You should apply for the summer scheme two years before you’re eligible to start a training contract. If you're studying a law degree, this means applying in your penultimate year (year 2 of a three-year degree, or year 3 of a four-year degree).

If you're studying a non-law degree, you should apply in your final year (as it will take two years for you to complete the GDL and LPC).

Yes, we accept applications from those who have already completed their law degree – as well as from non-law graduates currently undertaking the GDL or LPC.

If you are applying to our Edinburgh office, you should apply in your penultimate year. If you are applying to one of our offices in England, you should apply in the final year of your degree. This is because you will need to complete either the full GDL or selected modules of the course.

We run a number of open days each year. Keep an eye on your careers centre notice board and our website for details.

Your application will be considered if there are mitigating circumstances or if you have significant experience from a previous career. If the former applies, please note the mitigating circumstances on your application. You may be asked to produce documentary evidence.

We require a minimum of 35 points, with consistency in grades across the six chosen subjects.

The majority of DLA Piper's offices have all eight practice groups.

Yes, we accept applications from students and graduates requiring a work permit. If we offer you a training contract, we will support your application to obtain a work permit or visa. However, please note that it is your responsibility to provide all the necessary information and documentation to the UK Border Agency. Furthermore, any offer we make will be conditional upon your work permit/visa application being approved.

Please complete the 'Other Education' section on the application form for all examinations completed outside of the UK. There is no need to attempt to convert your grades into the UK equivalent.

You will need to provide evidence of your academic achievements (e.g. exam certificates/transcripts) either at interview or assessment day. We will inform you beforehand.

A Personality assessment looks at peoples' preferred behaviours and tendencies and makes inferences as to how they might act in a given situation. In a work context, understanding personality helps look at how well a person is likely to fit with the conditions and requirements of different organisations and jobs and is very common across a range of industries and employers. You’ll complete an untimed questionnaire where you’ll answer a series of questions by ranking types of behaviours as most and least like you. There are no right or wrong answers – you just answer the way that best reflects yourself.

The verbal reasoning test will assess how well you can make sense of verbal information and apply logic and reasoning to answer questions. In this test, you be presented with a paragraph of text and then asked multiple choice questions about the content. This is a timed test so once you start you’ll need to move quickly and carefully through the questions.

Yes, you can. Our testing partner has a practice website where you can do practice questions that are similar to what you’ll see in the real assessments. We highly recommend that you spend a few minutes doing so. That way, you’ll know what to expect and nothing about the format or process will come as a surprise. The test site is here.

The best way to prepare for these types of assessments is to make sure you're in tip-top condition, relaxed, ready, and free from distractions. Find a quiet room, close the door, and turn your phone off. Make sure you’re not tired or hungry and that you’re well hydrated. Mid-morning is normally better than late in the evening, if you can. Regardless, find a time and place that suits you the best so you can give it your full attention.

Yes.

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