DLA Piper 2020 UK & Ireland Virtual Internship Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the virtual experience. There was a range of activity over the course of the week that I could engage with and use to develop my skills. I was able to interact with various members of the firm and understand more about their roles and passion for the company. Despite the week being online I had a well-rounded and engaging experience that was exceptionally well run and very enjoyable as reflected in my 9-star rating.

I felt very valued during my time. There were many opportunities to speak or ask questions during the sessions and as many questions as possible were answered thoroughly and clearly. Our contributions and engagement were always appreciated and praised. The staff made sure we felt comfortable to be ourselves and not feel tense, nervous or anxious about being on camera. In addition, smaller group activities gave you a chance to ask further questions and engage.

We were given guidance and support throughout the week. We were sent daily schedules, so we knew what to expect from each day and how to make the most of our time there. We were also walked through the schedules and plans for the day each morning and made aware of any alterations. We were free to email the team any further questions we had or ask them during the sessions. When given tasks we were given the opportunity to speak to people at the firm who would help us to complete the tasks to the best of our ability by giving us advice and tips.

I believe the skills I developed and information I received will help to assist me in my degree studies but also in life beyond my degree when I start working. I was able to develop commercial awareness skills which always prove to be valuable. In addition, I was able to practice and develop analysis skills e.g. learning how to examine and evaluate large and dense documents. Furthermore, developing my presentations skills and learning how presentations can be effective when delivered via digital platforms e.g. zoom.

The experience was very well structured despite it needing to be moved online due to global events. As mentioned earlier there was a schedule which we received daily and updates to the schedule or timing were made known promptly. We were given breaks throughout the week and time to work or participate on different activities. When on breaks we were told exactly when to come back to be in time for following sessions. Events largely stuck to time.

The atmosphere was good. There was a nice and welcoming environment. Fellow participants in the week were largely friendly and easy to talk to. The atmosphere was one which enabled you to complete task to the best of your ability and participate in activities without being nervous. The trainees who ran some sessions during the week provided a light-hearted touch to a professional environment. The team always made sure we felt comfortable and confident throughout the week.

The virtual experience gave me a taste of what it would be like to have a full-time role with the company or firm. I was given the opportunity to practice skills that would be used in day to day working life. I was also able to speak to people who were in roles at the firm that I am interested in and get an understanding of what their work involves. This experience was only limited by the fact we were unable to go into the office and the experience was shorter than planned due to Global events.

I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the company’s culture by participating in the virtual experience week. I was able to familiarise myself with the company’s values but also see how they come into play practically. It was helpful to see and experience the culture for myself as it aided me in understanding them better. I was able to see how the values on paper translated into real working life experiences which gave me a full understanding of the companies’ culture.

The content was valuable in helping me affirm my decision in regard to my career path. I was already decided on what career path I wanted to take prior to the week however the content helped me think further about what specific areas in law I would like to qualify and specialise in. It was interesting to communicate with people in sectors or practice areas I never considered going into beforehand and understand what theses sectors had to offer.

There were plenty of opportunities to network and meet with other employees of the firm. We were given the opportunity to hear from various employees and then allowed to ask questions about the topic which they spoke or just more generally about them and their role and experience with the firm. We were also put in smaller groups in order to further network with employees who operate at various levels in the firm. It was particularly helpful to network with trainees to understand how their experiences have been and gain advice from them about how to make the most of the virtual experience.