Summer Intern Review

On a day-to-day basis, I attend team meetings, training sessions, and client calls where appropriate, which helps me understand how legal matters are handled in practice.
Within the Corporate Crime team, I may assist with research relating to financial crime, regulatory compliance, investigations, and anti-bribery or anti-money laundering matters. In the Real Estate team, I supported lawyers with property transactions, due diligence exercises, reviewing leases and contracts, and preparing documentation.
The internship also involves collaborating with colleagues across different departments, developing commercial awareness, and gaining insight into how a global law firm delivers legal services to clients.

Yes, I was given a meaningful level of responsibility during my internship, particularly considering that I was working within a leading international law firm. While all work was supervised by qualified lawyers, I was trusted to contribute to real client matters and support ongoing transactions and investigations.

Yes, I developed a range of both new and existing skills during my internship at DLA Piper.
Most notably, I strengthened my legal research and analytical skills by investigating legal and regulatory issues within the Corporate Crime team and summarising findings clearly and concisely. This helped me become more confident in interpreting complex information and identifying key points relevant to a matter.
I also enhanced my attention to detail through reviewing documents, conducting due diligence, and assisting with both compliance-related work and real estate transactions. Accuracy was essential, as even small details could have significant implications for clients.
In addition, I improved my communication skills by working with lawyers across different teams, attending meetings, and presenting my findings in a professional manner. Exposure to client-focused work also helped me develop a greater understanding of how legal advice is communicated effectively.
The internship further increased my commercial awareness, as I gained insight into how legal issues can affect businesses and property transactions. I also developed stronger time management and organisational skills by balancing multiple tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced professional environment.

I received a high level of support and guidance throughout my internship at DLA Piper. From the outset, the Early Careers team played an important role in ensuring that interns were welcomed into the firm, providing onboarding, training sessions, and regular check-ins to make sure we were settling in well and making the most of the experience.
I also benefited from the support of my supervising partner, who provided oversight, feedback, and opportunities to get involved in a variety of interesting matters. They were approachable and always willing to answer questions, explain legal concepts, and offer insights into their area of practice.
In addition, I was assigned a buddy who provided day-to-day support and guidance. They were a valuable point of contact for questions about tasks, firm culture, and working life at DLA Piper. Having buddies made it easier to navigate the internship and helped me feel comfortable asking questions and seeking advice.

The company culture at DLA Piper was very welcoming, collaborative, and professional. Despite being a large international law firm, I found that people were approachable and willing to offer support whenever needed. From partners to trainees, everyone was happy to answer questions, share their experiences, and help me develop my understanding of the legal profession.
The atmosphere was fast-paced and intellectually stimulating, with teams working on a variety of complex and interesting matters. At the same time, there was a strong emphasis on teamwork and inclusion, which made it easy to feel integrated into the firm. I was encouraged to contribute to discussions, take ownership of tasks, and make the most of learning opportunities.

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship at DLA Piper. The experience exceeded my expectations, as it provided a combination of challenging legal work, professional development opportunities, and exposure to a supportive and collaborative working environment.
One of the most enjoyable aspects was the opportunity to gain insight into two different practice areas. This allowed me to experience a diverse range of legal work, from researching regulatory and compliance issues to supporting property transactions and due diligence exercises. Being involved in real matters helped me understand how legal theory is applied in practice and made the work particularly engaging.

Yes