking of taking part next year, what would it be? Marek: I would definitely recommend others to participate. Don’t be discouraged if the assignment seems complicated at first. Jakub: I would recommend studying the possible contract clauses beforehand, since knowing them in advance is a big advantage. David: Go for it! It’s a great experience and there’s nothing to lose. Klara: Don’t be afraid – no one here is testing your legal knowledge or drafting skills. It’s more about having the courage to try. And if you do, it’s a rewarding experience. |
Kdybyste měli dát radu studentům, kteří by se chtěli zapojit příští rok, jaká by to byla? Marek: Já bych jim určitě doporučil, ať se zúčastní, ať se nenechají odradit tím, že třeba to zadání na začátku nevypadá úplně jednoduše. Jakub: Já bych doporučil si nastudovat ty jednotlivé možné klauzule, které v tom kontraktu se mohou objevit, protože určitě bude výhoda ty klauzule znát už takhle dopředu. David: Aby do toho šli, je to fajn zkušenost a nedá se s tím nic ztratit. Klara: Určitě se toho nebát - není to nic, že by vás tady někdo zkoušel z práva nebo jestli umíte psát smlouvy, a tak. Je to spíš o tom mít tu odvahu to zkusit a ten, kdo tu odvahu má, tak si myslím, že potom ve výsledku je to super zkušenost. |
And how do the judges view the competition? Jan: We were honestly impressed – the participants’ level, enthusiasm, and preparation were excellent. We were surprised by their technical knowledge – how software contracts work, how development is structured, and the related rights and obligations. Thorough preparation is key – don’t underestimate the written part, as it sets the foundation for the oral phase. |
A jak soutěž hodnotí porotci? Jan: Byli jsme upřímně nadšení, ať už to byla úroveň účastníků, jejich nadšení, jejich připravenost, takže určitě za nás to byl skvělý ročník, skvělá soutěž. Překvapila nás technická úroveň, to znamená znalost toho, jak vlastně fungují smlouvy, které se týkají softwaru, jejich vývoje a těch souvisejících práv a povinností. Určitě ještě hlubší přípravu to znamená nepodcenit písemnou část, protože od té se potom odvíjí ta ta ústní. |
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
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
You are curious about global legal developments, regulatory shifts and geopolitical trends.

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
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
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
You are resilient, reflective, and always eager to learn, leveraging setbacks as an opportunity to sharpen your thinking.
Are you eligible?
You’ll need to be a strong Czech speaker, reader and writer.
You’ll be a current law student in any year of study at any Czech university.
You'll need to team up with another student to apply jointly.
Key dates
- Applications open: 17 February 2025
- Application deadline: 23 March 2025
- Announcement of the top four teams: 7 April 2025
- Final: 16 April 2025

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 HR department 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.

Jan Metelka, Senior Associate, Prague
Do what you enjoy and want to understand more about, and then focus on improving your knowledge and skills.

Kateřina Barcalová, Junior Associate, Prague
Stay curious and embrace every opportunity to learn.

Petr Samec, Senior Associate, Prague
Believe in yourself, embrace new opportunities, be reliable and work as a team player.

Alzbeta Zelena, Senior Accountant, Prague
I've been with DLA Piper for 16 years and I appreciate the opportunity to continuously develop, deepen my expertise and gain experience.

Life at DLA Piper
Our culture empowers everyone to be themselves and reach their full potential. With the resources to seize opportunities, discover your path, and realise our potential together, see how we support you.
Innovation
Law& combines law and innovation to create value, delivering efficient legal services and unlocks transformative change. Join our creative, growing team to help leaders harness innovation and efficiency to achieve their goals together.
Job Search
Explore career opportunities across our international locations, find your perfect role, and join a team where innovation, inclusion, and growth are at the heart of everything we do.