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Early careers in the United Kingdom

It’s time to build a different kind of legal career

Hero

Opportunity,
unlocked

We’re a world of opportunity, and the key to a global legal career. Here, you’ll have the freedom to seize opportunities and discover your own path. Come and make an extraordinary impact beyond the borders of traditional law.

OUR PROGRAMMES

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opportunities

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Virtual job simulations

Virtual job simulations

Give your career the best platform and explore a career in law.

International training programme

International training programme

The opportunities and experiences you'll have on our international training programme - with trainees across our UK, Ireland, UAE and Hong Kong offices - will help you develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to succeed in a career in law.

Law, unlocked

Law, unlocked

Are you curious about life at DLA Piper? Discover how we’re making an extraordinary impact beyond the borders of traditional law by attending this event.

Summer internship

Summer internship

During our 2-3 week, in-person paid summer internship you'll start to build the foundation of a global legal career, collaborating with colleagues and clients on high-value matters that shape industries.

Discovery days

Discovery days

If you’re curious about life at DLA Piper, attending a discovery day is a great place to learn more. We're a world of opportunity, and the key to a global career.

Solicitor apprenticeship

Solicitor apprenticeship

The opportunities and experiences you'll have on our solicitor apprenticeship will enable you to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to succeed in a career in law. You'll be earning while you learn, with no university fees or student debt.

Project manager apprenticeship

Project manager apprenticeship

The opportunities and experiences you'll have on our project manager apprenticeship will enable you to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to succeed in a career as a project manager. You'll be earning while you learn, with no university fees or student debt.

Mohamed Hassan, Solicitor Apprentice, London

The culture at DLA Piper is energetic and vibrant which makes the office feel alive. Everyone is helpful and supportive, with a focus on success and personal development.

Mohamed Hassan
Heba Khalid, Associate, Manchester

On my training programme, I've been incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside people, from all levels, who have unconditionally supported and guided me through the various challenges that come with being a trainee solicitor.

Heba Khalid
Lara Vicentini, Solicitor Apprentice, London

DLA Piper has an exceptional firm culture. Colleagues make an effort to create a friendly and inclusive culture, which is invaluable as an apprentice at the start of my career. Being surrounded by people who take the time to help you learn and succeed is a privilege.

Lara Vicentini
Hannah Potter, Associate, London

I've worked with a range of colleagues across the firm's practice groups and business services teams and everyone is approachable and friendly. What stands out to me is that that people love their work and also have a life outside of work, creating an enjoyable workplace for everyone.

Hannah Potter
Arif Ali, Associate, Leeds

At DLA Piper, I work with some of the most talented and academically gifted professionals on impactful legal cases.

Arif Ali
Nick Lowe, Trainee Solicitor, Leeds

During my time as a trainee, I've had the opportunity to be involved in so many amazing projects and transactions. The breadth of clients means that every day brings new learning opportunities.

Nick Lowe
Natalia Brozek, Solicitor Apprentice, Manchester

At DLA Piper, people are down-to-earth, motivated, and work collaboratively together in a supportive environment to bring about great achievements.

Natalia Brozek
Cameron McLaughlin, Associate, Edinburgh

Working at a firm with a global presence is important to me, as it provides the chance to collaborate with colleagues on complex multi-jurisdictional matters.

Cameron McLaughlin
Sara Jenkins, Associate, Leeds/Manchester

Life at a leading international law firm means a vast range of work, clients and opportunities. It's been a great journey so far.

Sara Jenkins
Alex Moffett, Associate, Leeds

The culture at DLA Piper is genuinely supportive and collaborative. I've loved having the opportunity to regularly work with a range of colleagues locally and internationally.

Alex Moffett
Bridget Walton, Solicitor Apprentice, Birmingham

The culture at DLA Piper is genuine, friendly, and supportive. The office feels like a community and is a place where strong interpersonal relationships can be developed.

Bridget Walton
Sophie Kenny, Solicitor Apprentice, Leeds

The work that DLA Piper offers to solicitor apprentices means that each day brings new learning opportunities. These varied experiences combined with extensive support means that I'm always being pushed and striving to achieve my potential.

Sophie Kenny
Fatima Coulibaly, Associate, London

The learning opportunities in this role have been endless, and after a year, I can confidently say that the training contract is providing me with the most valuable tools to begin a successful career in law.

Fatima Coulibaly
Alix Leatherday, Solicitor Apprentice, Manchester

DLA Piper encourages all its people, regardless of their position, to proactively contribute to the firm's culture and the way in which we work, not just those in senior roles. Colleagues in leadership roles are attentive and listen to our ideas, share our visions, and take steps to implement them.

Alix Leatherday
James Watson, Associate, Birmingham

The firm invests a lot of time and resources into developing their junior talent. The Early Careers team in particular regularly organise check-ins with trainees and have hosted sessions on important topics such as resilience, mental and physical wellbeing, overcoming imposter syndrome and much more.

James Watson
Matt Kidd, Service Delivery Apprentice, Leeds/Manchester

Throughout my career, I've only ever found my colleagues to be helpful and considerate. My line managers have always taken an interest in my career, professional goals and my personal wellbeing

Matt Kidd

    Life at DLA Piper

    At DLA Piper, we don’t put limits on our people. Starting with ensuring everyone can be themselves, to providing everything they need to realise their full potential, you’ll have everything you need to seize the world of opportunity on offer.

    Sustainability

    Sustainability and ESG are core to our firm. Our team plays a crucial role in helping clients transition to and thrive in a sustainable future.

    Inclusion and positive
    social impact

    Our commitment to inclusion and positive social impact enables us to provide exceptional service to our clients and communities, while nurturing a unique and inclusive culture for all our people.

    International training programme

    Develop the knowledge and skills to give your career the best platform

    Staying connected Induction Community membership Professional qualifications Rotations Secondments Law& Self-paced training journey Support and pastoral care Beyond the programme International training programme

    Staying connected

    Between completing your internship and starting your training programme, you'll participate in our award-winning stay connected programme which includes:

    • A buddy programme, connecting you with a current graduate to provide peer advice and guidance
    • Access to job opportunities and our justice scholarship programme
    • In person stay connected events
    • Virtual knowledge and skills development sessions
    • Dedicated support from your early careers programme manager

    Induction

    Your induction will take place in London with your international peers. We'll give you everything you need to give your career at DLA Piper the best start. You'll hear from our senior leaders, participate in experiential training sessions and join social and networking events. Your induction will be fun, educational and memorable – through learning more about life at DLA Piper, you'll finish the induction ready to start your first rotation. 

    Community membership

    You'll join our international early careers community, connecting you with colleagues across our offices and practice groups. 

    You'll work, learn and grow together. Your peers will inspire and support you, and you'll share in each other's success. 

    Professional qualifications

    We'll fund the postgraduate tuition you need to be a lawyer in your jurisdiction, and we'll provide financial sponsorship to support your living costs during your studies. 

    Rotations

    You'll complete four, six-month rotations in our practice groups. These rotational experiences are designed to give you access to the most interesting work across our different areas of legal practice, broadening your knowledge, skills and network. We'll work with you to understand your preferences for each rotation, and you'll be doing work you're proud of. 

    Secondments

    We're a world of opportunity, and the key to a global career. 

    You'll be able to apply to take part in client and international secondments from your second rotation onwards. Recent international secondment locations include Singapore, Bangkok, Belgium, Dubai and Hong Kong. 

    You'll also have placement opportunities in our Responsible Business team. 

    Law&

    Law& provides disruptive legal, technology and business solutions. It unites law and innovation to create value, and you'll have opportunities to get involved in our Law& journey. We welcome new ideas because we know open minds unlock exciting futures. 

    You'll have plenty of opportunities to innovate and be creative. You'll participate in design thinking training, develop your knowledge of legal tech and use AI tools in your day-to-day work. 

    Self-paced training journey

    Your programme is designed to give you the knowledge, skills and opportunity to thrive in the future world of work. You'll develop a global mindset of curiosity and continuous learning. You'll participate in training to develop your knowledge and skills, and we also encourage you to proactively find learning opportunities for yourself. 

    The DLA Piper Academy contains curated, purposeful learning resources to support you throughout your career journey. 

    Support and pastoral care

    You'll have an early careers programme manager to support your development on the programme. You'll meet for regular coaching conversations, and your programme manager will work with you to help you seize opportunities and discover your own path. 

    You'll also be supported by your buddy, supervisor, office trainee partner and our people networks. You'll be encouraged to find a mentor, too. 

    We're committed to investing in and supporting efforts to improve our people's mental health and wellbeing. Our Health & Wellbeing programme has extensive resources to help you develop sustainable working habits.  

    Together, we'll unlock your potential. 

    Beyond the programme

    As you approach the end of your programme, we'll work with you to understand your longer-term career aspirations and make sure you're ready to qualify. 

    We'll work hard to help you achieve your goals. And we'll support you as you move into your first role as a qualified lawyer. You'll learn how to take control of your career as you move into this next exciting phase of professional growth. 

    We'll enjoy end of programme celebrations together, too! 

    Frequently asked questions

    Your questions,
    answered

    GenAI is a powerful tool that creates content by learning from data, text, images, audio, and more. It’s transforming how we work and will likely shape your career. Used well, it can support your job search; used poorly, it can undermine your integrity.

    In our recruitment processes, we want to see your authentic potential, your experiences, strengths, and aspirations. Integrity is essential in the legal profession, so if you use GenAI, do so ethically and transparently.

    Smart Use of GenAI:

    • Learn its limits and risks.
    • Be transparent about how you’ve used it.
    • Understand the basics of how it works.
    • Use it to explore roles that match your goals.
    • Support your ideas but always personalise the output.
    • Structure your thoughts, then edit the draft yourself.
    • Check spelling and clarity.
    • Remove personal data before inputting anything.
    • Ask for prep tips (e.g., for assessments).
    • Practice interviews with sample questions.

    Poor Use of GenAI:

    • Using GenAI to complete assessments.
    • Misrepresenting your skills or experiences.
    • Submitting unedited AI-generated content.
    • Using vague prompts.
    • Not fact-checking outputs.
    • Replacing your own thinking.
    • Reading scripted AI responses in interviews.

    Explore how we're helping clients understand the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence here.

    No, you can only apply to one location per year. If you apply to multiple positions, we will only accept your first application. 

    Yes, but you'll need to apply for a role in the next recruitment season. We won't accept another application for the same intake, but do encourage you to reapply in subsequent years. 

    If you have any mitigating circumstances that you'd like to be taken into consideration alongside your application, please contact us to discuss further.

    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.

    Learn more

    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.

    Learn more

    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.

    Learn more
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