Early careers hub

Unlock your
potential with
DLA Piper

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Discover our Future Lawyer Pathway

We are delighted that you are considering starting your career with DLA Piper. This hub is designed to give you an insight into our Early Careers programmes, our people, and the opportunities available to you.

Whether you are exploring your options, preparing to apply, or looking to learn more about life after qualification, we hope this space helps you understand what life at DLA Piper could look like for you.

We look forward to supporting you as you explore your potential with us.

Discover our <strong>Future Lawyer Pathway</strong>
Transcript

Jon Hayes, Partner, Member of the Executive Committee: I think we are an exciting place to be at an exciting time. We've always been a firm that embraces change and drives change, and we are a firm that is looking to shape change, benefit from it, drive it. We're innovative, and I think that's a great place to be for a young person.

William Thomas, Innovation Solutions Manager: The reason DLA Piper is a great place to work is because of our values. Some of those values are that it's such a supporting environment and that it's such an incredibly collaborative environment.

Jon Hayes: We need bright people coming through all the time. We can learn from them, they can learn from us, and together we have a much better chance of being relevant and being able to engage fully with our clients.

Sana Butt, Early Careers Talent Acquisition Specialist: Having seen a lot of summer interns come through the firm, one thing that they worry about the most is coming from a non-law background. Here at DLA Piper, we actually welcome people from different degree backgrounds, such as humanities and STEM, as we know that brings a lot of innovation and different styles of thinking to the firm.

Amreta Kaur, Summer Intern: It's a really great sense of collaboration and teamwork, also open communication within the firm.

Sadhbh Mullins, Summer Intern: Seeing how the speakers we've interacted with worked with their colleagues, not just in the London office, but in their other global counterparts as well, where the teamwork transcends global barriers. And I thought that's something I found really interesting.

Reuben Ring, Summer Intern: Going back, I think there was a really big emphasis on curiosity and not being afraid to ask questions. So that's something I'll definitely be taking home. Because I have plenty of questions, and I'm sure I'll be thinking of many more.

Start your career with purpose and possibility

At DLA Piper, we are committed to developing future talent by providing meaningful experiences, structured development opportunities, and the opportunity to work on real client matters. Our Early Careers programmes support you at every step of your journey, helping you build the skills, confidence and experience needed to succeed. Explore our programmes, meet our people, and discover what makes our culture unique. Wherever you are in your journey, we hope you’ll find valuable insights to help you take your next step with confidence.

Start your career with purpose and possibility
Transcript

Why is early talent so important to DLA Piper?

Jon Hayes, Partner, Member of the Executive Committee: Fundamentally, we are a people business. We will continue to be a people business enhanced and enabled by AI and other technologies. But at the bottom line, we give to our clients peace of mind. We build trusting relationships with them, and we need new talent coming in. We need people more familiar with some of the changes going on in the world, and we need people who can rise with people who are rising at our clients.

My name is Jon Hayes. I'm a Corporate Partner, and I sit on the firm's global executive committee.

Why is now an exciting time to join DLA Piper?

I think we are an exciting place to be at an exciting time because we've always been a firm that embraces change and drives change. The world is moving at a phenomenal pace right now.

We've got amazing wealth of technological innovation coming through, and we are a firm that is looking to shape change, benefit from it, drive it, and I think the talent that we recruit defines our future opportunities and prospects.

What should graduates look for when choosing a law firm?

There are lots of great law firms, and I think what you need to ask yourself is, was I having fun when I spent time there? Do I think it's a place where I could enjoy being me? Have I met people that have looked for a connection with me? Is it a place where I feel I can be me? We hire young people because we need them.

I think it is recognising the constant value of cognitive diversity, of having lots of people coming into the firm from many different backgrounds, and it is a core part of our culture that we should support each other and collaborate.

WHY DLA PIPER?

Where ambition meets opportunity

At DLA Piper, you’ll be trusted to contribute, supported to grow, and encouraged to shape a career with purpose. From early responsibility and high-quality international work to structured development and clear progression, our Early Careers programmes are designed to help you build the confidence, skills and experience to thrive.

Explore our programmes

We offer a range of opportunities designed to support individuals at different stages of their journey. Each programme provides a unique opportunity to gain insight, develop skills and build a career with DLA Piper.

Programme explorer
Explore our programmes
OUR PROGRAMMES

Find the right path for you

From insight programmes and internships to apprenticeships, virtual simulations and structured routes to qualification, each opportunity offers a different way to build your skills, understand our work and take your next step with confidence.

What you will do on the Summer Internship

Every day brings new opportunities to learn, contribute and gain insight into life at DLA Piper.

  • Be part of real client matters
  • Work with sector leading legal and business professionals
  • Develop core skills through research and analysis
  • Build experience across multiple practice areas
What you will do on the Summer Internship
Transcript

Molly Stevenson, Early Careers Talent Acquisition Specialist, UK: Here we are, ready for the 2025 summer internship. Let's go.

Heidi Drinnan, Trainee Solicitor, Manchester: One of the biggest things to remember as an intern is that you've already got to this stage. It's such a huge achievement!

Ashleigh Alli, Pro Bono Manager: To make the most of the internship, just really go for it. Put yourself out there.

Rob Newman, Partner, Corporate, Birmingham: You really need to be open. Use this opportunity to start building that network.

Helen O’Connor, International Director of Knowledge and Insight: Everyone is excited to come into work and do things in a new, better way.

Ashleigh Alli: We're innovative. We're kind of forward looking, proactive, all of those things.

Helen O’Connor: Even if it's only a little bit every day.

Ashleigh Alli: But we also have something in common as well. So 100% - it's the people.

Ruth Hoy, Office Managing Partner, London: One thing about DLA is it's always moving. It's always reinventing itself. It's very good at looking at where it is now and where it wants to go to.

Jon Hayes, Global Co-Chair and Senior Partner: We want to recruit and employ people who know how to lead, work in a team, have an impact, make a difference.

Yunus Maka, Partner, Corporate, Manchester: So whether you enjoy doing sports law, media law, IT law, AI, there's a job for you somewhere.

Simi Oluborode, 2025 Summer Intern, Dublin: Everyone has been lovely. The speakers have all been amazing.

Aya Mohamed, 2025 Summer Intern, London: It's lovely having people come from all over the UK.

Matthew Mitham, 2025 Summer Intern, London: This is obviously a massive, massive firm across the world with loads of cross-border opportunities.

Leah Randell, 2025 Summer Intern, Birmingham: I've met so many lovely people. Everyone who's so passionate about going into law.

Rudrakshi Goswami, 2025 Summer Intern, Manchester: And this sort of blend between excellence and humility is what really attracted me towards DLA Piper.

Nathan Douglas-Smith, 2025 Summer Intern, London: Hearing from the partners, hearing from quite senior people how inclusive the culture is.

Sarah Coffey, 2025 Summer Intern, Edinburgh: I'm very excited to get to the home offices and do a bit more hands-on work next week.

Ashleigh Alli: One word?

Heidi Drinnan: Opportunity.

Helen O’Connor: Merit.

Aya Mohamed: Transformative.

Nathan Douglas-Smith: Inspirational.

Simi Oluborode: Exceptional.

Sarah Coffey: Insightful.

Rudrakshi Goswami: Fun.

Matthew Mitham: Exciting.

Develop your career through real responsibility

Explore the qualities that help future lawyers succeed in a collaborative, high-performance environment.

  • Think critically and solve problems effectively
  • Communicate with clarity and confidence
  • Approach tasks with a commercial mindset
  • Embrace opportunities to learn and grow
Develop your career through real responsibility
Transcript

Molly Stevenson, Early Careers Talent Acquisition Specialist: So you might think at DLA Piper we are looking for the absolute perfect candidate, which is just not the case. We're looking for value and potential in all of our future trainees. Everybody has different lived experiences and everybody comes from different backgrounds, and that's something we really value at the firm. You don't need to come into the firm with years and years of legal work experience.

I'm Molly. I work in the early careers team here at DLA Piper. I'm one of three early careers talent acquisition specialists. So we focus on overseeing recruitment, assessment, selection, everything through from assessment center to summer internship program, and eventually training contract offers. 

What makes an application stand out?

Molly Stevenson: For all candidates who are interested in a career in commercial law, my number one piece of advice is to demonstrate good research skills. So we're looking for things like attention to detail, curiosity about some of our practice groups or sectors. We want to know why you want to work here specifically, and that might be a focus on some of our really niche practice areas, or it might be a focus on the sector that we specialize in. It might be tech or financial services. Whatever it is that is interesting to you that has made you come to us, that's what we want to hear about.

Another one of my recommendations for assessment center is making sure that you don't think every answer has to be correct. And what we're really looking for is someone who thinks, analyzes, and communicates their answers effectively.

What can candidates expect at an assessment centre?

Molly Stevenson: An assessment center at DLA Piper is the final stage in our recruitment journey. It's the step where you come into our offices, where you will be interning and a future trainee, and you get to meet our people directly.

They give you a taster of the types of work we do, but also it's an opportunity for you to assess whether this is the right firm for you, as well as us assess you.

Clare’s tips on how to make the most of your internship

The move from university to practice is quite a jump. Clare, a trainee solicitor at DLA Piper in Edinburgh, shares how to make the most of the experience.

Prioritise commercial
awareness

Stay informed about market developments and connect those insights to the firm’s work.

Be ready to learn
and adapt

Success depends less on knowing everything from the outset and more on your ability to adapt under pressure and take initiative.

Bring your whole
self to work

Firms are looking beyond academic achievement for individuals who are self-motivated, collaborative and well-rounded.

Apply
strategically

Don’t feel pressure to apply to every firm. Focus on the firms that genuinely align with your values and interests.

UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL

An Early Careers masterclass

Hear our Early Careers team share insights into what it takes to succeed at DLA Piper. Whether you’re preparing to apply or looking to strengthen your application, this session will give you practical guidance to help you stand out.

What you will learn:

  • How to approach applications strategically
  • How to develop your interview skills
  • The qualities we look for in future interns and trainees
UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL
Transcript

Sana Butt, Early Careers Talent Acquisition Specialist: So having seen a lot of summer interns come through the firm, one thing that they worry about the most is coming from a non-law background. Here at DLA Piper, we actually welcome people from different degree backgrounds as we know that brings a lot of innovation and different styles of thinking into the firm.

Hi, everyone. I'm Sana. I am part of the early careers team here at DLA Piper looking after our London summer internship recruitment, as well as our UAE. My role within the early careers team is to support each and every one of you that applies for the London Summer Internship program or the Dubai Summer Internship program along your journey, right from application straight through to onboarding you onto our summer internship.

What skills does DLA Piper look for in future lawyers?

Sana Butt: Here are five skills we're looking for here at DLA Piper. Number one, making sure that you're a clear communicator. Number two, being proactive and being able to search for solutions yourself. Number three, bringing some entrepreneurial mindset into the firm as well. That's really important to be able to bring creative new ideas to the innovation that happens here at DLA Piper. And then number five, not being afraid of taking on new challenges and learning to develop your problem-solving skills. 

One way potential applicants can really demonstrate commercial thinking throughout their interview is by making sure that they've done their research on DLA Piper,but also looked into the global market, our sectors, but also what our competitors are doing as well, to really make sure that they truly understand why DLA Piper is the right firm for them and why the firm stands out. 

What should applicants focus on beyond the training contract?

Sana Butt: Candidates often just think that the training contract is the end of the journey, but I always say it's a pit stop here at DLA Piper. You need to think beyond the training contract, what's the firm going to look like for you when you qualify and further on down the line when you become a partner eventually? So just make sure that you've thought about your long-term goals throughout the entire DLA Piper journey for you. 

So when thinking about your long-term career, don't forget to keep that tenacity alive throughout your journey here at DLA Piper. That tenacity is so important to just keep networking, seizing every opportunity and growing your career.

 

MEET OUR PEOPLE

From trainee solicitor to qualified lawyer

Aida Noei, Associate, London

Pretty much every transaction I've been involved in has had an international dimension. I've worked on matters across the Middle East, Europe, the US and Asia. I think that’s a defining quality of the work we do at DLA Piper – it’s truly international.

Watch video
Aida Noei
Jeremy Lau, Associate, London

I was really surprised by how much responsibility I was given from the outset. That's been consistent throughout my training contract – trainees are trusted with meaningful responsibility from day one. It's something that really appealed to me, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to take that on.

Watch video
Jeremy Lau
Raluca Padure, Associate, London

What I've enjoyed most about the team is the variety of the work. We work across a wide range of jurisdictions, which keeps things interesting and gives you exposure to a genuinely international practice.

Watch video
Raluca Padure
Omefe Uduebor, Associate, London

There's a real variety to the work. You get the opportunity to work with different clients and across a range of practice areas, so no two days are ever quite the same. There's certainly never a dull day in Corporate.

Watch video
Omefe Uduebor
Des Cooke, Associate, London

The experience gave me a completely different perspective on what clients value from their lawyers. So from day one at DLA Piper, you can go anywhere you want to in your career.

Watch video
Des Cooke

    Learning, support and your journey to qualification

    Continuous learning, real experience and progression at every stage – a structured journey to qualification.

    WHERE IT CAN TAKE YOU

    Internship to Partner

    Sohail Ali, Partner, London

    Success is about nurturing the next generation. What gives me great satisfaction is seeing junior trainees, associates coming through the ranks and achieving their personal objectives and helping them thrive in a firm like DLA Piper. 

    Watch video
    Sohail Ali

      Making an impact beyond our work

      We are committed to making a meaningful impact through sustainability, pro bono work and initiatives.

      Our people are encouraged to contribute to projects and initiatives that create positive change - whether that’s supporting individuals and communities through pro bono work, advancing environmental sustainability, or helping to break down barriers into the legal profession. You’ll have opportunities to get involved, gain broader perspectives and make a difference alongside your day-to-day work.

      250,000+

      Hours of free legal advice provided in 2024

      20+

      Years of global pro bono assistance via New Perimeter

      300+

      Pro bono projects in over 55 countries

      DLA Piper supports people who cannot afford legal representation, as well as NGOs, UN agencies, social entrepreneurs and developing nations.

      Legal education and refugee support programmes delivered across 17 countries in Europe.

      1,200+

      Lawyers and trainees complete at least 20 - 50 hours of pro bono work annually, with many contributing significantly more.

      The firm’s international pro bono strategy focuses on:

      1. Climate justice and conservation
      2. Supporting forcibly displaced people
      3. Good governance and shared values

      120+

      UK lawyers supported more than 4,300 Ukrainian clients through the Ukraine Advice Project.

      5,000+

      People received legal information and support through the firm’s Afghanistan response initiatives.

      INNOVATION

      Discover how we use technology to shape the way we work and support our clients

      Technology is transforming the legal industry, and at DLA Piper, it plays a key role in how we deliver services to our clients and develop the skills of our people. From innovative legal tech solutions to data-driven insights and digital collaboration tools, we are continuously evolving the way we work.

      On our early careers programmes, you’ll gain exposure to the intersection of law and technology. You’ll see how technology supports everything we do, from research and analysis to client delivery and global collaboration. You’ll also have opportunities to develop your own digital confidence, working with tools and platforms that are shaping the future of the profession.

      Video

      Discover how we use AI to shape the future

      Case study

      Explore the questions shaping the future of AI

      Video

      A career shaped by technology

        FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

        Not sure where
        to start?

        Have a question?

        Our Early Careers team is here to help.

        Contact us
        STORIES HUB

        Application advice, tips, and resources

        How to make the most of your internship: Clare Hibbert’s advice for standing out

        How to make the most of your internship: Clare Hibbert’s advice for standing out

        DLA Piper trainee Clare Hibbert reflects on her journey from university to practice, sharing practical advice on how to make the most out of your internship. 

        Step into the world of commercial law: UK insight events for students

        Step into the world of commercial law: UK insight events for students

        At our Law, unlocked insight events in the UK, students stepped inside our offices to meet our people, explore life at DLA Piper and see how careers in commercial law can take shape. 

        What does global mean at DLA Piper?

        What does global mean at DLA Piper?

        From London to Johannesburg, our people deliver work that crosses borders, industries, and expectations, because ambition without limits needs a global platform.

        Discovery Days, <em>unlocked</em>

        Discovery Days, unlocked

        Our Discovery Days give you real insight into the work, the people, and the pace of DLA Piper.

        What makes DLA Piper different? Insights from Alyson Eather

        What makes DLA Piper different? Insights from Alyson Eather

        Partner, Alyson Eather reflects on the global opportunities, varied experiences and supportive culture that have shaped her career. 

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