Summer Intern Review
at DLA Piper
Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
Legal/Law
Manchester
Review Submitted: July 2024
Overall Rating
4.8 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
-
Overview of Experience
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.8/5
-
Company Culture
5/5
-
Overall Experience
5/5
-
Recommendations and Advice
Overview of Experience
Please give an overview of the insight and what was involved on a day-to-day basis.
My daily tasks included:
Drafting, reviewing and creating summaries of documents and emails
Attending various meetings such as client meetings, preliminary hearings, team meetings
Helping the team with various projects as they arise, doing a range of tasks depending on the practice group
My daily interactions included:
Speaking to Trainees, (Senior) Associates and Partners to gain insight on their background and experience and get advice
Spending time with fellow interns, becoming close friends!
Drafting, reviewing and creating summaries of documents and emails
Attending various meetings such as client meetings, preliminary hearings, team meetings
Helping the team with various projects as they arise, doing a range of tasks depending on the practice group
My daily interactions included:
Speaking to Trainees, (Senior) Associates and Partners to gain insight on their background and experience and get advice
Spending time with fellow interns, becoming close friends!
What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
It was nice to speak to associates and partners to gain insight on the different areas of law and practice areas that existed or that I didn't know much about, which has encouraged me to consider a placement in areas such as Employment and Real Estate, which I never considered before.
Please rate how insightful you found the insight
5/5
How would you rate the structure of the insight
5/5
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
One thing I've learnt is how to draft some legal documents as I hadn't the opportunity to do so! I enjoyed systematically going through long documents to understand each term or clause.
I've improved my ability to summarise and pay attention to detail, through having to summarise and review multiple 100+ page documents. I've also improved my people and communication skills through being encouraged to speak to a diverse set of people across the firm.
I've improved my ability to summarise and pay attention to detail, through having to summarise and review multiple 100+ page documents. I've also improved my people and communication skills through being encouraged to speak to a diverse set of people across the firm.
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
5/5
How would you rate the knowledge learned around industry-specific skills during the experience?
5/5
How would you rate the knowledge learned around personal or professional skills during the experience?
5/5
Please rate how the knowledge learned has helped you with regards to your career development
5/5
Company Culture
How would you rate business leader involvement during the insight
5/5
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
The company culture is amazing! Everyone is extremely friendly, encouraging and willing to talk to you. I also felt safe and secure in asking silly questions knowing that someone would take the time out to explain things to me. It's an environment where I felt excited to come into work everyday to speak to everyone and try my best to succeed!
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
4/5
How would you rate the networking opportunities?
5/5
Please rate how valued you felt during your insight?
5/5
Overall Experience
To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
I enjoyed every aspect of the internship!
I really enjoyed the London induction and meeting the interns in the other offices who were extremely friendly and great fun to hang out with.
Another aspect I enjoyed was getting responsibility by doing real work which was used by the associates or the clients. It was satisfying to see that even through my short time at DLA, I've been making an impact and contributing in some way.
I really enjoyed the London induction and meeting the interns in the other offices who were extremely friendly and great fun to hang out with.
Another aspect I enjoyed was getting responsibility by doing real work which was used by the associates or the clients. It was satisfying to see that even through my short time at DLA, I've been making an impact and contributing in some way.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on the insight
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
5/5
Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
I was paid and reimbursed expenses
Recommendations and Advice
Please rate the future employment prospects at DLA Piper
5/5
Would you recommend DLA Piper to a friend?
Yes
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to DLA Piper
Before the internship, do as much research as possible on DLA's culture and values to determine whether you feel aligned to work at the firm. I'd also suggest researching the work they do to determine whether it's something that suits you.
At the assessment centre and beyond, be friendly to everyone! Especially to the other interns and applicants. It's easy to view everything as a competition but that is not the case at all.
Enjoy yourself! It can be easy to get lost in the tasks by trying to get everything completed before the deadline but remember to have fun! Another aspect of the internship is putting the work away, interacting with other people and showing that you're a great person to work with.
Be genuine - it's easy to see when you're not interested in the work, the people or the firm itself. I'd recommend that, at all stages, whether it be the first application, assessment centre or internship itself, assess the firm just as DLA is assessing you to determine that it is the right place for you and that you'd fit in. It's better to get a training contract at a place that you have no doubts about than to get a training contract anywhere just for the sake of it!
At the assessment centre and beyond, be friendly to everyone! Especially to the other interns and applicants. It's easy to view everything as a competition but that is not the case at all.
Enjoy yourself! It can be easy to get lost in the tasks by trying to get everything completed before the deadline but remember to have fun! Another aspect of the internship is putting the work away, interacting with other people and showing that you're a great person to work with.
Be genuine - it's easy to see when you're not interested in the work, the people or the firm itself. I'd recommend that, at all stages, whether it be the first application, assessment centre or internship itself, assess the firm just as DLA is assessing you to determine that it is the right place for you and that you'd fit in. It's better to get a training contract at a place that you have no doubts about than to get a training contract anywhere just for the sake of it!
