Programme details
Explore the intersection between law and business. Discover how an international law firm makes an impact in the UK and around the world. Develop the skills you need for a global legal career. You’ll do all this and more on our two-year international training programme.
As a trainee, you'll start a global career that transcends traditional boundaries. You'll be part of a firm that embraces new ideas and fosters progress. With a focus on shaping the future of law, you'll do work that's as diverse as the world we live in.
The international training programme is designed for people who have a global mindset and appreciate the nuances of local contexts. You'll do the most stimulating work, immerse yourself in diverse cultures, and navigate the complexities of our interconnected world.
On the international training programme, you will:
- complete four, six-month rotations in our practice groups. You'll have international and client secondment opportunities, and placement opportunities in our responsible business team;
- be at the forefront of legal innovation, working on high-profile, cross-border projects that will shape the future of law and business. You’ll see how we think across borders to find creative solutions for our clients;
- join a forward-looking, friendly team while collaborating with colleagues around the world to drive results you're proud of;
- develop your knowledge and skills through structured learning and development opportunities in our supportive culture;
- be supported by a strong network of supervisors, buddies, and mentors to develop your confidence and identify your own personal and professional goals;
- have a dedicated early careers programme manager who will work with you to ensure your journey on the programme reflects your career aspirations;
- be part of an international early careers community of talented colleagues who’ll become part of your global network;
- have opportunities to engage with initiatives beyond your role, including getting involved with our people networks, legal tech, sustainability and pro bono work;
- enjoy a working environment where your wellbeing is always a priority and your workload is managed so you can always deliver your best; and
- emerge from the programme not just as a qualified lawyer, but as a global business advisor equipped to tackle the challenges of an ever-evolving world.
You’ll have the freedom to discover your own path and make an extraordinary impact beyond the borders of traditional law. Tomorrow’s legal industry can’t hire yesterday’s skills.
Unlock your potential and start building a different kind of legal career.
What do we look for?
We’re looking for people from a diverse range of backgrounds who have the potential to thrive at our firm.
To succeed on our early careers programmes, you don’t need any specific legal experience or education, but you will:
- have an interest in international law and business;
- have a forward-thinking and entrepreneurial mindset and be excited about doing things differently in the legal industry;
- be self-motivated by a strong desire to achieve your personal and professional goals;
- enjoy collaborating with others and be instinctively socially aware;
- have a growth mindset so you see setbacks as learning opportunities, and you’ll proactively look for ways to grow and develop;
- enjoy working in an ever-changing environment; and
- enjoy taking ownership of tasks and thinking critically.
Application hints and tips
Hear from our early careers team and discover how to succeed in your application.
Give your career the best platform
Do you want to unlock an exciting future and realise your potential? Learn more about life at DLA Piper and the opportunities on our early careers programmes.
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 Early Careers 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.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Generative AI tools in the recruitment process?
Generative AI (GenAI) is a fascinating branch of AI that can produce original and creative content. It uses complex algorithms and neural networks to learn from data and generate outputs that mimic human-like creativity. The data used to train GenAI tools can be text, images, audio, video or other types of content.
GenAI is changing how we work and will impact how you work in your career. It has the potential to bring benefits and opportunities yet also poses challenges and risks.
If you're planning to use GenAI tools within the recruitment process, we'd recommend being both responsible and cautious. The recruitment process for our early careers programmes is your opportunity to demonstrate your potential – your experiences, skills, strengths and career aspirations. It's also our way of assessing whether you're likely to succeed in an early careers role at DLA Piper.
Integrity and honesty are fundamental attributes of anyone aspiring to work in the legal industry. Using GenAI tools can be helpful in your job search and in the application process, if the tools are used appropriately. Maintaining integrity whilst using these tools requires human direction over how generative AI is used, and here's our top tips for getting this right.
What does good use of GenAI tools look like?
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Upskilling yourself on the limitations of GenAI technologies and being aware of GenAI tools-related risks and how to prevent them.
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Being transparent about your use of AI. Be prepared to discuss how you've used GenAI tools in the recruitment process – this will demonstrate your ability to leverage new technologies effectively whilst also showing that you understand what ethical usage looks like.
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Understanding how the GenAI tools work. GenAI tools like ChatGPT are like a 'really big word calculator' – you don't need to have detailed knowledge about the inner workings of the GenAI tools, but taking the time to understand how they work is important to ensure you're using the GenAI tools appropriately.
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Researching employers and what different employers are looking for from candidates. GenAI tools can be helpful in finding job opportunities which match your strengths and career aspirations.
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Helping your initial brainstorming process. GenAI tools can help inspire, clarify and articulate your ideas, but they cannot replicate your personal thoughts and feelings. Always refine the tool's output using your own voice and experiences - an AI-generated response to a motivational question will not authentically convey your skills and experiences.
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Helping you structure your ideas. Once you've decided what you want to say, a GenAI tool could help you decide how to layout your ideas. Always check the tool's output, which should be used as a first draft for you to edit.
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Checking written responses for readability, especially for spelling, grammar and clarity.
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Anonymising your inputs to the tool and removing all personal data and sensitive information. For example, if you're asking the GenAI tool to check your CV for brevity, remember to remove your name from the document you upload. This is because all data inputted into GenAI tools is used to train the algorithm and the tools are not usually capable of maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information.
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Asking the tool for tips on how to prepare for online assessments, for example the Watson Glaser critical thinking assessment. These tips can help you prepare for and reduce your anxiety when completing the real assessment.
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Using the tool to help you prepare for interviews or assessment centres, by asking for example interview questions.
What does poor use of GenAI tools look like?
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Copy and pasting AI-generated responses without editing the output or clearly acknowledging where the information has been obtained from. Don't rely on automated personalisation and don't let the GenAI tools replace your personal stories and experiences.
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Using simple and generic prompts. The tool's output will be based on the question you ask it (known as a prompt) so it may not always provide comprehensive or relevant information.
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Relying solely on the GenAI tools and not checking the output for factual accuracy. Always understand the sources of the AI-generated content and fact check all outputs.
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Using the GenAI tools to replace your thoughts and capabilities.
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Using the GenAI tools to misrepresent your skills, strengths or experiences.
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Using the GenAI tools to complete online assessments within the recruitment process, because they will give an inaccurate picture of your true abilities. These assessments are designed to assess your capabilities and potential, therefore using GenAI tools to generate answers for you will misrepresent how you naturally think.
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Using the GenAI tools to give you responses to video interview questions. This is because the responses will not portray your authentic voice, may not contain accurate content and will likely not sound natural when read aloud. Overreliance on scripted responses from GenAI tools will also mean that you'll be less prepared for unexpected questions.
Explore how we're helping clients understand the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence here.
How many training contracts do you offer every year?
We offer up to 65 training contracts across the UK each year.
Do you offer international secondments to trainees?
Yes. You will have the opportunity to apply for an international secondment during your training contract.
How many rotations do you offer during the training contract?
Our training contract offers four rotations, each lasting six months.
What is the process for deciding which rotations I will be allocated to?
Each trainee has a dedicated Programme Manager who will meet with them at the mid point of each seat. During that meeting upcoming seat preferences are discussed and recorded.
I am eligible to work throughout the Summer Internship, but will require visa support for the International Training Programme. Can I still apply?
Yes, we accept applications from students and graduates requiring a work permit. If we offer you a training contract, we will support your application to obtain a work permit or visa. However, please note that it is your responsibility to provide all the necessary information and documentation to the UK Border Agency. Furthermore, any offer we make will be conditional upon your work permit/visa application being approved.
I am interested in applying directly to your International Training Programme (Training Contract). How can I do this?
We typically recruit trainees through the Summer Internship, but we may at times recruit outside of the internship programme.
Our Summer Internship programme is a fantastic way to get to experience working at DLA Piper. It will help you to get to know our firm and our people. The three-week internship will give you a strong understanding of our values and what we stand for and whether DLA Piper and its practice groups are right for you. At the end of the Summer Internship, you'll be assessed for a place on our International Training Programme (Training Contract) in the office where you complete your internship.