DLA Piper LLP - True Picture

Firm profile

Opportunity, unlocked

With over 90 offices in more than 40 countries, we offer global careers without limits. At DLA Piper, you’ll find the most interesting work, experience the riches of other cultures, and enjoy the complexity of an interconnected world.

We’re a different kind of law firm. We’re a firm where you’ll focus more on shaping the future than protecting the past. You’ll work in forward-looking teams to find creative solutions for clients.

On our Early Careers programmes, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills to give your career the best platform. You’ll have the opportunities to discover your own path and the support to help you along the way.

At DLA Piper, you’ll define the impact you make. Unlock your potential. Come and shape the future of law.

Main areas of work
Corporate: DLA Piper's corporate lawyers consistently rank #1 globally for M&A deal volume and support the world’s leading enterprises, emerging startup companies and financial institutions in their development and investment activities. From mergers and acquisitions and venture capital to private and public equity and debt offerings, the firm assists clients through all stages of their transactions to ensure successful deal outcomes.

Employment: DLA Piper's employment practice advises clients worldwide on employment legislation, helping them meet their workforce objectives. The firm partners with its clients, wherever they do business, to find solutions and manage risk in relation to their employment, incentives and pensions legal challenges and objectives. The firm assists with acquisitions, outsourcings, expansions or reductions-in-force, local or international employee relations, data privacy or data protection, local, cross-border or collective litigation, local or multi-jurisdictional compliance, risk management. Its clients range from startups to emerging multinationals and some of the biggest and best-known global brands in the world.

Finance & Projects: DLA Piper advises on all aspects of financing, across borders, sectors and financial products. With one of the largest teams of dedicated finance lawyers in the world and an established local law firm network, the firm helps its clients to realise their financial strategies in whichever markets they do business. The firm's clients include the full range of market participants, whom it often supports on first-of-a-kind deals and in new markets. The firm shares knowledge and skills in deals involving, for example, lending and borrowing, debt securities, derivatives, funds, portfolios and FinTech solutions, as well as energy, infrastructure and other projects.

Intellectual Property & Technology: DLA Piper is one of the most widely recognised providers of a full range of commercial, intellectual property law, privacy, sourcing and technology law services for leading businesses worldwide. Its lawyers provide both litigation-related (contentious) and strategic commercial advice to a wide range of industry sectors, helping clients from emerging technology and pharmaceutical companies to established banks and financial institutions achieve their objectives wherever they do business.

Litigation & Regulatory: DLA Piper's lawyers are skilled in litigation, arbitration, investigations and ADR and will deploy that experience to help devise the best strategies. The firm has the local knowledge to apply the regulatory, economic, political and cultural context to legal issues and develop case strategies. It regularly handles technically challenging and complex multi-jurisdictional matters.

Real Estate: DLA Piper's market-leading real estate group offers a full range of real estate services, including single asset and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions, single asset and multi-property/programmatic joint ventures, fund formation, operating company investments, cross-border investments, REITs, financing, construction and design, leasing, zoning/land-use, environmental law, real estate litigation and tax.

Restructuring: DLA Piper's restructuring lawyers have significant experience advising clients on investigation, enforcement, litigation and asset recovery on a multijurisdictional basis. The firm advises clients on all matters relating to public and private companies in underperforming and distressed situations. It manages assignments from the mid-market to the largest national and international restructurings and insolvencies. With the firm's experience also extending to any contentious issues arising from restructurings and insolvencies. It serves a diverse client base that includes debtors, lenders, government entities, trustees, shareholders, senior executives, as well as distressed debt and asset buyers and investors.

Tax: DLA Piper provides advice on local and national tax, and a commercially integrated approach to cross-border structures and tax efficiency. It offers the full range of tax services that address the challenges of international commerce and business operations, including arranging operations to reduce effective global tax rates, transfer pricing, tax disputes and post-acquisition integration.

Training opportunities
Our International Training Programme seeks to create a culture of learning and development from the time you accept an offer with us. Before commencing your programme you will be sponsored to attend a Masters level preparatory course which includes the SQE1 and SQE2. For non-law degree joiners, a law conversion course will be sponsored before the SQE. preparatory course.

Trainees begin their two-year programme with an immersive international induction week in London, connecting with peers and leaders from across the globe. Across their two-year training programme, trainees rotate through four dynamic six-month placements within our market-leading practice groups, gaining depth of experience through our unique sector specific lens.

It is more than just training - it’s a launchpad for a successful career. Trainees benefit from international and client secondment opportunities, continuous professional development, and a dedicated support network of supervisors and buddies. Every step is designed to empower excellence, growth, and prepare trainees for a future at the forefront of the legal profession.

Trainees will experience interesting and challenging work, creating exceptional results with high-profile clients. This means By the end of your International Training Programme, you will emerge with a clearer understanding of where your talent and interests lie, which will guide your decision in applying for our newly qualified solicitor roles at the firm. The experience you’ll have gained - and the networks you’ll have nurtured - will provide a strong foundation for your future career at DLA Piper.

Summer internship
Our Summer Internship is designed provide a realistic insight into DLA Piper. The programme runs across our Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, London, Dublin, Hong Kong and Dubai offices. Our in-person paid summer internship will show you what we do, how we work and the impact we make around the world. Explore the intersection of law and business, take on real responsibilities from day one, and develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to kickstart your career. Attend court hearings, work with clients, and grow your professional network while seeing how a purpose-led organisation makes a real difference through pro bono work and sustainability commitments. Successful completion of the award-winning summer internship could lead to an offer of a place on our International Training Programme.

Other benefits
Life insurance, private healthcare, cycle to work schemes, gym, restaurant, employee assistance programme.

Open days and first-year opportunities
DLA Piper Discovery Days

If you’re curious about life at DLA Piper, attending a Discovery Day is a great place to learn more. We're a world of opportunity, and the key to a global career.

At the event, you will: 
• See how we're focused more on shaping the future than protecting the past, as you learn about our practice groups and sectors and our approach to legal tech, responsible business and sustainability.
• Experience what it's like to work at the firm by meeting our people – the trusted advisors, innovators and game-changers who go above and beyond the challenge the status quo.
• Take part in educational sessions, curated to build your knowledge and skills and help you decide if a career in law is right for you.
• Find out about our early careers programmes and get practical guidance on how to succeed in our application process.

By joining a Discovery Day, you'll be taking a step towards shaping your career.

We look forward to welcoming you and exploring how we can unlock your potential, together.

Law, unlocked (first year event) 

Discover how we’re making an extraordinary impact beyond the borders of traditional law by attending this event.

This event is designed for first-year law students and second-year non-law students who want to explore what makes DLA Piper a different kind of law firm. Give your career the best platform and start shaping your future with us.

After attending, you will be invited to an application masterclass, giving you a head start in your applications.

Eligibility

Summer Internship and Discovery Day's 

•Studying a law degree: you can apply for the programme if you are a second year student on a three year course, a third year student on a four year course or a final year student.

• Studying a non-law degree: you can apply for the programme if you are a final year student.

Graduates and career changers are also eligible to apply.

• Open to students from any degree background.

Law, unlocked  

• You can apply if you're a first-year student on a three-year course or a second-year student on a four-year course.

Apply now!