Early careers hub
Unlock your
potential with
DLA Piper
- One day
- Open to all disciplines
Discovery days
Our Discovery Days offer an immersive introduction to life at DLA Piper, giving you the opportunity to explore the legal profession, our practice areas and sectors, and what a career with the firm could look like.
Eligibility
- Open to students from any degree background at UK universities
- Law students: Second year of a three-year course, third year of a four-year course, or final year
- Non-law students: Final year
- Graduates and career changers are also eligible
What you’ll gain:
- Insight into DLA Piper’s practice areas, sectors and culture
- Experience tackling real-world legal scenarios through an interactive workshop
- Opportunities to meet and network with lawyers and senior leaders
- Practical guidance on the Summer Internship application and assessment process
- 2.5 - 3 or 4 weeks
Summer Internship
Our Summer Internship provides an immersive experience of working at DLA Piper. You will gain hands-on exposure to legal work, develop key skills and build professional relationships, while gaining a realistic understanding of what it’s like to be part of our teams.
Eligibility
- Law students: Penultimate or final year
- Non-law students: Final year, graduates or career changers
- Academic requirements: We welcome applications from candidates studying any degree subject. You should have achieved, or be on track to achieve, a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) and have achieved AAB at A-level or AAAAB at Scottish Higher (or an equivalent qualification). We recognise that everyone's circumstances are different and will consider mitigating circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
Duration and timing
- 2.5 - 3 weeks (UK & Ireland) / 4 weeks (international locations)
What you’ll gain
- Experience working on real client matters
- Professional skills and development sessions
- Opportunity to be considered for the Future Lawyers Pathway
- 2 years
- 4 rotations
Future Lawyers Pathway
Our Future Lawyers Pathway is a structured route to qualification, offering four seat rotations across different practice areas, access to high-quality training and ongoing support. Trainees build breadth and depth of experience, preparing them for a long-term career at the firm.
Eligibility
- Applicants must have the right to work in the UK
- Trainees are typically recruited through our Summer Internship, although recruitment may occasionally take place outside the internship programme
What you’ll gain:
- Four six-month rotations across different practice groups
- Experience working on high-profile, cross-border matters
- Opportunities for international and client secondments
- Self-paced
- Open to all
Virtual job simulations
Our virtual job simulations provide a flexible way to experience the type of work we do at DLA Piper. These self-paced programmes allow you to explore tasks and develop skills before applying.
Eligibility
- Open to all
Duration and timing
- Self-paced (typically 4–6 hours to complete in total)
- Available year-round
What you’ll gain
- Insight into real DLA Piper work and scenarios
- Exposure to legal and commercial thinking
- Practical experience to support future applications
- Opportunity to explore whether a career at DLA Piper is right for you
Explore programme
- One day
- Open to all disciplines
Law, unlocked
Our Law, Unlocked programme is designed for students at an early stage of their studies who want to explore what a career in law could look like. Through interactive sessions, skills workshops and networking opportunities, you will gain valuable insight into the legal profession and our firm.
Eligibility
- Open to students at UK and Irish universities of any degree discipline
- Law students: First year (3-year degree) or second year (4-year degree)
- Non-law students: Second year of study
What you’ll gain
- Early exposure to life at DLA Piper
- Practical skills workshops and insight sessions
- Opportunity to engage with our people and culture
- Access to additional support ahead of Summer Internship applications
- 6 years
- Fully paid
Solicitor apprenticeship
The Solicitor Apprenticeship offers an alternative route to becoming a qualified solicitor. Combining work and study, apprentices gain practical experience while completing formal qualifications, developing their skills over a six-year programme.
Eligibility
- School leavers and career starters
- Must meet academic entry requirements (e.g. GCSEs and A-levels or equivalent)
Duration and timing
- 6 years
- Starts annually (intake locations vary each year)
What you’ll gain
- Paid employment alongside structured academic study
- A law degree and SQE qualification
- Long-term development within the firm
- A fully funded pathway to qualification
- 4 years
- Fully paid
Project manager apprenticeship
Our wider apprenticeship programmes provide opportunities to build a career within our business services and legal support teams. These programmes combine structured learning with real work experience, creating long-term career pathways within the firm.
Eligibility
- At least 120 UCAS points, or equivalent
- Five GCSEs, including Maths and English, at Grade C/4 or above, or equivalent
- Right to work in the UK
What you’ll gain
- Hands-on experience across areas including legal technology, project management and delivery
- Exposure to high-profile, cross-border projects and legal innovation
- Structured learning alongside practical workplace experience
Clare’s tips on how to make the most of your internship






