Graduate Recruitment
Meet our people
Matthew Lonergan - Partner
Real estate litigation
Law, London School of Economics
On joining DLA Piper
I started at what was then called Dibb Lupton Broomhead in January 1995. I had trained at Simmons and Simmons in London and worked in their property litigation department for about nine months after qualifying. Basically it was a lifestyle choice to move to Yorkshire – my wife’s from Yorkshire and she made me do it.
I was looking for a firm that was going places and had something about it. At the time DLA Piper was a firm that was expanding substantially in the UK. They didn’t seem happy to stand still but had a vision to go somewhere quickly.
On working in Leeds
Leeds has changed a lot. When I first joined it was quite a spit and sawdust city, but it was always the financial capital of the North and the second legal centre in the UK. All the main banks and financial institutions had a presence here and this is still the case.
It’s an amazing city. The work we do here and the clients we act for are indistinguishable from what you would get in the City. Maybe there are one or two areas that the Magic Circle might still have a monopoly on, but generally speaking the vast majority of my clients are now London based. What they get is a top quality City service based in Leeds at Leeds prices. Local clients also like having an international law firm on their doorstep giving them top quality advice.
On living in Leeds
Living in Leeds is fantastic. You have all these great places to eat, drink and shop. The people who come here tend to be those who have some connection to the place and have no interest in going to London because they know they can get everything they want in Yorkshire.
On the Leeds office culture
It’s great – one of the main reasons I’ve stayed here for fifteen years. Our summer placement students say that it’s friendly, helpful and fun.
It is a very hard working office but people enjoy being themselves and are incredibly helpful. We very much have an open door policy and, although there is a hierarchy and structure, it’s not rigidly enforced. We are all in this together, whether you’re a trainee, a paralegal, secretary or partner.
On the DLA Piper training experience
Other firms have good training programmes but I think our graduate recruitment team makes a big difference through their professionalism and dedication.
At DLA Piper you get opportunities and variety you wouldn’t get at other firms. As well as the normal departments you can experience, we have a number of interesting sub groups. Secondments to clients and overseas offices are also available.
This is allied to the friendly nature of the firm, the support you get and the team ethos. You’re not going to feel intimated by the people you work with and you will matter. For example, our property litigation team has two partners, two associates, two solicitors and a trainee. Our trainee is just as important as I am and that’s how they’re treated. It’s that feeling of value that makes such a difference. You’re going to slot in and enjoy yourself.
On why anyone would want to become a lawyer
It isn’t a career for everyone but it can still be incredibly rewarding – not just financially but the feeling you get that you’re doing something important for your client and making a difference. At DLA Piper we see ourselves as legally qualified business advisers. When you can see that the advice you’ve given actually moulds the client’s business then it makes it all worthwhile.
On getting the most out of a training contract
Throw yourself into it. The more you put into it, body and soul, the more you’ll get out.
It’s about commitment to both the work and social side: going to client events and getting involved in community work. We do loads of the latter in Leeds. Trainees are the fulcrum of our voluntary and charity work as they seem to have more energy than most of us!
The training period for most is the crossover between a life of academia and the rest of your career. It determines what kind of law you want to do and what kind of lawyer you want to be. Some may even find that they don’t want to become a commercial lawyer. It’s a very important time and you need to make the most of it.
