Insight Scheme Student Review

I thought it was very interesting and gave me the opportunity to gain some valuable insight into the firm. I was very happy to be fed multiple times a day. The talks were for the most part very enjoyable and interesting, but there were a couple of workshops which were far too long for what they required. Overall however, a very good experience.

Graduate Recruitment were very accommodating and we were all made to feel very welcome. We were given food at least 4 times a day, with breakfast, lunch and dinner and also tea which had some astonishingly good cakes. Though we were not paid for attending the scheme with money, I felt I had a very valuable time learning lots and eating lots.

We had talks from Graduate Recruitment on how to apply and what they saw as the best application techniques. There were also several talks from partners who told us about their path to DLA Piper but also offering some very useful life advice that I found very inspiring and useful.

As a non-law student I feel confident in the path I can now take to pursue a career in law. With workshops on commercial awareness, sector knowledge, presentation skills, networking and a better general awareness of the legal profession, I can definitively saw that I left the programme better equipped than when I started.

Every day was structured with talks from partners, networking opportunities, group exercises and of course most importantly many opportunities to eat. I was surprised having been to a couple of other similar schemes how good the food was but also how frequently we were given the chance to eat. I definitely function better when not hungry, so I rate the structure of this insight very highly.

Very convivial and friendly. It was fantastic to meet so many bright and driven people also looking at becoming a lawyer, and I have made many friendships out of coming to this scheme. Staff at DLA Piper were also very friendly which of curse fostered the great atmosphere of the scheme.

They gave us lots of training in commercial awareness, our understanding of the legal sector, what it meant to be a lawyer, pro bono and responsible business practices and also practical skills for any career such as networking and presenting. As such, I felt they heavily invested in all of us. Not to mention the copious food they invested in as well - which was much appreciated!

It was great to meet so many high level partners, associates and trainees at the firm, as it gave us a better idea of the people that make up the firm. Points of improvement however, would be to have maybe an office tour (though I know they are moving office) and some talks from partners who maybe weren't all middle-aged white men. In a firm of DLA's size there must be some female or BME partners!

From listening to the various arranged talks, I gathered that the firm cared about their employees. However, to properly understand the culture, it would have been better if we could shadow trainees or associates so we could experience the culture, as opposed to only hearing about it. The number of people on the scheme made this impossible I expect.

I had already decided on a career path of law, and attending the insight scheme only reaffirmed this fact. The scheme also reminded me of the variety of different law firms which now exist and the many different career options which are available to pursue in this current legal profession.

I wasn't paid or reimbursed for expenses but I did not need to travel far, so it was not really necessary. I felt adequately reimbursed by the food and knowledge I gained from the experience however.

Yes, we were able to meet trainees, partners, associates and members of grad recruitment.

Yes we had pizza with future trainees on the first day and dinner in Leadenhall Market as a cohort on the second day.

Yes they have many sporting opportunities to take part in.

Yes it's a valuable experience.