DLA Piper LLP - True Picture

DLA Piper training contract review 2026

The Firm 

How do you go about defining a contradiction? It’s a difficult thing to pin down, but it’s almost the only way to attempt to describe DLA Piper. There’s no denying that DLA Piper – with a whopping 90 offices in 40 countries worldwide – is of course an international firm, but there’s something about it that almost makes you want to pin it down as a national, or perhaps even regional, outfit. However you decide to define it, trainees are reaping the benefits: “It has such a long history in the city I grew up in. It means I can still work for a large-scale international firm without having to move to London!”

And, with UK offices in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh and the North West, there are plenty of opportunities for people across the country to stay local to home. What’s more, DLA Piper operates a ‘One UK’ policy, meaning that all trainees, no matter the office, work on the same matters. To put it simply, if you’ve ever had concerns that staying outside of London meant compromising on the quality of your training, think again. 

“I can still work for a large-scale international firm without having to move to London!” 

However, it’s by no means the case that the offices are simply part of a numbers game; each one is well established in its respective location. “DLA is basically top of the market in Birmingham,” said one trainee, while another mentioned, “it has such a presence in Leeds.”

This is the sort of thing our colleagues at Chambers UK can certainly attest to. We’d be hard pressed to list all of DLA’s practice area rankings, but the firm earns top scores for its work in London, the Midlands, the North East, North West, Scotland and UK-wide. This includes practices such as litigation, corporate/M&A, IT, employment, and energy & natural resources, just to name a very select few.

You’d be right in saying the DLA Piper has range, then, and it’s certainly a valid consideration for any future trainee: “DLA Piper caters to so many sectors and practice areas. I knew there wasn’t one area of law that I enjoyed more than others, so it was reassuring to know that I could try absolutely anything here.”  

The Seats 

DLA uses an online platform, OptiSeat, for seat allocation. Here, trainees can read a description of each seat before ranking their top three preferences. “You can get an understanding of the work each department does, what trainees typically get up to and the team’s general approach to things, even before you’ve joined the firm,” a trainee gratefully relayed. Interviewees suggested that the likelihood of getting your preferred seats differs slightly between offices.

“There are so many practice areas in the London office, so you can’t really control which you end up getting. It’s kind of out of your hands, but trainees in regional offices have told me they had a better experience with it,” said one trainee in the capital. Despite this, those who didn’t get their top choices were pleased to say, “the seat assignments are still well thought out. You also get one-to-one meetings with the early careers team, and there’s a dedicated early careers team member in each office who gets to know you pretty well.” 

There are also a range of client and international secondments available for trainees. To apply, trainees submit a CV detailing their experience at the firm so far, and answer a few questions about why they should go on secondment and what they are hoping to gain from the experience. Both international and client secondments are assigned through the same application, though trainees can highlight whether they'd prefer an international or client secondment. 

There’s also an information session ahead of this, where the early careers team outlines the process, potential client partners talk about the realities of the job, and current or former secondees share insights about their experience. 

In the litigation & arbitration team, the types of disputes trainees will get involved in can depend on their office, considering that “you’re allocated to a specific stream in London, but trainees in regional offices do a broad litigation seat.” However, the One UK policy means trainees from across the country can still get involved in the same sort of work.

For example, lawyers in London, Manchester and Liverpool worked together representing the directors and majority shareholders of online gambling company SportPesa in connection with a shareholder dispute in the High Court. Other kinds of work here can include corporate crime and investigations, insurance, cybersecurity, ESG, environment, public law, government affairs and financial services, just to name a few! “The Leeds office in particular is well known for its banking and general commercial litigation practice,” a trainee mentioned, “but you also get to work with people in lots of different offices.” 

“… you can really push yourself and kickstart your development.” 

No matter the subgroup, interviewees generally agreed that “you do some traditional trainee tasks, but you can really push yourself and kickstart your development.” This means trainees will certainly become familiar with tracking deadlines, managing schedules, bundling, reviewing documents and research. “That kind of work really helps you understand the matter at hand,” a source recalled.

Trainees might also take on some drafting tasks, including emails to clients, correspondence with other parties, forms and letters to court. In fact, one insider was happy to “get the first stab at most things happening on a case” so, needless to say, many found a litigation seat to be a great learning opportunity. “It instils a really good work ethic,” one such source summarised, “Everything needs to be so precise in litigation as the stakes are so high. It forces you to be meticulous and pay attention to detail.” 

DLA offers a number of property seats, including general real estate, construction and real estate litigation. Those who sat with the latter explained that “there’s a real broad range, including developer disputes, dilapidations and disputes over sales of property. The firm really does offer a full service.” DLA Piper also happens to be working on a major real estate deal in the hospitality sector, advising Blackstone on its £800 million acquisition of Village Hotels, which owns 33 assets across the UK.

It’s worth noting that there’s also real estate finance work on offer, too, though this is more in line with DLA’s wider projects and finance offering. Again, “if you’re in a regional office, real estate finance would just be part of a broader finance seat.” To summarise, it is “essentially just leveraged finance, but the asset is real estate.” This means that trainees here do the full selection of classic finance trainee tasks, including managing conditions precedent checklists, tracking documents, and contacting relevant parties to make sure that everything is in order. Insiders especially valued the client contact as “you get to work with them directly, whether that’s calls or emails.” Newbies here also draft documents such as corporate authorisations. 

“There’s been a huge focus on the EU AI Act.” 

IP & technology is an especially popular seat, and covers a very broad range of work. Intellectual property, data and outsourcing are just a few specialisms within the team, but trainees here broadly summed it up as “a lot of tech and advisory work, especially related to AI. There’s been a huge focus on the EU AI Act.” For example, DLA recently advised Pearson on its $1 billion partnerships with AWS and Microsoft, offering support on the necessary AI and data protection provisions of the strategic deal. For trainees, a lot of the work involves commercial contracts for a variety of clients and issues.

Trainees get plenty of experience reviewing and drafting all sorts of contracts, including data privacy agreements, cookies policies and general terms and conditions. The IP side of the work, meanwhile, comes with a lot of corporate support, so trainees will likely get involved in due diligence, checking the validity of companies’ IP registrations. “I was checking UK, EU and global databases to look for all elements of IP, like patents, trademarks, copyrights… everything!” a source enthused, “That then feeds back into the work that gets sent to the corporate team.” The department also handles IP litigation and has recently worked with the Premier League on multiple copyright disputes related to its brand rights and infringement of audiovisual content. 

Trainee Life 

Saying that pro bono is a big deal at DLA would be putting it lightly. “We were invited to join pro bono from the first week we started at the firm!” an insider enthused, “I’ve done it consistently ever since.” One of the main opportunities we heard about was the tenancy deposit recovery clinic. It’s not just an opportunity to try out more real estate work, but a way to “develop some really good skills, and get direct client contact. Even as a trainee, it’s your job to interview and advise them.”

Other examples include the Coram Children’s Legal Centre and Know Your Rights, an education and empowerment programme which helps refugees understand their legal rights. This often runs alongside DLA’s Iris Represents programme, which offers pro bono services for LGBTQ+ focused NGOs, organisations and individuals. Every month, DLA Piper also sends a trainee on a one-day secondment to a charity in London which supports people on death row. “It’s really nice that the firm recognises the value in pro bono work,” said an interviewee, “Not only is it a way to make the world a better place, but it also makes you a better lawyer.” 

With so much to do, things naturally get busy but, as you’ll often hear, hours can vary. “Good weeks,” according to trainees, mean finishing at around 6pm, while busier stretches might come with later hours and the odd working weekend. Interviewees were clear that “you’re not expected to check your phone every weekend, but if there’s a particularly intense deal, you might get a heads-up on Friday.”

Even when things do heat up, trainees still felt supported by their colleagues, and noted that “there’s never been a situation where I’m just doing hours for the sake of it. It’s always because of a genuine deadline we have to meet.” And, as a trainee in Birmingham attested, “everyone makes sure to take a full hour for lunch, and it’s a nice way to make the most of the subsidised canteen and enjoy lunch with the team.” 

“It really feels like DLA is championing our wellbeing.” 

Speaking of the office, interviewees had plenty to say about their workspaces. All the offices are modern and open plan, and most come with subsidised lunch or breakfast. Of course, we can’t forget the coffee, and a Leeds trainee was especially happy to report that “it’s fantastic! We get it from a local brewery and everything.” Some offices have their own onsite gyms, and the London office has its own music room, too. “It really feels like DLA is championing our wellbeing,” an interviewee reported, “We’ve also got different collaboration zones, quiet focus rooms and meeting rooms, so there’s a space for whatever you need.” 

Despite certain similarities across offices, trainee salary varies depending on location. However, as one trainee wanted to point out, “thanks to the One UK policy, work is divvied up regardless of location. It’s fantastic that we get London-quality work, but that means you’re working London hours on regional pay. Still, there needs to be London weighting, and the regional salary is still very, very good compared to the market.” 

Being open plan means that trainees may not always sit right next to their supervisors but, rest assured, insiders still felt that they always there when they needed them. “I can’t fault any of my supervisors. They’ve all been really focused on my development and making sure I’m making the most out of my time with the team. I couldn’t ask for much more,” said one. Aside from formal mid- and end-of-seat reviews, lots of trainees will meet weekly with their supervisors to check in. 

This support comes with a healthy side of formal training, which starts in London for all trainees (including those in Dublin, Dubai and Hong Kong) during the first week of the training contract: “Those introductory sessions covered a lot of interpersonal skills, such as building confidence and dealing with impostor syndrome. I was pleasantly surprised to hear a law firm address that.”

Each seat starts with induction training as well, and senior team members “go out of their way to schedule training sessions with junior members of the team. Every time I’ve changed seats, they’ve always been very conscious that I might not have tried the practice area before and will need to learn.” However, interviewees also acknowledged the benefits of simply trying work and getting feedback on it. “You pick so much stuff up without realising it,” a trainee reflected, “On top of the formal training, I just feel so much more clued up.” 

“At all levels, people are friendly, supportive and approachable.” 

Thankfully, sources felt that they were in an environment that facilitated such learning, and explained how “at all levels, people are friendly, supportive and approachable.” Interviewees were so impressed by the culture that they couldn’t help but think “they definitely do something in the hiring process to make sure everyone’s nice! I haven’t had any issues with anyone.” It certainly helps that there are plenty of opportunities to join social events and get-togethers, many of which are funded by the firm. For example, there are officewide Christmas parties – “the Leeds one is absolutely insane! It’s themed and you turn up wearing your best,” a trainee revealed – and regular barbecues, drinks and dinners.

Trainees felt encouraged to get to know their peers in particular. Aside from getting to know the entire cohort across the UK at the start of the training contract, newbies can regularly travel between offices to meet up: “We went up to Edinburgh for Burns Night and visited Manchester for the races. The firm pays for it all so that we have an opportunity to build and expand on connections.” 

There have also been a number of wellbeing events put on by the firm, including a recent sound bath! We heard that there are often all sorts of things going on related to inclusion more generally, such as speaker events and book launches, which are typically organised by affinity networks. These include Enabled (abilities), Horizons (social mobility), Iris (LGBTQ+), Mosaic (race, ethnicity and faith), Parents and Carers Together and the Leadership Alliance for Women.

“We have UK-wide and office-based groups,” a trainee explained, “It’s great that I can meet them in person and also be part of a much wider community.” More generally, sources were pretty satisfied with the diverse representation at the firm, noting how “you can see there’s a big mix just by looking around. It helps that we’re such a global firm, and people move here from so many different countries.” 

When it’s time for qualification, the early careers team produces a list of all available jobs. This doesn’t come with a number of available positions, but does include departments and their relevant offices. Qualifiers then submit their CV as part of their application and, from then on, the process depends on the department.

“Most make it a point to do more formal interviews, but some might get you to have a talk with a partner, be it a coffee or an informal interview,” a trainee explained. After this, teams make offers to successful candidates. DLA Piper did not disclose its 2025 retention figures.

How to get a place on DLA Piper's International Training Programme 

• Places on the International Training programme are filled via the firm’s Summer Internship. The firm recruits two years in advance for the International Training programme. 
• 2026 Summer Internship deadline:  
• London – 21 November 2025 
• Regional UK, Dubai and Hong Kong – 12 December 2025 
• Dublin – 23 January 2026

The Application Form

Summer internship opportunities are available across the international programme including the UK, Dublin, Hong Kong and Dubai. Applicants will need to pass the PGDL (where applicable) and the SQE 1 and 2 prior to joining – although not before completing the internship.  

When reviewing your application, law-related experience is not essential, but the firm's specialists will be looking to gain an understanding as to why a candidate is interested in law at DLA Piper specifically, intellectual curiosity and desire to work across challenging, complex work with high profile clients and rewards.  

Candidates are required to submit an online application and are then invited to take the Watson Glaser test. Successful candidates are then invited to a short interview taking place either via telephone or virtually, and then the final stage – an assessment centre.   

The Assessment Centre

The half-day assessment centre will be held in-person at the office you have applied for the Summer Internship at. “Candidates get to meet fee-earners from their chosen office, which gives them an insight into our 'One-UK' approach.” There are three exercises to complete, and candidates are provided an overview of these ahead of the assessment centre, along with the right tools and tips to set you up for success.   

Attendees will be provided with feedback and an outcome from the day within a week after their assessment centre. The Early Careers team will then work closely with successful candidates before the summer internship, providing giving support and guidance before they start their Summer Internship at DLA Piper.   

UK and Dublin Summer Internship   

UK and Ireland Summer interns take part in a three-day induction in London, before returning to their local offices to join two different practice groups across three weeks of work experience.   

Across the induction, interns will have the chance to participate in numerous practical sessions, including practice group and sector-specific overviews, workshops building essential skills to succeed, and hear from the senior leaders at the firm. There are also plenty of networking opportunities to network and explore how we make a difference in Responsible Business, Sustainability and Technology.  

Throughout the work experience placements, interns are involved in real, live work at a trainee level. It is encouraged to set goals at the start of each placement, with feedback provided by supervisors as part of this process. Interns are also assessed throughout the scheme on various projects, including a group presentation with fellow interns.