Life at DLA Piper
Forward looking teams require forward thinking leaders
Innovating careers worldwide
At DLA Piper, we don’t put limits on our people. That defines our culture. Starting with ensuring everyone can be themselves, to providing everything they need to realise their full potential, you’ll have everything you need to seize the world of opportunity on offer. Hear from our people on joining DLA Piper and their journeys so far.
Realising our potential at DLA Piper
Helen O’Connor, Head of Knowledge: The most pivotal decision I’ve made in my career was to leave self-employment and to go and work in a law firm.
Gabo Papp, Head of Knowledge, Luxembourg: When I felt after several long years that I wanted to do something else than transactional lawyering.
John Read, Senior Creative Writer, Solicitor: I took a temporary break from being a lawyer and I went and become a science journalist writing about nanotechnology.
Dr. Awmaima Amrayaf, Senior Impact Advisor: When I moved to the UK. This decision was as a result of my circumstances at that time and being a refugee in the UK.
Dr. Olaf Schmidt, Partner, Real Estate: Had I not decided to practice law in Italy and to move to Milan, I would probably not be a partner today and I would certainly not have enjoyed my professional life as much as I do.
Helen O’Connor: What I do now allows me all of the bits I loved. It allows me the nerding out. It allows me an element of performance in training young people, but it also allows me to have a team of people around me who are all kind of pulling towards the same goals.
Gabo Papp: Stepping up and sharing my concerns and career aspirations definitely influenced my career. I think now I’m on a different career track.
Dr. Awmaima Amrayaf: When I first joined the pro bono team at DLA Piper, I joined as an intern. After three years, here I am today as Senior Impact Adviser, so proud of this achievement and grateful for it.
Gabo Papp: I made a decision, a conscious decision, some time ago that I need to ask myself several self-reflecting questions, whether I’m generating value, whether I’m living my values, whether I’m valued at the place I am. And I try to force myself to act according to my answers.
John Read: Pushing myself outside of my comfort zone opened up a new, different career path for me that I hadn’t even thought about before.
Dr. Olaf Schmidt: What is special about DLA Piper is that we are not operating in a rigid framework, so you can actually find fulfillment by looking at opportunities and in some way drive into different directions.
Helen O’Connor: Taking control of my career like that, it felt great. It was terrifying. It was invigorating. I remember my first day, they asked me what document management system I was used to and I told them that I saved things on my desktop.
Gabo Papp: It feels liberating, definitely. It also gives me a sense of purpose over what I’m doing.
John Read: It’s been so rewarding to take control of my role here at DLA Piper.
Gabo Papp: And last but not least, knowing that I made deliberate decisions over my career helps me to survive even the most difficult days.
Dr. Awmaima Amrayaf: This makes me feel empowered and liberated.
John Read: Aligning what the firms needs from me with what I enjoy doing most means that I can do my best work every day. It means that I can stretch my skills and it means that I end the day feeling fulfilled in what I’ve done.
Dr Awmaima Amrayaf: I found that all the support I needed is available and I make the best use of it.
Dr. Olaf Schmidt: Let yourself be guided by your interest, by the stuff you like. This job and this world of legal services is demanding and you will only perform if you are really enjoying what you do.
DLA Piper. Where law unlocks potential.
Global mindsets
Extending your horizons
At DLA Piper, our global mindset is at the core of everything we do. Our people engage in complex international matters, seamlessly collaborating across borders to deliver exceptional legal services beyond traditional law. With offices in numerous international locations, we are interconnected and equipped to handle the most challenging legal issues worldwide. Our diverse team brings a wealth of perspectives and expertise, ensuring innovative solutions for our clients. Join us and be part of a dynamic, global network where your career can thrive, and you can make a significant impact on a global scale.
Agile working
Our flexible working approach
At DLA Piper, we provide our people with the tools they need to help them work in new and different ways every day. It’s an agile approach we call WorkSmart. Local legislation and cultural expectations may vary from country to country, but this approach is the same across our firm. By encouraging our people to work without traditional limitations, such as where and when certain tasks are performed, we believe we can better meet the needs of our clients, attract the best talent and improve sustainability.
Your health and wellbeing
An environment where everyone can thrive
We are committed to investing in and supporting efforts to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our partners and employees to create an environment in which everyone can thrive. Our strategy combines short-term immediate care, longer-term proactive solutions, and a range of education opportunities that help reduce stigma and raise awareness in our firm.
Our Employee Assistance Programme
Free, confidential expert guidance for you and your family on everyday matters to your health and wellbeing.
Unmind
App support for measuring, understanding and improving your mental wellbeing for you and one non DLA Piper referral of your choice.
SPEAK Ambassadors
A network of partners and employees from across the International firm supporting you and your wellbeing.
Mindful Business Charter
We are committed to the Mindful Business Charter to remove unnecessary sources of workplace stress and promote better mental health and wellbeing in the legal community.
Jon Watkins, Partner, Health and Wellbeing Steering Committee Chair
We continue to strive to create a culture within our firm where everyone can thrive, delivering exceptional work for our firm and clients while supporting themselves and each another.
Personal and professional growth
Your growth is our priority
Realising your potential
When you grow, we grow. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the training, support and opportunities to unlock your full potential. Every career is different so our tailored support will help you build one you’re proud of. Our breadth and depth mean we offer a unique range of experiences to help you discover your own path. Our constant pursuit of innovation is only possible with a continued commitment to learning and development. That’s why you’ll always have a learning plan and the necessary range of training opportunities to make it a reality.
International career academies
We realise potential together. Our international career academies are where you’ll come together with other managers, lawyers and leaders at crucial stages of your career. They’re spaces to learn from each other, grow your personal networks and build your professional and leadership skills. We’re always striving to increase the impact of our work beyond the borders of law and the focus here is to develop your commercial, business development and managerial skills.
International development programmes
Our international development programmes provide a global context to local skills and learning. They’re designed to show the world of opportunity open to you and give you a platform to enhance your skills through global collaboration, coaching and mentoring. These programmes will develop your commercial, financial, business development and leadership skills and enable you to build a global mindset, international network and trusting relationships across the firm. This is how you’ll seize the opportunities of an interconnected world.
When you grow, we grow. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the training, support and opportunities to unlock your full potential. Every career is different so our tailored support will help you build one you’re proud of. Our breadth and depth mean we offer a unique range of experiences to help you discover your own path. Our constant pursuit of innovation is only possible with a continued commitment to learning and development. That’s why you’ll always have a learning plan and the necessary range of training opportunities to make it a reality.
We realise potential together. Our international career academies are where you’ll come together with other managers, lawyers and leaders at crucial stages of your career. They’re spaces to learn from each other, grow your personal networks and build your professional and leadership skills. We’re always striving to increase the impact of our work beyond the borders of law and the focus here is to develop your commercial, business development and managerial skills.
Our international development programmes provide a global context to local skills and learning. They’re designed to show the world of opportunity open to you and give you a platform to enhance your skills through global collaboration, coaching and mentoring. These programmes will develop your commercial, financial, business development and leadership skills and enable you to build a global mindset, international network and trusting relationships across the firm. This is how you’ll seize the opportunities of an interconnected world.
Exceptional benefits for exceptional talent
Our reward package attracts talent, motivates colleagues, enables international mobility and helps our colleagues thrive personally and professionally.
If you join us you will enjoy a competitive, compelling, equitable and transparent reward proposition. No matter where you may be in your career or personal life, our benefits are designed to add value and support, recognising and rewarding you fairly for your contributions.
Our focus is not just on tangible reward we also offer hybrid working, support for mental and physical well-being, and endeavour to ensure that everyone enjoys a positive work/life balance.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We celebrate diversity, empower each other with knowledge and empathy, and a commitment to progress. We understand that mirroring the diversity of the world enhances our strength, and drives our global potential.
Sustainability
Sustainability and ESG are core to our firm. Our team plays a crucial role in helping clients transition to and thrive in a sustainable future.
Job Search
Explore career opportunities across our international locations, find your perfect role, and join a team where innovation, diversity, and growth are at the heart of everything we do.