Early Careers
Share our vision.
Shape your future.
Whether you're a student or a graduate, our programmes offer you the essential combination of support, training and exposure to real challenges that shape the world around us. You can find our different opportunities below and explore which will help you discover your path and realise your potential.
Explore opportunities
Seasonal clerkship programme
Our in-person paid clerkship will show you what we do, how we work and the impact we make in Australia and around the world.
Graduate programme
The opportunities and experiences you'll have on our graduate programme will help you develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to succeed in a career in law.
A day in the life of . . .
A highlight of my experience at DLA Piper is the relationships I have built with my class of graduates. There aren’t many days that we don’t eat lunch together, get morning coffees from the barista bar or play a game of table tennis!
Alexis Brenssell, Solicitor
No matter how excellent any individual is, success is achieved through working as a team. In my view, DLA Piper’s team culture is great, and there is a real emphasis on ensuring that we’re friends as well as colleagues.
Cassian Ho, Senior Associate
I joined DLA Piper as a paralegal, then completed a clerkship, and now I am a graduate. The firm’s mentoring culture really stands out! Mentoring happens every day.
Joanne Wang, Graduate
Through its agile approach called WorkSmart, DLA Piper prioritises flexible working and understands the benefits that flow from providing its people with the tools needed to easily work in new and different ways every day.
Tom Borland, Solicitor
My experience is that DLA Piper is full of wonderful people, and I have worked under great mentors throughout the graduate programme who value my career development just as much as I do.
Riley Arthur, Solicitor
You hear a lot about the international aspects of a firm like DLA Piper. It was not until I joined the firm that I appreciated how broad and active the international network was. In my first year working in Corporate, I was regularly in contact with clients and colleagues from all around the globe.
Tom Keyser, Solicitor
Commercial law firms can have a reputation for being stuffy, unapproachable, and not conducive to learning. Since day one, the people here at DLA Piper have been more than happy to take the time to develop aspiring law students and junior lawyers both personally and professionally.
Sharon Zhang, Solicitor
The best thing about DLA Piper is the people and there is a real sense of community amongst the global firm irrespective of which office you sit in.
Paul Bonjour, Solicitor
DLA Piper is not just another global law firm; it truly operates as a global team within which I feel supported to pursue my career and personal goals.
Carol Lin, Graduate
At DLA Piper, I have always felt part of a global community (rather than simply part of a local office). The firm offers international travel opportunities at all career stages. I was lucky to have participated in some of these.
Elliott Cheung, Partner