DLA Piper is one of the world’s leading business law firms. With over 90 offices in more than 40 countries, the firm provides seamless local and cross-border advice. The firm believes great businesses can make a better world. That's why, every day, DLA Piper helps its clients succeed.

DLA Piper's progressive mindset challenges conventions and evolves its global legal offering into broader advisory services and new business areas. Through the firm's deep industry knowledge, technological solutions, and diversity of thought and experience, clients embrace change and seize opportunities.

DLA Piper’s ten sector groups cover the full range of business law services. Clients include multinationals, start-ups, public sector bodies and governments. Across the two leading legal directories, the firm has over 3,567 lawyer rankings, and over 1,440 practice group/sector rankings. DLA Piper has a world-leading global pro bono practice, with lawyers working across Asia Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America. In 2020, the firm contributed 227,508 hours of pro bono legal services globally. Internationally, the firm focus on displaced people. Their practice is uniquely placed to work to protect the rights of refugees, displaced people and those who are stateless, with a particular focus on supporting the most vulnerable groups, including women, children and members of the LGBT+ community.

The firms' entrepreneurial and supportive culture promotes bold, ambitious thinking and a warm, empathetic approach. Trusting, collaborative relationships with clients and each other are at the heart of everything it does.

DLA Piper is looking for ambitious, capable and forward-thinking graduates from any degree discipline to join its journey.

Training contract positions are offered in the firm's UK offices.

DLA Piper trainees are provided a once in a lifetime opportunity when they complete an International Graduate Induction in London with their global counterparts! They experience a full week of inspiring keynote speakers, networking events responsible business activities and professional skills training.

Trainees then complete four six-month seats and are given an opportunity to express the areas of law they would like to experience during their training contracts. They also have the opportunity to do a seat abroad, or a client secondment.

After qualification, our award-winning training programme ensures that all employees are developed throughout their time at DLA Piper, as we believe in investing in the careers and reputation of our people.

There are circa 100 vacation scheme places offered by DLA Piper across the firm's UK offices. The scheme is 3 weeks in duration, commencing with a week-long induction programme in the firm's London office. 

The induction programme gives students the opportunity to hear from the firm's senior leaders, to participate in professional skills training, to attend networking events and to participate in responsible business activities.

Students spend the second and third weeks of the scheme undertaking work experience placements in two of the firm's practice groups. The scheme also has daily practice group insight sessions and thought leadership seminars, as well as regular social events.

We offer Solicitor and Paralegal Apprenticeships in some of our UK offices.

Our Solicitor Apprenticeship is a 6-year programme providing students 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, apprentices will have one day (20%) dedicated to studies, and four days (80%) learning through practical on the job work experience (80%).

Apprentices 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).

Our Paralegal Apprenticeship is a 2 year programme providing students the opportunity to gain valuable legal skills working in our Service Delivery function, whilst at the same time working towards a Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship and a Level 4 Certificate in Higher Education. 

During the apprenticeship, apprentices 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 apprentices the opportunity to experience how the firm is enhancing its legal offering with more technology solutions, advisory services and new products. The final rotation will be in the Legal Delivery Centre.

Where training contracts are secured prior to course completion, the firm fully funds the LPC and the GDL.  We also offer maintenance grants of up to £10,000 depending on the geographic location of study.

First-year trainee salaries range from £30,000 (all offices outside of London) to £46,000 (London) . The NQ salaries for 2021 were £88,000 (London) and £48,000 (all offices outside of London).

Annual benefits include 28 days holiday, pension scheme, private medical insurance, permanent health insurance, life assurance, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, social club, sports teams, subsidised gym membership, subsidised restaurant and discounts at local retailers.

We are committed to attracting, developing and retaining the best people as our continued success relies on our ability to provide a supportive, inclusive and motivating environment where everyone has a role to play in supporting the delivery of outstanding service to our clients.

We offer exceptional career opportunities to our aspiring graduates, in an environment that is challenging, rewarding and, we believe, truly different from our competitors.

We are looking for highly talented people who can demonstrate an affinity with our values to help us achieve our vision of becoming the leading global business law firm. Within our trainee cohort we need a diverse group of talented individuals who have a consistently strong academic performance, formidable commercial acumen, who are articulate, ambitious, driven with sharp minds, enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity. 

In return, we offer a dynamic and diverse environment in which people can build a long and fruitful career and have their success rewarded.

Degree: All degree disciplines are considered

We have no minimum requirements education requirements

AllAboutLaw Awards 2018

Winner - Best Training Contract 

Winner - Best Training Contract - International or City Firm

Winner - Best for Job Satisfaction

Winner - Best Opportunities for Skills Development - Training Contract

Application forms should be completed and submitted online at www.dlapipergraduates.com