DLA Piper |

Opportunity, unlocked. 

Join a law firm that spans continents and cultures. With over 90 offices in more than 40 countries, we’re one global team. Collaborate with colleagues and clients worldwide on high-value work that shapes industries, markets and communities.

You’ll take ownership of meaningful and complex work - from innovative projects in energy and natural resources to financial services and life sciences and technology. You’ll be tackling challenges that matter, combining legal expertise with commercial insight to deliver real impact.

We adopt a high-performance mindset. Our people are recognised as leaders in their fields, known for their focus, drive and expertise. You’ll be expected to bring the same - showing initiative, asking questions, and pushing yourself to grow. Here, you’ll learn by doing, taking on responsibility early and discovering what high performance looks like in practice.

At DLA Piper, new ideas are always welcome. You’ll be encouraged to challenge assumptions, share your thinking and help us move the industry forward. 

At DLA Piper, your career is shaped by the challenges you take on, the people you learn from and the impact you choose to make.

In everything we do, connected with our people, our clients, and our communities DLA Piper lives by four key values: 

Be Supportive: compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully. 

Be Collaborative: proactive, passionate team players, investing in all relationships.

Be Bold: fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big - and find creative solutions.

Be Exceptional: strategic and driven, exceeding all client expectations

At DLA Piper you’ll find stimulating work, be involved in cross-border deals and international projects, and enjoy the complexity of a fast-moving firm in an interconnected world. We offer you a world of opportunity, in a truly global career. 

At DLA Piper, you'll be empowered to build an exceptional career. You'll be involved in stimulating work, from international projects to market-leading clients, you'll gain valuable experience, develop in-demand skills and be part of a truly global firm shaping the future of business.

DLA Piper is relationship-driven and built to meet the ongoing legal needs of clients wherever they choose to do business. We offer clients an extensive range of legal services through the following seven global practice groups.  

• Corporate
• Employment
• Finance
• Intellectual Property and Technology
• Litigation and Regulatory
• Real Estate
• Tax

Our lawyers, across every practice group and region, deliver the same commitment to excellence, combining deep local market knowledge with global insight. With a thorough understanding of the legal and cultural landscapes in which our clients operate, they provide high-quality, commercially focused advice backed by exceptional technical expertise.

To complement our practice groups, we overlay these with 11 dedicated global sector teams that mirror our clients' industries. This sector-focused approach enables us to anticipate market trends, understand the challenges our clients face, and deliver strategic advice across all aspects of their business.

We adopt a high-performance mindset in all that we do, constantly delivering a premium service to our clients and raising the bar for each other. Our people are recognised as the best in the industry, and for good reason. They bring the intellectual and technical power we need to innovate, as a global firm. Excellence is at the core of our future. We’ll make sure it’s at the core of yours, too.

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.

If you’re curious about life at DLA Piper, attending a Discovery Day is the ideal place to start.  The interactive events introduce you to the legal sector, our practice groups and sectors. You'll gain practical insights, develop professional skills, and build the confidence to take the next step in your career journey.

On the Discovery Day, you'll:  

• Gain valuable perspectives from our senior leaders on how DLA Piper is helping clients navigate change and shape the future, while discovering where a career with us could take you.
• Step into the role of a commercial lawyer through an interactive litigation workshop, where you'll tackle real-world legal scenarios, developing your commercial awareness. You'll experience the collaborative and high-performance mindset that underpins our work.
• Connect with the people driving change at DLA Piper through dedicated networking opportunities, where you'll gain first-hand insight into the work we do, the culture we've built and the opportunities available at DLA Piper.
• Get ahead in the application process with practical guidance on our Summer Internship programme, including advice on assessments and how to showcase your potential.

Applications open in September, and will close on various dates in October: 

• London: 12th October

Applications close: 5th October, 17:00

• Northwest: 14th October

Applications close: 6th October, 17:00

• Yorkshire: 15th October

Applications close: 7th October, 17:00

• Birmingham: 20th October

Applications close: 12th October, 17:00

• Edinburgh: 22nd October

Applications close: 14th October, 17:00

Careers grow faster when purpose is clear.

On our 3.5 – 4 week in‑person paid internship, you’ll see the impact we make in the UK and around the world while exploring the intersection of law, business and technology. You’ll start building the foundations of a global legal career, working collaboratively with colleagues and clients on high‑value matters that shape industries.

From attending court hearings to working directly with clients and collaborating with leading professionals, you’ll gain hands‑on insight into life at a global law firm. This internship goes beyond shadowing, you’ll be part of the team, trusted to take ownership and contribute meaningfully.

Discover how a global law firm combines legal expertise, business insight and innovation to deliver exceptional client outcomes. You’ll develop the skills, behaviours and mindset needed to thrive as a commercial lawyer, while building relationships with those who will guide your growth and development.

• Start your journey with an interactive induction in London, connecting with fellow interns from across the programme, building your network from day one.
• Immerse yourself in complex work, gaining insight into how we help clients navigate change across our practice groups and sectors around the world. 
• Join a collaborative, forward-looking team, contributing to real client matters, experiencing the pace and variety of work at DLA Piper.
• Accelerate your development through structured learning opportunities designed to strengthen your professional skills.
• Benefit from a network of supervisors, buddies and mentors who will encourage, challenge and help you make the most of your experience.
• Broaden your perspective beyond client work by exploring areas such as legal technology, sustainability, responsible business, highlighting the various ways you can make an impact at DLA Piper.

We recruit into the following offices – Birmingham, Edinburgh, Yorkshire (Leeds), Northwest (Manchester), London, Hong Kong, Dubai and Dublin, 

Applications open on 21 September 2026.

Closing dates: 

London – 23 October 2026, 17:00 GMT.

Regional UK, Hong Kong and Dubai – 27 November 2026, 17:00 GMT.

Dublin – 28 January 2027, 17:00 GMT.

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. 

Explore how we work, think and effectively collaborate whilst building the skills and mindset that enable our people to make an impact on a global scale.

Through an interactive commercial awareness workshop, you'll explore how we help clients navigate change, uncover new opportunities and respond to the challenges shaping today's world. You'll also receive practical application and assessment advice designed to help you build confidence and stand out as you begin your career journey.

Meet the people driving innovation and shaping the future alongside our clients. As you connect with colleagues from across the firm, you'll gain insight into how self-motivation, curiosity, collaboration and resilience contribute to success in a global legal environment. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions, strengthen your commercial awareness and learn more about our culture and early careers programmes.

You will also be invited to our application masterclass, giving you a head start in your 2027 summer internship application.

Take the first step towards a world of opportunity, and the key to a global career.

Applications open in January 2027 

In our virtual job simulations, you'll experience what it's like to work at a global law firm. Through interactive tasks, you’ll explore how we work and the impact we make, giving you an insight into the market-leading projects you could be involved with at DLA Piper.

You’ll complete tasks developed by our lawyers based on real-life scenarios, mimicking the role of a junior team member in the fast-paced, complex environment of a full-service global law firm. Discover how we make an impact – and how you can too, by competing the simulations: 

1. M&A for AI Innovation (navigate complex global M&A deals in the fast-moving world of AI and machine learning in a high-stakes health acquisition)
2. Global Cyber with Data Privacy (advise clients on high-risk cyber incidents, gaining practical experience with privacy regulations and ransomware-related legal risks)