EARLY CAREERS
Summer internship
About this programme
Our four-week, in-person paid summer internship will show you what we do, how we work and the impact we make in Poland 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 four-week internship in our Warsaw office.
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.
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 9-month traineeship at the firm on our Ahead programme.
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, but you will, in addition to the eligibility criteria:
- have an interest in international and Polish 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.
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 Recruitment 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.
Recruitment roadmap
What to expect
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Application form
Our application form will capture some key information about yourself. We will also ask you to submit a CV. A letter of motivation, references or documents from your university are not required.
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Online legal knowledge and English assessment
We use an online English assessment to test your English language skills. The online assessment is untimed and you can complete it at your own pace. But you have to complete your assessment within five working days of receiving the link. We recommend you spend some time practising to get used to the types of questions you may be asked. The questions are similar to the questions for the legal apprenticeship and English language certification exams.
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Individual assessment
The individual assessment, in Polish, has been developed to assess your motivations and alignment to the role you have applied for. It will consist of five questions which are focused on your legal knowledge and the behaviours which are important to be successful at DLA Piper.
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Interview with our team
The final stage is an interview, in Polish, with our team. It will comprise of questions which give you the chance to demonstrate your strengths and help us get to know you better.
Maciej Rafałowski, Senior Associate, Warsaw
DLA Piper offers by far the most balanced proposition for associate lawyers
Justyna Helbing, Associate, Warsaw
The summer internship is a great opportunity to gain professional experience and further your legal interests.
Bartłomiej Gudek, Associate, Warsaw
The firm supports me in my development and in finding confidence in my profession.
Julia Rożankowska, Junior Associate, Warsaw
The summer internship at DLA Piper was a very valuable experience for me.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your questions,
answered
DLA Piper is one of the largest global law firms in Poland, which provides legal and tax services to local and international clients and institutions. The Warsaw office, established in 2007, is an integral part of the global practice of DLA Piper's law practice operating in Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East.
The cohesive organisational structure allows for the continuous exchange of know-know-how and smooth and effective internal communication. It thus facilitates the implementation of cross-border projects. Our clients value our responsiveness, entrepreneurialism, commitment, innovative client approach and work ethic.
With over 130 lawyers and tax advisors, we can provide international companies, financial institutions as well as local businesses a seamless legal and tax service of the highest quality. At DLA Piper, we serve and advise clients from a wide range of industries. Regardless of the scale and complexity of the project, our market-based approach will provide comprehensive support. The firm has won numerous awards as a top employer in Poland including the Great Place to Work awards and the ELSA Law Students in Poland award as the most desirable and most recognised employer.
Yes, we accept applications from this year's graduates.
You will join one of our ten departments: Corporate, Employment, Energy, Finance, Intellectual Property & Technology, Litigation & Arbitration, Real Estate, Regulatory, Tax, White Collar Crime & Investigations.
Yes, the internship is paid.
During the internship, you must be available four or five days a week.
No, we don't currently offer any ad hoc work experience. All available roles are advertised on our early careers website.
Yes, but you'll need to apply for a role in the next recruitment season or ad hoc work experience. We won't accept another application for the same intake, but do encourage you to reapply in subsequent years.
Please contact our Recruitment team if you have further questions.
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