Service Delivery Paralegal Apprenticeship

Our Service Delivery Paralegal Apprenticeship is 2 years in length and will provide you with the opportunity to gain valuable legal skills working in our Service Delivery function, whilst at the same time working towards a Paralegal Level 3 Apprenticeship Certificate of Higher Education. You will be based in our Legal Delivery Centre in Leeds, and will work with colleagues across our UK and International office locations.

During your apprenticeship, you will gain experience in a commercial law firm with four 6-month rotations. You will complete three rotations in our Legal Delivery Centre working as a paralegal, which will develop your legal knowledge and skills across a range of legal disciplines. You will complete one rotation in one of our Service Delivery solutions teams which include Legal Project Management, Legal Technology and Business Process Improvement. This rotation will give you a unique insight into how the firm is enhancing its legal offering through technology solutions, advisory services and new products.

The rotational nature of the programme gives you the opportunity to gain broad work experience and a diverse skill set. You will participate in a comprehensive induction, regular training and a bespoke apprentice development plan delivered via the DLA Piper Academy to develop your technical competence and behavioural skills.

Your colleagues will help you feel valued, welcomed and supported. You will have wide ranging support from a buddy for peer support, a mentor, an early careers programme manager and an external skills coach. Your apprentice peers will also become an invaluable source of support. This support will help you succeed and thrive as a Service Delivery Paralegal Apprentice.

You will participate in regular networking and social events, and will have the opportunity to participate in the firm's sectors and employee networks. You will also complete pro bono work supporting the firm’s pro bono clients.

The Service Delivery Paralegal Apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with an external academic institution. Each week, you will have one day (20%) dedicated to your studies, and four days (80%) learning through practical on the job work experience. Your tuition fees will be fully funded by the firm and you will earn a salary during your apprenticeship.

Throughout your apprenticeship, your experiences will help inform your career aspirations. We will work with you to help you achieve your ambitions during your apprenticeship and beyond. 

Please note that you are only able to apply to one apprenticeship programme per year. The Service Delivery Paralegal Apprenticeship is not a route to qualify as a Solicitor.

Applications open: Monday 7 February 2022

Applications close: 17.00 GMT on Friday 25 March 2022

Solicitor Apprenticeship

Our Solicitor Apprenticeship is 6 years in length and will provide you with the opportunity to become a qualified solicitor with a degree level 7 qualification. In 2022, our Solicitor Apprentices will join our Leeds office.

You will study towards an LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice and Skills, and also work towards the Solicitors Regulatory Authority's (SRA) centralised assessment, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

During years 1 to 4, you will complete four, 12-month rotations in the firm’s practice groups and sectors. During years 5 to 6, you will complete four, 6-month rotations and will also have the opportunity to undertake client and international secondments. Your rotations will allow you to work in different teams on a wide range of legal matters, enabling you to develop your legal knowledge and professional skills.

Alongside your academic studies, you will participate in a comprehensive induction, regular training and a bespoke apprentice development plan delivered via the DLA Piper Academy. This comprehensive training will give you the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to be successful in your role.

Your colleagues will help you feel valued, welcomed and supported. You will have wide ranging support from a buddy for peer support, a mentor, an early careers programme manager and an external skills coach. Your apprentice peers will also become an invaluable source of support. This support will help you succeed and thrive as a Solicitor Apprentice.

You will participate in regular networking and social events, and will have the opportunity to participate in the firm's sectors and employee networks. You will also complete pro bono work supporting the firm’s pro bono clients.

The Solicitor Apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with an external academic institution. Each week, you will have one day (20%) dedicated to your studies, and four days (80%) learning through practical on the job work experience (80%). Your tuition fees will be fully funded by the firm and you will earn a salary during your apprenticeship.

Throughout your apprenticeship, your experiences will help inform your career aspirations. We will work with you to help you achieve your ambitions during your apprenticeship and beyond. 

Please note that you are only able to apply to one apprenticeship programme per year.

Applications open: Monday 7 February 2022

Applications close: 17.00 GMT on Friday 25 March 2022

Insight Programme

Our Insight Programme is open to both law and non-law students. It's designed to give you an insight into life at a global commercial law firm.

The programme includes:

• An insight to DLA Piper, our practice groups and innovation in the legal sector
• An interactive case study that brings the organisation to life
• Professional skills training including advice on how to excel in our selection process
• The opportunity to meet with senior representatives and current trainees

Through participating in the Insight Programme you will have the opportunity to make a priority application for the firm's Summer Internship at any of the UK offices where this is offered.

Am I eligible?

• Studying a law degree: you can apply for the programme if you are a first-year student on a three year course or a second-year student on a four year course
• Studying a non-law degree: you can apply for the programme if you are a second-year student on a three year course or a third-year student on a four year course

Our 2022 programme will be hosted in-person at our London office and will run in the Easter academic break.

Reasonable expenses (for example for travel) are offered to all programme participants. Accommodation and a subsistence allowance is provided to those that cannot reasonably commute to our London office.

To apply, you will be required to complete an application form including providing a response to a commercial awareness question. Additionally, you’ll be required to submit a copy of your CV. You are not required to complete the Watson Glaser assessment or attend an assessment centre for this opportunity.

Applications open: Monday 29 November 2021.
Application close: 17.00 (GMT), Friday 28 January 2022.

Summer Internship

Our Summer Internship is designed to give you insight to what DLA Piper is really like. Our in-person programme is three weeks in duration, commencing with a week-long induction programme held at our London office.

This induction provides an advanced introduction to the legal sector and the firms practice groups. It also builds your professional skills and workplace capability. Throughout the induction there will be opportunities to hear from and network with senior members of the firm.

You'll spend your second and third weeks of the Summer Internship undertaking work experience placements across two of our practice groups in your chosen office location. Before you start on the programme we'll ascertain and try to allocate your placements based on your preferences.

This year we will be recruiting interns into the following UK offices:

• Birmingham
• Edinburgh
• Leeds
• London
• North West (Manchester & Liverpool office combined programme)
• Sheffield

At the end of the Summer Internship, you'll be assessed for a place on our Graduate Programme (Training Contract) in the office where you complete your placement.

Am I eligible?

• Studying a law degree: you can apply for the programme if you are a second-year student on a three year course or a third-year student on a four year course
• Studying a non-law degree: you can apply for the programme if you are in your final year of study

Interested to hear what former summer interns thought about our programme? You can read their reviews here.

Applications open: Monday 6 September 2021.
Applications close: 17.00 (GMT), Friday 31 December 2021.

Summer Internship applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You are encouraged to apply ahead of the application deadline. Assessment centres for the Summer Internship will take place through mid-late January and February.

Graduate Programme

During your training contract you’ll experience four, six month rotations throughout our eight different practice groups, giving you breadth in your knowledge of the law as well as the practical skills that will stay with you for your entire career.

Our Graduates are also provided a once in a lifetime opportunity when they complete our International Induction in London with their global counterparts! Experiencing a full week of inspiring key note speakers, networking events and team building activities, you’ll be leveraging our international network right from day one.

By the end of your Graduate Programme, you will emerge with a clearer understanding of where your talent and interests lie. The experience you’ll have gained - and the networks you’ll have nurtured - will provide a strong foundation for your future career at DLA Piper.

All vacancies for our 2022 and 2023 training contracts have been filled and as a result, we will not be opening for applications this year.

Secondments

As part of our early-career programmes, we offer you the opportunity to apply for an international secondment. This usually lasts for six months and gives you the opportunity to work in one of DLA Piper's overseas offices. As well as experiencing life in a different country, you'll develop your legal knowledge in another jurisdiction and grow your professional networks across the firm.

Dubai

“Dubai allowed me to develop my skills in a new cultural environment and brought home the global nature of DLA Piper” - Aarmaan Hussain, Associate, Corporate

Singapore

“Singapore is an incredible place to undertake an international secondment. Not only did I have significant exposure to cross-border matters with teams from across the world, but on the weekends, I loved exploring the beautiful island state with the large cohort of trainees out there from other firms.” - Lucy Pearson, Associate, Litigation & Regulatory

Hong Kong

“Hong Kong often acts as a hub to coordinate multi-jurisdictional projects, so I worked frequently with other offices in the Asia-Pacific region. I learned a lot about the intricacies of other legal systems” - Caroline Yuen, Associate, Real Estate

Bangkok

“Six months in Bangkok was a unique opportunity both professionally, to experience a different working culture and to build a network of relationships with colleagues I continue to work with after qualifying; and personally, to spend time with family who live over there.” - David Evans, Associate, Litigation & Regulatory

Sydney

“Working in Sydney gave me the opportunity to work with colleagues from other offices and build contacts throughout APAC, which really emphasised how global DLA Piper is. I made great friends and loved every minute of my time there. It was an amazing experience and one that I feel very lucky to have had.” - Tom Williams, Associate, Intellectual Property & Technology

Madrid

“In Madrid, you are in the legal and financial hub of Spain at the same time as being surrounded by a world-class culture, sport and food. The experience developed my ability to think internationally - highly important in a firm like ours” - Naomi Lawson, Associate, Corporate