Summer Internship

About this programme

Our two month, in-person paid summer internship will show you what we do, how we work and the impact we make in Spain and around the world.

Programme details

Explore the intersection between law and business. Develop the foundation of skills you need for a global legal career. You’ll do all this, and more, on our two month internship in our Madrid office, taking place in June, July and August annually. 

This isn’t just a chance to shadow our lawyers. You’ll play a real role in our teams and take on responsibility from day one. Whether attending court hearings, working with clients or developing your professional network, you’ll experience the cutting edge of the legal sector. You'll discover how law can unlock potential around the world and in your own career. That includes seeing how a purpose-led organisation makes a difference through pro bono work and sustainability commitments.

The internship is your chance to see if law is a career you can thrive in. Working across our practice groups and sectors, you’ll be giving your career the best platform by developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will support your professional growth.

We’ll ask you to choose your preferred practice groups when you apply and will try to assign you to one of these for the programme.

During the internship, you will: 

• experience the complexities of our work and discover how you can make a real impact around the world. You’ll see how we think across borders to find creative solutions for our clients;
• join a forward-looking, friendly team while collaborating with colleagues around the world;
• develop your knowledge and skills through structured learning and development opportunities;
• be supported by a strong network of supervisors, buddies, and mentors to develop your confidence and identify your own personal and professional goals;
• be part of an international early careers community full of talented colleagues who’ll become part of your global network;
• have opportunities to explore interests beyond your role, including legal tech, sustainability and pro bono work, to give you an authentic insight into life at DLA Piper; and
• enjoy a supportive working environment where your wellbeing is always a priority and your workload is managed so you can always deliver your best.

You’ll have the freedom to discover your own path and make an extraordinary impact beyond the borders of traditional law. Tomorrow’s legal industry can’t hire yesterday’s skills. Unlock your potential and start building a different kind of legal career.

Show us your strengths in action. Once you've completed your internship, you could be offered a place on the master de acceso internship. 

What do we look for?

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

To succeed on our early careers programmes, you don’t need any specific legal experience or education, but you will, in addition to the eligibility criteria:

• have an interest in international law and business;
• have a forward-thinking and entrepreneurial mindset and will be excited about doing things differently in the legal industry;
• be self-motivated by a strong desire to achieve your personal and professional goals;
• enjoy collaborating with others and will be instinctively socially aware;
• have a growth mindset so you see setbacks as learning opportunities, and you’ll proactively look for ways to grow and develop;
• enjoy working in an ever-changing environment; and
• enjoy taking ownership of tasks and thinking critically.

Please note: We're not currently open for applications. Applications for our 2026 programme will open in January 2026.