Meet Valerine - Trainee

What is your current role, when did you join the firm? 

I’m a trainee solicitor in the Manchester office and joined the firm in September 2024. I’m currently preparing to start my third seat in the Projects, Energy and Infrastructure team.

What inspired you to apply to DLA Piper and do you have any tips for someone looking to apply?

I was inspired to apply to DLA Piper because of its global reach and the opportunity to work on complex, high-value matters across jurisdictions. 

Tip: Take time to understand the firm’s values and think about how your experiences align with them. Be authentic in your application and use specific examples to demonstrate your motivation and suitability to becoming a solicitor. 

What does a typical work day look like for you/ has this varied between your seats? 

A typical day starts with reviewing emails and creating a to-do list. Depending on the seat, I might be drafting documents, conducting legal research, attending client calls, or supporting on transactions. Each seat has offered a different perspective, in the Property Litigation team, I conducted extensive legal research and regularly attended client calls. In contrast, my time in the Corporate team involved more drafting and frequent use of legal tech tools.

What is the single most important thing you have learned so far as a trainee? 

The importance of adaptability. Each team and matter presents new challenges, and being able to adjust your approach while maintaining attention to detail is key to delivering high-quality work.

What's the best piece of work you've been involved in?

One highlight was assisting on the purchase of an anaerobic digestion plant while in the Corporate team. The transaction involved collaboration with the Projects, Finance, and Litigation teams, offering a great insight into how different practice areas come together on deals.

Have you been involved in any of the firms networks? 

Yes, I’ve been involved in several people networks including Horizons (social mobility), Mosaic (race, ethnicity & faith Inclusion), and LAW (gender balance). Getting involved in these networks has been a great way to connect with colleagues across offices and contribute to the firm’s culture beyond fee-earning work.