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EARLY CAREERS in the Netherlands

Trainee lawyer (junior associate) programme

Hero

Unlock your potential

Explore the intersection between law and business. Discover how an international law firm makes an impact in the Netherlands and around the world. Develop the skills you need for a global legal career. You’ll do all this and more on our 42-month training programme. 

As a Junior Associate, you'll start a global career that transcends traditional boundaries. You'll be part of a firm that embraces new ideas and fosters progress. With a focus on shaping the future of law, you'll do work that's as diverse as the world we live in. The Trainee Lawyer 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. Once you've completed your training programme, you could be offered a place as an associate.

Unlock your potential

What you will do

  • Complete two rotations in our practice groups, switching halfway through your traineeship
  • 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 and mentors
  • Have a dedicated HR team who will work with you to ensure your journey on the programme reflects your career aspirations
  • 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?

You’ll need to be a strong English speaker, reader and writer, and will be fluent in Dutch. Also: 

  • You’ll have graduated from a Dutch LLB and LLM, or you'll graduate before your intended start date as a Trainee Lawyer.
  • You'll have obtained civil effect.
  • You'll have successfully completed a two-month full-time internship, or a Working Student role, with us or another renowned law firm.

You’ll have the right to work in the Netherlands for the duration of the programme. We are unable to sponsor visas for the training programme.

Only one application can be made per year.

Key dates

  • Application deadline: We recruit on a rolling basis so there's no set deadline. 
  • Traineeship duration: 42 months.
  • Traineeship start date: Various start dates are possible throughout the year, on the first weekday of the month.
  • Traineeship end date: The traineeship ends on the last weekday of the 42nd month.
Key dates

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

    What to expect

    • Application form

      Our application form will capture some key information about yourself and will also ask you to submit answers to our application questions regarding your motivations to apply to DLA Piper. We will also ask you to submit your CV, motivation letter, academic transcripts and any previous internship or working student evaluations. In your letter, make sure to mention the practice group and start date for which you would like to apply.

    • First interview

      The second stage is an interview at our Amsterdam office. This interview will be conducted by our recruiters and is aimed towards getting to know you and assessing your motivation and match with the firm and the role. If successful, you will advance to the next stage.

    • Assessment

      The third stage is a digital assessment, to be taken at our office. It will comprise of exercises which give you the chance to demonstrate your strengths in inductive, deductive, and numerical reasoning.

    • Second and third interview

      After having passed the previous stages, you'll potentially have two more interviews. These interviews build on the first interview, and will be conducted by various lawyers.

    • Final decision

      Shortly after you've completed the entire application process, we'll contact you with the final decision. If positive, you'll obtain an offer to start at a specific practice group. Apart from your application process, the final decision can be subject to other factors, such as availability and other candidates in the process.

    What to expect
    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Your questions,
    answered

    Availability can vary. You'll include your preferred start date(s) and practice groups in your motivation letter, and we'll try to assign you to one of these for the first placement. If you'd like to discuss in advance, please contact Constantijn Papa (Graduate Recruiter).

    At the end of your traineeship, you’ll have the opportunity to be assessed, based on your performance, and our availability, for a position as an Associate with us. 

    Yes, you'll rotate to a different practice group around halfway through your traineeship. 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 first placement. For the second placement, we’ll ask you to choose your preferred practice groups when it's time to rotate, and we'll try to assign you to one of those.

    Yes, we encourage all Trainee Lawyers to participate in pro bono activities.

    You’ll follow a personalized learning journey to support your career development and growth. 

    Yes, you’ll need to be a strong English and Dutch speaker, reader and writer.

    There are classes starting every March and September. You'll start your training with the NOVA and the Law Firm School in the first possible class after joining us as a trainee.

    We accept all applications as long as they meet our minimum requirements.

    If you do have any mitigating circumstances that you’d like us to take into account alongside your application, please contact us to discuss further.

    Please contact Constantijn Papa (Graduate Recruiter) if you have further questions.

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