About this programme
The opportunities and experiences you'll have on our project manager apprenticeship will enable you to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to succeed in a career as a project manager. You'll be earning while you learn, with no university fees or student debt.
Programme details
Explore the intersection between law and business. Discover how an international law firm makes an impact in the UK and around the world. Develop the foundation of skills you need for a global legal career. You’ll do all this and more on our four-year Level 6 Project Manager Apprenticeship.
As an apprentice, you'll get the qualifications and experience you need to 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.
On the project manager apprenticeship, you'll be earning while you learn, with no university fees or student debt. You'll spend one day a week with our training provider, QA, studying towards:
- BSc (Hons) Project Management, awarded by Northumbria University, Newcastle
You'll also:
- complete work-based learning (four days a week) by working in our Law& teams. You'll complete rotations (work placements in different teams such as legal project management, legal technology and the legal delivery centre) across the office to use the knowledge and skills learn from your academic studies;
- be at the forefront of legal innovation, working on high-profile, cross-border projects that will shape the future of law and business. 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 to drive results you're proud of;
- develop your knowledge and skills through structured learning and development opportunities in our supportive culture;
- be supported by a strong internal network of supervisors, buddies, and mentors who'll set you up for success and guide you in identifying your own personal and professional goals;
- have a dedicated apprenticeship programme manager and tuition provider skills coach who'll work with you to ensure your journey on the apprenticeship reflects your career aspirations. You'll receive the highest standard of pastoral care to help you balance your role alongside your academic studies;
- be part of an international early careers community of talented colleagues who’ll become part of your global network;
- have opportunities to engage with initiatives beyond your role, including getting involved with our people networks, sustainability and pro bono work;
- enjoy a working environment where your wellbeing is always a priority, and your workload will be managed so you can always deliver your best; and
- emerge from the programme not just as a qualified project manager, but as a global business advisor equipped to tackle the challenges of an ever-evolving world.
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.
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:
- have an interest in international law and business;
- have a forward-thinking and entrepreneurial mindset and 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 while also enjoying independent study;
- 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 understand the importance of being flexible at work;
- enjoy taking ownership of tasks and thinking critically; and
- be an advocate of apprenticeships as an alternative route into law and know how to embed DLA Piper's values into your work.
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.
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 awritten answers regarding your motivations to apply to DLA Piper and understanding of the apprenticeship programme. We will also ask you to submit a CV, but you do not need to submit a cover letter.
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Rare
DLA Piper is proud to use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System (CRS). We will ask all applicants to complete a contextualised information survey, which is not mandatory. The CRS allows us to understand each candidate’s achievements in the context that they have been gained. We understand that not all candidate’s achievements look the same on paper – and we want to recruit the best people, regardless of their background.
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Video interview
The video interview has been developed to assess your motivations and alignment to apprenticeship programme. It will consist of three questions, on a pre-recorded video platform, which are focused on the behaviours which are important to be successful at DLA Piper, as well as your alignment to our values.
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Assessment centre
The final stage of the application process is an in-person assessment centre. It will comprise of exercises which give you the chance to demonstrate your strengths, to meet our people, and for us to help get to know you better.
Matt Kidd, Service Delivery Apprentice, Leeds/Manchester
Throughout my career, I've only ever found my colleagues to be helpful and considerate. My line managers have always taken an interest in my career, professional goals and my personal wellbeing
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your questions,
answered
On an apprenticeship programme, you'll gain the experiences, skills and training to kick-start your career, in a supportive and inclusive environment. You will be working in our firm from day one while receiving dedicated coaching from colleagues and the apprenticeship tuition provider. You will receive a salary and have your apprenticeship fully funded. Ultimately you will leave the programme fully qualified with a wide range of work experience and with no student debt!
Benefits include:
- A government accredited Level 6 Project Manager Apprenticeship (equivalent to an undergraduate degree)
- 20% of your time to spend on off-the-job learning, this enables you to dedicate time for your academic learning
- A professional qualification, technical and non-technical internal learning, coaching, work-shadowing and many other experiences to support your development
- Tracked progression across your apprenticeship, allowing you to see how you are developing against the apprenticeship standard and what’s coming next
- A large support network including a supportive team, supervisor, skills coach and buddy
- A dedicated Apprenticeship Programme Manager who will provide advice, targeted development opportunities specific to your need and pastoral care support
We are looking for talented school leavers and career changers who are looking to continue their education while working to build their knowledge and experience as a project manager. We are open to a wide range of previous academic and work experience, if you believe you can add value to the firm then please apply! We are looking for your potential and we will assess your suitability for the apprenticeship through the application process. Good luck!
As a firm we do not have any academic requirements to apply for our project manager apprenticeship, however the tuition providers we work with do have minimum academic requirements.
- You will need at least three C’s at A Level and Maths/English GSCE at Grade C or above (or equivalent qualifications)
- You must also have the right to work in the UK and have lived in the UK for the last 3 years
If you are unsure if you meet these requirements, please get in touch with us to discuss your eligibility.
20% of your time will be spent on off-the-job learning which equates to one day per week, allowing you to focus on developing the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours chosen by industry experts, to help you build a strong career. One day per week will be a mixture of in person and virtual study sessions, lectures and focused study time dependent on the apprenticeship you apply for.
Please contact the Early Careers team.
Yes you can apply for an apprenticeship if you are not a UK national as long as you have right to work in the UK and you have lived in the UK for the last three years.
No, unfortunately you are unable to apply if you have already completed an undergraduate degree.
If your apprenticeship is level 3 or lower, you are eligible to apply. If your apprenticeship is level 4 or higher, you are unfortunately not eligible to apply.
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