Graduate Recruitment

Meet our people

The work is diverse and of an exceptionally high quality. The training you receive is the best in the legal market and the opportunities for secondments, both internationally and client based are incredibly wide.

Deborah Brown - Solicitor
Restructuring
Law and Business Studies, Warwick University

Why did you join DLA Piper?

Having spent two weeks at DLA Piper on a summer scheme, I knew it was the ideal place to complete my training contract. DLA Piper offers high standards of professionalism, a strong support network, continuous training (both during and after your training contract), down to earth values, together with an infectious spirit for fun. In addition, the variety of work and opportunities for trainees both professionally and socially cannot be matched by any other law firm.

Has the work been interesting so far?

 
During my training contract I never experienced the same day twice! The work offered to trainees at DLA Piper is incredibly varied and interesting. As a trainee I undertook a broad spectrum of work including assisting on cases heard at the Royal Courts of Justice, multi-million pound corporate deals and projects such as the rejuvenation of New Street train station. I was also given responsibility for my own smaller files whilst sitting in departments such as Real Estate and Restructuring, which were equally interesting.
 

What have your hours been like?

The hours during my training contract were heavily dependant on the department I sat in. The hours required by each department, were also dependant on the volume and complexity of work generated at a particular time. My typical working days during my training contract were:

Insurance                    8.30am – 6.00pm
Restructuring              8.30am – 7.00pm
Real Estate                 8.30am – 6.00pm
Corporate                    8.30am – 6.30pm
 
I did sit in Corporate at a particularly quiet time. Trainees who sat in Corporate before me experienced longer hours.
 

How do you get on with the other trainees?

There is a strong camaraderie between trainees during their training contracts and this is something which DLA Piper encourages. As a group we socialised both inside and outside of work. Several of us arranged trainee events such as Christmas dinners, lunches and award evenings. We also attended trainee events such as the BTSS (Birmingham Trainee Solicitors Society) Balls, wine tasting events, go-karting competitions and took part in the BTSS inter-firm trophy (which included events such as mixed football, dodge ball, rounders and pub Olympics).
 
DLA Piper also encourages trainees’ involvement in sports. In Birmingham, we have a netball and football team. These provide opportunities for trainees to socialise not only amongst themselves, but also with other people from the office who play in the teams.
 

How much client contact have you had so far?

During my training contract, I was in contact with clients on a daily basis, whether it be by phone, email, in a meeting or at a social/networking event. Having spoken with trainees at smaller firms in Birmingham, I note that the level of client exposure given to trainees at DLA Piper is incredibly rare.

What advice would you give to someone applying to DLA Piper?

  • Be yourself
  • Do your research - on the firm as a whole, the office you are applying to and deals/cases we may have worked on
  • Look at our values and visions and see how yours match ours

Would you recommend the DLA Piper training experience to current students?

Without a shadow of a doubt. The work is diverse and of an exceptionally high quality. The training you receive is the best in the legal market and the opportunities for secondments, both internationally and client based are incredibly wide.

Best/worst moments

  • Best: Being offered an NQ position
  • Worst: There is very little which I did not enjoy in my training contract. Being given criticism during my training contract was never an enjoyable experience. However, I appreciated that it was constructive and only ever intended for my development and improvement.

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