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.

The Solicitor Apprenticeship programme will commence in September 2021 in our Manchester office.

Insight Programme

Our award winning, 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.

Our Insight Programme includes:

• An insight to the legal sector, DLA Piper and our practice groups
• Interactive workshops that bring our organisation to life
• Professional skills training including advice on how to excel in our selection process
• Networking events
• The opportunity to meet with senior representatives and current trainees

Through participating on our Insight Programme you will have the opportunity to be assessed early for the firms Summer Internship.

Am I eligible? The Insight Programme is aimed at first year law students (on a three year course) or penultimate year non-law students (on a three year course). The programme runs in the Easter academic break.

We are hopeful that our 2021 Insight Programme will be hosted in-person. If that is not possible, than the programme will be modified and hosted virtually.

The Insight Programme is hosted in our London office. If applicable, participants that cannot reasonably commute to London will be provided with paid accommodation and travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Applications for our 2021 programme are now closed. We will open applications for our 2022 programme in November 2021.

Summer Internship

Our award-winning, paid 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.

Students spend the second and third weeks of the Summer Internship undertaking work experience placements across two of our practice groups in their chosen office location.

We are hopeful that our 2021 programme will run in-person. If that is not possible, than the programme will be modified and hosted virtually.

This year we will be recruiting interns into all of our UK offices, as follows:

• Birmingham
• Edinburgh
• Leeds
• Liverpool
• London
• Manchester
• Sheffield

At the end of the Summer Internship, participants are assessed for a training contract place.

Interested to hear what former Summer Internship programme participants thought about our programme? You can read their reviews here.

Applications for our 2021 programme are now closed. We will open applications for our 2022 programme in September 2021.

Graduate Programme

We offer Graduate Positions across all of our UK offices. During your training contract, you’ll experience four x 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 2021 and 2022 training contracts have been filled and as a result, we will not be opening for applications this year.

Secondments

During the Graduate Program, 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.

Bangkok

"Bangkok is a great city to live and work in. The office is mostly made up of native Thai lawyers rather than expats, so I was able to experience first-hand how commercial law matters are conducted in the country." – Eleanor Purves, Associate

Dubai

"Dubai allowed me to develop my skills in a new cultural environment and brought home the global nature of DLA Piper. It was a great networking experience as well. I was able to socialise with many other trainees who were doing secondments there too." – Luke Mooney, Associate

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. The experience was illuminating. I learned a lot about the intricacies of other legal systems." – Liam Blackford

Madrid

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

Moscow

"Working in Moscow was a unique experience. Assisting clients with the Russian context and international legal issues has definitely broadened my professional skillset. It gave me a keen understanding of how a global law firm operates." – Alistair White, Associate

Singapore

"I was drawn to Singapore because it offers opportunities to be involved in deals spanning Asia, Australia and the Middle East. The experience has more than met my expectations. You’d be hard pressed to find a more welcoming, inclusive and motivated team of lawyers." – Ed Moys, Associate

Sydney

"Sydney's an exciting place to be as a lawyer. It acts as the gateway to international deals across the Asia-Pacific region. I have been able to work on interesting matters, travel across the country and made some great friends along the way." – Dolapo Oshin, Associate

Melbourne

"I'm a coffee fan but Melbourne takes it to a whole new level. I like the culture of taking a quick mid-morning break at a local coffee shop. In the office we also have lunchtime yoga and an active social committee for office-wide events." – Hallam Lyall Grant, Associate