Paralegal Apprenticeship

Our Paralegal Apprenticeship is a 2 year programme providing 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.

During your apprenticeship, you will gain experience in a commercial law firm with four 6 month rotations. The first two rotations will be in the Legal Delivery Centre working as a paralegal. The third rotation will be in one of our Service Delivery solutions teams which include Legal Project Management, Legal Technology and Business Process Improvement. This rotation will give you the opportunity to experience how the firm is enhancing its legal offering with more technology solutions, advisory services and new products. Your final rotation will be in the Legal Delivery Centre.

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.

You will be based in the firm’s Leeds office, and you will work with colleagues across the UK and International offices, meaning that you will be involved in a broad range of legal matters.

The 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.

You will have wide ranging support from a buddy for peer support, a mentor, a programme manager and an external skills coach. There will be regular networking and social events, as well as the opportunity to participate in the firm's sectors and employee networks. You will also have the opportunity to complete pro bono work.

Applications for the 2021 Paralegal Apprenticeship have now closed.

Solicitor Apprenticeship

Our Solicitor Apprenticeship is a 6-year programme providing you with the opportunity to become a qualified solicitor with a degree level 7 qualification.

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%).

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

You will gain experience in a commercial law firm with 6 and 12 month rotations through DLA Piper's practice groups and sectors allowing you to obtain 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. As you progress through the apprenticeship, there will be client and international secondment opportunities to help you further develop your legal knowledge and skills.

You will have wide ranging support from a buddy for peer support, a mentor, a programme manager and an external skills coach. There will be regular networking and social events, as well as the opportunity to participate in the firm's sectors and employee networks. You will also have the opportunity to complete pro bono work.

Applications for the 2021 Solicitor Apprenticeship have now closed.

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)

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.

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