EARLY CAREERS in the Middle East

Furas internship

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Shape your future

A first-of-its-kind opportunity for UAE Nationals to experience life at the heart of a global law firm. Work in one of our world-leading Dubai practice groups or business services teams for 13 months. Explore the intersection of law and business, take on real responsibilities from day one, and build essential skills for a global legal career. Attend court hearings, work with clients, and grow your professional network while seeing how a purpose-led organisation makes a real difference through pro bono work and sustainability commitments.

We will offer a select number of candidates a permanent role when they finish their internship. You will choose your preferred practice groups and business services teams when you apply and we will try to assign you to one of them for the programme.

Download more information

 

Shape your future

What you will do

  • Work on a variety of interesting challenges across different sectors 
  • Join a diverse and friendly team while collaborating with colleagues across the world
  • Get structured learning and mentorship, while building your network 
  • Explore further interests like legal, tech, sustainability and pro bono work
  • Thrive in a supportive environment that prioritises your wellbeing
What you will do

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 will need to be a strong English speaker, reader and writer as our work is typically in both English and Arabic, depending upon the area of focus. Also: 

  • You will be a UAE National holding a Family Book.
  • You will be completing your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in your final year of study, or a recent graduate or career changer.

Only one application can be made per year. 

Key dates

December intake

  • Applications close: 07 November 2025
  • Programme start date: December 2025

June intake

  • Applications open: Spring 2026
  • Programme start date: June 2026
Key dates

Furas Talent Community

Furas is our pioneering Emiratisation programme designed to unlock more potential in one of the most exciting areas in the business world. The programme focuses on hiring and developing more homegrown UAE National talent to help us build a sustainable UAE workforce and deliver a positive impact for DLA Piper and for the UAE economy. 

Sign up to our Furas talent community to receive information about our career opportunities for UAE Nationals.

Furas Talent Community

Global careers without limits – our early careers induction

Learn about the experiences of our Class of 2024 trainees and solicitor apprentices from Hong Kong, Ireland, the UAE and the UK during their induction.

Application hints and tips

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

Application hints and tips Transcript

Molly: Hi, I am Molly. I work in the Early Careers team here at DLA Piper.

Kathleen: I'm Kathleen. I work in the Early Careers Talent Acquisition team here at DLA Piper.

Molly: When you're submitting an application form, the number one thing is to make sure you proofread your application before you submit it.

You’ve spent so long on it and it's really frustrating to submit it and realize that you've spelt something wrong.

It's really important for us to make sure that the lawyers we recruit have really great attention to detail.

Kathleen: A big thing would be – do your research to really understand why you're applying to DLA Piper.

Molly: Know the firm. Know what we're about.

Kathleen: We obviously know that you want to work in the legal industry, but what specifically stands out about us as a firm.

Molly: Once you've spent some time doing that, I'd recommend getting your application submitted. Get a draft up and really take time to work through that.

Kathleen: So if you do attend one of our assessment centres, my top tips would be to really try and be yourself.

Molly: The most important thing to do at an assessment centre is to be yourself.

Kathleen: Don't try and answer questions the way that you think the interviewer wants to hear them. They're really looking for that authentic person and who you are.

Molly: We'll be out on campus, attending lots of events, working with lots of different societies across universities, up and down the country, and across the world.

So come and meet us. That's the best opportunity for you to find out about who we are and to really reinforce the reasons why you want to work with us.

Kathleen: We also have an Instagram page. That's DLA Piper Careers.

Molly: You can find out all about where we are on campus, the opportunities, applications, openings, closing, and lots of other exciting content.

 

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 Transcript

Trainee: The main thing I've learnt from my experiences at DLA Piper is how interconnected our world really is.

Our world is growing and so globalized now. It only made sense for me to start my career somewhere that is global at heart.

Trainee: It is a global law firm. So at the junior level that means you can do international secondments to work for six months in another country, which sounds ideal to me.

Trainee: What really drew me to DLA Piper was the firm's One UK Policy, which is the policy that work is shared collaboratively across all of the UK offices.

Even though I'm based in a regional office, I still have access to opportunities to work on really high-profile, really exciting matters and projects, even from a regional base.

Trainee: Obviously, coming into a job like this there's a huge amount of imposter syndrome that can come with it.

But I think with how supported you are at DLA Piper, that can help overcome that.

They're there to give you those little pushes which you might feel too scared to take on your own.

Trainee: There are so many opportunities to just put your hand up and ask to get involved in things. So whether that's saying, oh, Could I write an article for website? Could I get involved in this pro bono work?

Trainee: I wasn't a law student, I say with some pride. I did history.

Trainee: There's no one route into law and you don't have to fit a certain mold to become a lawyer.

I, for example, did a philosophy degree. I found that in applications and interviews I had so much to talk about because those were things that I was genuinely interested in.

Trainee: So I did politics, philosophy and economics at university. Initially, I was also a bit hesitant about choosing this career because it's quite different to the kind of things I did in my undergraduate degree.

Trainee: And a firm like DLA Piper especially really values broad perspectives and different backgrounds.

Trainee: The skills you have learned from your undergraduate degree are so transferrable to what we do as a firm, and what the industry does in general.

Trainee: They're really good at developing the softer skills which contribute to a good career. I've learned a lot about the sort of lawyer I want to be.

Trainee: DLA Piper has a really friendly, inclusive culture. That's something that's been really evident as a trainee. Even really senior partners will come over to you, will have a chat with you and that makes such a difference.

Trainee: Another thing that stood out to me about DLA Piper was their commitment to pro bono.

Trainee: The pro bono and sustainability work throughout the firm is etched from the very top to the very bottom.

And things like economic development, ensuring a just and equitable climate transition – these things run throughout the firm.

Trainee: I really got the sense that it wasn't just lip service, that they actually meant what they said, and it was very value driven.

Trainee: And it's specific initiatives.

Trainee: So the Manchester office is partnered with a nonprofit organization called Hope for Justice, which supports victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.

Trainee: When I was a trainee, I got really, really involved with Project Ukraine. We basically went out to try to give legal information to people trying to come to the UK.

There was no way that you could do any work like that anywhere else. And I loved it! And I ended up doing 300 cases or so.

Trainee: I've worked on the Carbon Tax Model Rule for the Commonwealth, assisting, drafting policy guidance for them. Even though, you know, it’s completely aside from my area of practice.

It's something that I got involved with because it's something the firm was doing that I'm interested in. And I felt like if I could add value.

Trainee: You go and you feel as though you're helping people in quite a direct way.

Trainee: It's law, which involves human beings, rather than abstract principles.

Trainee: And I don't think there are many other careers that can offer that. And there are not many other firms that can offer that either.

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
    Recruitment roadmap

    What to expect

    • Application form

      Fill in our application form to give us some key information about you. We will also ask you about your reasons for applying to DLA Piper. And we will ask you to submit a CV.

    • Online English assessment

      We use an online English assessment to test your English language skills. The online assessment is untimed and you can complete it at your own pace. But you have to complete your assessment within five working days of receiving the link.

      We recommend you spend some time practising to get used to the types of questions you may be asked.

    • Interviews

      The two strengths-based 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 interview is also your chance to demonstrate your strengths and help us get to know you better. 

    What to expect
    Abdulla Al Matrooshi, Intern, Dubai

    It’s exciting to be part of a firm that’s shaping the future of law. Approach your career with confidence and a willingness to grow, because law is as much about adapting and innovating as it is about knowing the rules.

    Abdulla Al Matrooshi
    Sultan Al jaberi, Intern, Dubai

    I'm trusted to take ownership of tasks, interact with clients, and contribute meaningfully to major matters.

    Sultan Al jaberi
      FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

      Your questions,
      answered

      Yes, the Furas internship is aimed at students from all degree disciplines, although the roles within our practice groups are aimed at individuals with a law degree. You can apply for the programme if you’re in your final year of study and graduating in 2025. You are also eligible to apply if you’re a graduate or looking for a career change.

      We don't have minimum academic requirements for the undergraduate degree.

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

      No, you don’t need any prior work experience. 

      Yes, we accept applications from people who’ve already completed their degree.

      During your internship, we will regularly check in with you to identify your goals and career aspirations. 

      At the end of the internship, we will assess your performance and will help you to explore longer term career opportunities at the firm. The Furas programme is aimed at attracting, recruiting, and retaining more homegrown UAE talent, and we therefore want to support your career growth at the firm.

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