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EARLY CAREERS in the United Kingdom

Discovery days

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Shape your career

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

Our immersive events offer a valuable introduction to the legal sector and our practice groups and sectors, while helping you build confidence, professional skills and workplace readiness.

We look forward to welcoming you and exploring how we can unlock your potential, together.

Please note: Applications are closed for this event, across all our UK locations.

Download more information

Shape your career

What you will do

  • Learn about DLA Piper and discover how we’re redefining what a global law firm can be
  • See how we're focused more on shaping the future than protecting the past, as you learn about our practice groups and sectors and our approach to legal tech, responsible business and sustainability
  • Experience what it's like to work at the firm by meeting our people – the trusted advisors, innovators and game-changers who go above and beyond the challenge the status quo
  • Take part in educational sessions, curated to build your knowledge and skills and help you decide if a career in law is right for you
What you will do
Transcript

Liam Cowell, Partner: "Welcome. Fantastic. You've done brilliant to get to this stage. At some point, make sure you do stop and recognise just how well you've done. This is a massive day in your lives. A massive start to what I'm hoping will be fantastic careers."

Irene Adeyinka, Senior Diversity & Inclusion Specialist: "So who is in your team? What is everyone's learning style? What's the understanding? And then, more importantly, who are the clients and what are their needs? How does that work as well?"

Elainne Dunne, Trainee Solicitor: "My experience at DLA Piper has enabled me to feel confident reassuring others that they too will have a wonderful experience during their training contract."

Paul Jayson, Partner: "Treat the training contract and the opportunity as if you are exploring a new country. Make the most of it. Be inquisitive. Be curious."

Emma Thea Jones, Solicitor Apprentice: "I think it's really valuable having them both join the same induction, because ultimately they do the same work. So being exposed to the same sessions gives them the same grounding, which is really helpful."

Jon Hayes, Global Co-Chair and Senior Partner: "And on behalf of all of the partners at DLA Piper, a really very warm welcome to this event. To this stage of your career, to this great global law firm."

Rahul Ramanathan, Trainee Solicitor: "Everyone in DLA is so welcoming. So I felt like, going in, I could always turn to associates, partners, anyone for support. To ask questions and to be eager is the biggest thing I'll take away from this."

Alla Kazoun, Trainee Solicitor: "They gave us certain tips and tricks that will help us hit the ground running once we've entered each of our offices. And the good thing is that those tips and tricks are universal to all offices across the globe, whether it be London, Manchester, Birmingham, Hong Kong, Dubai, all those pieces of advice are applicable."

Edward Selwyn Sharpe, Trainee Solicitor: "I feel that the induction week is really good at preparing us for our future, and giving us an ability to understand where everyone's potential lies and where our own potential lies. I think it's a really exciting firm to be in, and it's great to see everyone's potential and where that might lead us in the future." 

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 can apply for the event if you are a second year student on a three year course, a third year student on a four year course or a final year student. 

You can apply for the event if you are a final year student.

Open to students from any degree background at universities across the UK.

You are also eligible to apply if you are a graduate or career changer.

Application hints and tips

Hear from our early careers team and discover how to succeed in your application.

Application hints and tips

Give your career the best platform

Do you want to unlock an exciting future and realise your potential? Learn more about life at DLA Piper and the opportunities on our early careers programmes.

Give your career the best platform

Early Careers Talent Community

Sign up to our talent community to receive information about our upcoming events and programmes.

Early Careers Talent Community

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

Programme overview

Watch our Summer Internship Induction week 2024, where we welcomed over 100 Summer Interns from the UK and Ireland for four days of interactive workshops, networking, social events and talks from our senior business leaders. Following these three days, our interns returned to complete two weeks of work experience in their chosen office location, across two different practice groups.

Programme overview
    Recruitment roadmap

    What to expect

    • Application form

      Our application form will capture some key information regarding yourself and your studies. 

    • Motivational question

      We will also ask you to submit an answer to an application question regarding your motivations to apply to DLA Piper and in particular our Discovery Day. 

    What to expect
    Tebogo Mphahlele, Trainee Solicitor, London

    My experiences at DLA Piper have been characterised by involvement in high-calibre transactions, substantial responsibility, access to top-tier work, and the opportunity to take ownership of important matters.

    Tebogo Mphahlele
    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
    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
    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
    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
      FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

      Your questions,
      answered

      Our Discovery Days are designed to give you a look into what a career at DLA Piper is really like. 

      The days will provide a great introduction to the legal sector and our practice groups. They will also help build your confidence and your professional skills and workplace capability.

      Our Discovery Days are open to both law and non-law students and we do not have academic entry requirements for this programme.

      If you are studying a law degree, you can apply for the programme if you are a second year student on a three year course, a third year student on a four year course or a final year student. 

      If you are studying a non-law degree, you can apply for the programme if you are in the final year of your course.

      We are looking for individuals who can collaborate, be bold, supportive, and exceptional and are committed learning more and pursuing a career with DLA Piper. 

      We do not have minimum academic requirements at undergraduate level. If you do have any mitigating circumstances that you would like to be taken into consideration alongside your application, please contact us to discuss further. 

      Our Discovery Days are open to both law and non-law students. They are designed to give you an insight into life at DLA Piper. 

      On the day, you will:

      • Learn about DLA Piper and discover how we’re redefining what a global law firm can be.
      • See how we're focused more on shaping the future than protecting the past, as you learn about our practice groups and sectors and our approach to legal tech, responsible business and sustainability.
      • Experience what it's like to work at the firm by meeting our people – the trusted advisors, innovators and game-changers who go above and beyond the challenge the status quo.
      • Take part in educational sessions, curated to build your knowledge and skills and help you decide if a career in law is right for you.
      • Find out about our early careers programmes and get practical guidance on how to succeed in our application process.  

      Yes, all reasonable travel costs will be covered. 

      Yes, whilst you will discover the global reach of our work, the Discovery Day is a chance to find out more about the office, people etc. where you would want to undertake your Summer Internship. 

      No, we don't have a specific application deadline as we recruit on a rolling basis. This means once we have enough applications for a role, we will close the role for any further applications. We therefore recommend you apply early for any role you're interested in. 

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

      If you are successful in gaining a place on one of our Discovery Days, the early careers team will be in touch prior to the day to check for any reasonable adjustments you might require to attend. 

      Life at DLA Piper

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