First Year Insight Scheme Review

I participated in the DLA Piper First Year Insight Scheme.

Everyone at the firm took time to talk to us, even partners from the Hong Kong office.

Particularly during the deal workshop, each group was assigned a trainee supervisor. Our supervisor was proactive in prompting us and explaining to us legal and commercial implicationa of each provision in the draft contract.

As a law student considering a career in commercial law, the insight scheme was a good learning experience since it taught me commercial concepts which I cannot learn from my degree ( my degree studies have been very theoretical).

The insight was very well-structured in the sense that it strictly followed a fixed timetable. Yet, I feel that given the programme lasted three days, it would have been more meaningful if we got the chance of work shadowing trainees for one day rather than merely listening to lectures.

The atmosphere was very relaxed.

As mentioned above, it is clear that the graduate recruitment team had taken incredible effort in putting together the insight scheme, as evident from the variety of workshops ranging from introduction to different practice areas to law and ethics and diversity ans inclusion workshops. Nevertheless, it would have been more enriching if it allowed us to get some hands-on experience through actual work shadowing.

We talked to trainees during networking lunch and speed networking sessions. However, as mentioned earlier, we did not work-shadow trainees.

Through the networking lunch, it is not difficult for us to observe the dynamics of the firm. People were very chill and relaxed. The culture was far from being toxic.

The deal workshop was particularly useful in giving us a glimpse into the day-to-day responsibilities of full-time lawyers. Our team did contract drafting which was the usual daily task of junior lawyers like trainees or young associates.

Yes, during networking lunch, speed networking sessions and the deal workshop.

Full of networking opportunities aince there were a lot of tea breaks during the day. Because a significant number of us were not from London and lived in the hotel provided by DLA Piper, we went out to have dinner together.

According yo the Responsible Business Workshop, DLA Piper has been heavily involved in pro bono work. There are opportunities of doing a pro bono secondment to Africa or doing human rights research for the UN. Moreover, according to one of the trainees, the firm has established sports teams like football and touch rugby which even trainees can be involved in.

Definitely! A very enriching programme with a very straightforward application process. Participants have fast-track opportunities in the firm’s vac scheme application.