Summer Intern Review

Interesting, welcoming and down to earth people. I appreciated the amount of time that senior executives committed to speak to trainees (including responding to additional emails). The opportunity to hear from so many different people at the firm allowed us to really 'plunge' into DLA Piper's culture and gauge whether this is the kind of environment that we see ourselves fitting in.

We were constantly reassured by the Graduate Recruitment team, trainees and partners who congratulated us on getting the internship and reiterated their interest in getting to know us better in the future.

A lot, especially from trainees who helped us prepare for our presentation. With the spike in demand, the firm organised additional 'drop in' sessions for trainees to guide us how to do well in our group project. I appreciated how quickly the firm responded and tried to accommodate to our needs.

This is not entirely relevant for me personally, as I have already graduated. However, the sessions and discussions panels definitely helped me to better understand DLA Piper as a firm, its values, recent work and future plans. It was also very useful to hear from very senior lawyers who shared their insights about the profession. Being able to speak to heads of respective departments, top executives etc. and see how personable and approachable they are was a real confidence boost for the future.

Very well, especially considering the virtual nature of the internship and the fact it was the first time that DLA Piper was organising it in such a format. All zoom links worked, emails came in on time and whenever either of us had any IT issue, there was a directly available contact line to reach the Graduate Recruitment team. My only tip for the future would be to try to include more 'nuclear' sessions where interns have a chance to meet with DLA Piper's representatives in smaller groups (like the one we had on our penultimate day).

I was very positively surprised with how welcoming and friendly everyone was. This is not to say that I did not expect people to be nice but there definitely was no 'back-stabbing' or otherwise unpleasant and competitive tension between the interns. Everyone was very respectful, collaborative and the team I was lucky enough to be assigned to was a true testament to that. This also showed me that, although there is no 'DLA Piper-type', the firm does really well in selecting people who are genuinely nice.

Considering the fact that the internship was virtual, I think DLA Piper really made an effort to show that they are committed and eager to invest in its junior staff. Trainees often emphasised the level of support they received from the firm, even before joining. What particularly stood out to me was that once you become a DLA Piper trainee, the firm does its best to connect you with its clients, helps to arrange for job if you are available etc. Additionally, we have been sent 'welcome packs' with notepads and itineraries as well as received 'JustEat' vouchers at the beginning and end of the internship, which was a nice touch.

Again, as a virtual internship it was slightly different experience compared to a regular Summer Internship that the firm organises each year. However, it was apparent that the firm has put in a lot of thought in organising the sessions, inviting senior members of staff so that interns get as much exposure as possible.

As above

Very valuable. I believe summer internships/vacation schemes are crucial go really understand the firm's 'culture' and how it differentiates itself among its competitors. There are many great law firms and sometimes, from a student's perspective, it might be hard to adequately gauge which one is for them. Knowing how much time lawyers tend to spend at work, it is crucial to find a place that suits your personality and working style.

Interns are paid GBP 400 per week. Normally (i.e. pre-covid-19), the internship lasted 3 weeks. Now, it was 1 week.

As above, a lot. Albeit, slightly curtailed because of coronavirus. However, this is not DLA Piper's or any other firm's fault, and I do believe that DLA Piper has done an excellent job in letting interns to get to know numerous people at the firm (different positions, different locations). It was particularly valuable to contrast views and experiences of the senior management with more junior employees.

As above.

Yes, the firm has organised separate sessions to discuss DLA Piper's 'Responsible Business' initiatives that include Pro Bono and Environmental and Social Governance. Additionally, we have also heard from the firm's employee networks (Pact,Iris, Mosaic and LAW). These groups work towards increasing Diversity and Inclusion within the firm. Importantly, DLA Piper is one a few firms I encountered that truly explores the meaning of D&I, going beyond 'gender' or 'race' and including 'parents', 'carers' etc.

Yes, definitely! I think anyone hoping to get into law should try securing a vacation scheme/summer internship if they get a chance. It was a great learning experience, not just professionally but personally too! It allowed me to get to know a lot of fantastic people from different parts of the world and I hope I will be able to meet the in person in the future.