Insight Programme Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my short time spent at DLA Piper. It was a very engaging insight programme and unlike any other I have attended! I got a real sense of what it would be like to be a trainee at DLA Piper and would recommend this to anyone else interested in the legal sector.

Despite the large cohort of interns on this programme (80 +), I was made to feel extremely valued by the firm. The graduate recruitment team took the time to get to know us and ensured we got the most out of the programme. All the partners and associates that I met were extremely engaging, giving up their time to speak with us.

I always felt well supported during this insight programme, as well as in the run up to it. The Graduate Recruitment team was always on hand to answer our questions and provided us with guidance on applying for further vacation schemes and training contracts. I found this guidance to be very beneficial.

This insight programme is filled with learning opportunities and I am sure that the skills and knowledge that I developed will be very beneficial in my future career pursuits. I developed my knowledge of the commercial law sector and developed key skills needed to succeed in this sector, such as the ability to network and communicate effectively.

The insight programme was well structured and clearly thought-out. We were provided with a comprehensive itinerary of activities for the three days, offering engaging and beneficial sessions and talks. We were always busy and there were no points were we were left with nothing to do, making the days fly by!

There is a really friendly and welcoming atmosphere at DLA Piper. Attending insight programmes at such well-respected legal firms can be an extremely daunting process, however, the welcoming atmosphere made me feel instantly at ease. Employees are also very social and we were taken out for dinner and drinks during our time at the firm, demonstrating the great atmosphere at DLA Piper.

The firm invested a great deal into our personal development.

Despite the short time I spent at DLA Piper (3 days in total), I developed a strong understanding of what it would be like to have a full time role at the firm. The presentations by the Recruitment Team provided me with a thorough understanding of the type of work that the firm undertakes and networking events allowed me to speak with employees directly to ask what it is like to work here full-time.

The insight programme undoubtedly provides the opportunity to understand more about the firm’s culture. Networking with various members of staff allowed me to gain their perspective of the culture at DLA Piper. Additionally, time spent observing how trainees, associates and partners interact with one another allowed me to witness first hand the firm’s supportive culture and inclusive working environment.

After this insight programme, I am now determined to pursue a career in Commercial Law, and moreover, at DLA Piper should the opportunity arise. The programme was very valuable as it provided me with a real insight into what life as a solicitor is really like and allowed me to assess whether my skills would fit into this environment.

We were not paid, however we were reimbursed all our travel expenses. In addition to this, interns living more than 60 minutes away from London had their accommodation expenses paid for and we were provided with three lovely meals a day!

This insight programme provided us with plenty of opportunities to network. The firm organised a number of networking lunches and dinners, which provided the opportunity to speak with members of the firm about their own career journeys. On the second evening of the insight programme, the intern cohort was taken out for dinner, which provided a great opportunity to network with other interns on the programme.

The networking events were really good and consisted of a good mixture of formal and informal events. We were always provided with drinks and food during these networking events, which was a really nice touch. There was always a high employee turnout at the networking events, meaning there was always someone new to speak to.

I didn’t find out about many opportunities or activities that employees can get involved in outside of work and this would have been beneficial to have heard about. Junior lawyers notoriously work long hours so it would have been nice to hear about any activities that employees can do outside of work!

I would absolutely recommend this insight programme to a friend. For anyone considering a career in the legal profession, this is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge and learning new skills. Overall, a very enjoyable programme.