An international law firm with UK offices in several cities that offers a summer internship, trainee programme and solicitor apprenticeship.
DLA Piper is one of the world's biggest law firms. Its lawyers advise companies, banks, investors and public bodies on things like buying and selling businesses, property, energy and infrastructure projects, employment and disputes. Non Billable describes it as a mid-market powerhouse with a wide global reach, and says it has more than 90 offices in more than 40 countries.
Wikipedia says DLA Piper was formed in 2005 when the UK firm DLA joined with US firms Piper Rudnick and Gray Cary, and was renamed DLA Piper in 2006. Its UK roots are in Dibb Lupton Broomhead (formed in 1988) and Alsop Wilkinson, a Liverpool firm that merged with it in 1996. Non Billable lists seven UK offices: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Sheffield. The firm's own early careers page names London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Edinburgh, and you can apply to one location a year.
We did not find a formal mission statement. The firm's internship page describes it as innovative, diverse, inclusive and committed to sustainability, and its early careers page highlights inclusion, sustainability and innovation through what it calls its Law& approach. It says it looks for self-motivated, proactive people, and for curiosity, collaboration, open-mindedness, sound judgement, accountability and a growth mindset. These are the firm's own claims.
Non Billable lists corporate and M&A (buying and selling companies), private equity (investors buying businesses), energy, resources and infrastructure, and real estate as strengths. Wikipedia also mentions its New Perimeter pro bono (free legal help) initiative, started in 2005 to support legal work in underserved regions. The legal tech company Definely names DLA Piper as one of its customers.
The Summer Internship is 2 to 3 weeks, in person and paid, with the 2027 programme running 15 June to 2 July 2027. The page says it 'goes beyond shadowing': interns work on client matters, may attend court hearings or work with clients, and are supported by supervisors, buddies and mentors. Applications opened 21 September 2026. London closes on 23 October 2026 and Birmingham, Edinburgh, Yorkshire and the North West close on 20 November 2026. Second-year students on a three-year law degree, final-year students, graduates and career changers can apply, with a 2:1 (or on track) and the equivalent of 136 UCAS points. The page says the firm cannot sponsor visas for the internship. Interns may be offered the Future Lawyers Pathway, with four six-month rotations. The firm also runs Solicitor and Project Manager apprenticeships, where you earn while you learn with no university fees; the 2026 solicitor apprenticeship closed on 20 February 2026. Non Billable gave first-year London trainee pay of £55,000, but the firm's pages did not state pay, so check.
Website: www.dlapiper.com
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