EARLY CAREERS

Internship

About this programme

Gain first-hand experience of working at DLA Piper with our in-person Internship in Milan or Rome. Our full time six month paid Internship Programme will support your registration for the mandatory traineeship to qualify for the Italian bar exam (pratica forense) or for the chartered accountant exam. At the end of the Internship, you will have the opportunity to be assessed for a position as a Trainee with us.

This is the gateway to our Training Programme and will provide you with opportunities to explore your interests and make informed career choices.

Programme details

Our Internship is designed to give you an insight into what life at DLA Piper is really like.

Our full time six month paid programme starts with a bespoke induction that provides a comprehensive introduction to the legal sector and our firm.

The induction will allow you to meet new people and hear from senior members of the firm. You will discover more about the firm’s practice groups and sectors, our approach to radical change and technology, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion. You will also spend time building your knowledge, professional skills, and workplace capabilities to ensure you have the best internship experience possible.

Following the induction, you will undertake work experience within a practice group in your chosen office location. You will do more than just shadow our lawyers and will be given real responsibilities. Whether you’re attending a court hearing, contributing to a client meeting, working on pro bono matters or expanding your professional network at social events, you will have plenty of opportunity to discover your potential.

Within your practice group, you will work with people across the international firm, including partners, and you will learn through practical work and observation. We will do our best to accommodate your practice group preferences which you can share with us in advance.

Your learning and development

Your success is our priority, so at the start of your Internship you will be paired with a buddy, who will share hints and tips as well as offering support and guidance.

You will have access to the DLA Piper Academy, which is our award-winning International Learning and Development curriculum. We encourage you to reach your full potential in a culture that supports you to grow and learn, and where we recognise and celebrate performance and results.

No two careers – or two people – are the same at DLA Piper. We want you to reach your full potential as part of a diverse, global team that thrives on collaboration, seizing opportunities and commercial edge. Here, personal growth goes hand-in-hand with professional development to shape your individual career journey.

Our values

Our culture promotes and encourages inclusion and teamwork, and is underpinned by our values: be bold, be collaborative, be supportive, be exceptional. We believe these should be embedded in the way we all work every day.

How to apply?

To apply, you will be required to complete an application form. Within the application form, you will also be asked to include your academic average and your actual expected graduation date.

When applying, you will also be asked to provide your CV, your graduate academic transcripts and details of your language capabilities.

You will have the opportunity to confirm your preferences regarding our practice groups and offices. Please note that while we try to accommodate individuals’ preferences, there may be times when this is not possible.

Although not essential, our preference is that your application is completed in English, in line with our internal global standards and strategy.

We don’t require you to submit a cover letter as part of your application.

Key dates

The Internship is six months in duration and has two intakes, as follows:

March – September 2024
September 2024 – March 2025

Application deadline: 18:00 pm CET, Thursday, 1st February 2024

Accessibility

At DLA Piper, we are committed to making reasonable adjustments and removing disability-related barriers. This is so everyone, irrespective of a visible or non-visible disability, neurodivergence, a long-term health condition or injury, has an equitable opportunity to succeed in our recruitment process.

If you think you may need adjustments or additional support to enable you to participate in our recruitment process, please get in touch with our Italy HR team and we will be happy to support you.

We understand that sharing your needs with us may feel daunting. We will have an open discussion with you about what will work best for you in the recruitment process, and you only need to share what you feel comfortable with. Our team will ensure that the information you provide will be treated confidentially. The information will only be shared with others involved in the process, on your approval, and where necessary.

We will use the information you share to put adjustments in place for you at any stage, or at multiple stages, of the recruitment process. This is to enable you to perform to the best of your ability, and to have an equitable opportunity to perform and thrive.

Programme overview

Watch our 2022/23 Internship video, where we welcomed over 70 interns to the firm in our Milan and Rome offices. During the internship, our interns worked with our clients and developed the knowledge and skills required to be a successful lawyer.

DLA Piper attends Career Days in Italy

We recently participated in #CareerDays at Bocconi University in Milan and Sapienza University in Rome. We enjoyed meeting with Law and Economics students and recent graduates to showcase our firm, our values and to introduce our Internship Programme and career opportunities in Italy.

Recruitment roadmap

Application form

After submitting your application form, you will be invited to complete a series of online tests that explore your language capabilities, reasoning and analytical skills.

Assessments

English online assessment (via e-mail)
English oral assessment (approximately 10 minutes conversation by phone)
Written assessment (in English or Italian)

Interviews

1st stage interview with a Recruitment Specialist
2nd stage interview with a Lawyer

Offer

Ready to shape your future with DLA Piper?

Apply now

Frequently asked questions

Can you tell me more about DLA Piper in Italy?

DLA Piper is recognised as one of the leading law firms in Italy. With over 300 professionals based in Milan and Rome, we advise clients on all areas of business law and perfectly combine the firm’s global reach with our local knowledge.

Our clients value our global view of the market, consistency of service and the ability to quickly form cross-border multidisciplinary project teams. We are dedicated to building long-term relationships.

What do you look for in Internship applicants?

Our people come from a diverse range of backgrounds; it’s what sets us apart. By opening up a range of different and unique perspectives, we can service our clients better.

You will need a strong academic record, and a real passion for developing a career as a lawyer or chartered accountant. But it goes further than that...

Among other things, we will be looking for candidates who are naturally inquisitive, have plenty of drive, and can show a genuine commitment to their chosen career path.

By bringing your authentic self to work every day, you will have an instinctive ability to build relationships with peers, colleagues, and clients alike.

Do you accept mitigating circumstances for academic results?

If you have any mitigating circumstances that you would like to be taken into consideration alongside your application, please contact us to discuss further.

Will the Internship support my registration for the mandatory traineeship to qualify for the Italian bar exam (pratica forense), or for the chartered account exam?

Yes, if you have the university requirements to access the mandatory pratica forense or pratica anticipata. We encourage you to contact your university prior to applying to check the necessary requirements.

After the Internship, is there the possibility to progress my career at DLA Piper?

At the end of the Internship, you will have the opportunity to be assessed, based on your performance, and our availability, for a position as a Trainee with us.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

Please contact Mariana Dardengo (Senior Recruitment Business Partner, Italy) or Benedetta Mayer (Recruitment Specialist, Italy).