EARLY CAREERS
Summer internship
About this programme
Our two month, in-person paid summer associate programme will show you what we do, how we work and the impact we make in the Romania 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 Bucharest 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:
- work on a variety of interesting projects in different practice areas and get an overview of each area of law;
- 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;
- be integrated into our local team and supported by lawyers who are invested in your growth and development;
- participate to fun social and community activities and have opportunities to get to know the local team and make connections that will last beyond the summer;
- 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.
Once you've completed your internship, you could be offered a position as a junior associate in our Bucharest office.
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 summer associate programme, 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.
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 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 (including information about any previous internships), your academic transcript and a cover letter. In your cover letter, please indicate your preferred areas of law. All documents should be individually uploaded in English (in word or pdf format).
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Interview
We organise two rounds of in-person interviews. The interviews will assess your motivations for and alignment to the role you’ve applied for. They’re focused on the behaviours that are important for success at DLA Piper. The interviews are also your chance to demonstrate your strengths and help us get to know you better. The first interview is with HR and lawyers and the second interview is with a Partner.
Miruna Ciobanu, Junior Associate, Bucharest
Approach the journey with curiosity, dedication, and a willingness to explore different experiences.
Ioana Anton, Associate, Bucharest
The firm's global reach allows me to exchange ideas with colleagues in other countries and participate in cross-border projects.
Roxana Pascu, Associate, Bucharest
DLA Piper also offers the opportunity to develop a global network of colleagues as well as a deep knowledge of law and business.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your questions,
answered
Our Bucharest office was established in 2008 and has continuously grown over the years, being a team of internationally trained Romanian lawyers and tax consultants, able to handle complex legal and tax matters, combining local industry knowledge with international experience.
You should only apply for a summer internship in the office where you would like your training contract to be based.
We do not have minimum academic requirements.
If you have any mitigating circumstances that you'd like to be taken into consideration alongside your application, please ensure you to input this in your application.
Please contact Monica Brusalis, HR Coordinator.
We typically recruit junior associates through the summer associate programme, but we may at times recruit outside of the programme.
Our summer associate programme is a fantastic way to get to experience working at DLA Piper. It will help you to get to know our firm and our people. The two month internship will give you a strong understanding of our values and what we stand for and whether DLA Piper and its practice groups are right for you. At the end of the summer internship, you'll be assessed for a position as a junior associate in our Bucharest office.
Life at DLA Piper
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