Summer Intern Review

The first week consisted of getting to know the other interns in London, all expenses paid for. Each day involved talks from amazing people at the firm to give you a better idea of what DLA Piper is about. The second and third weeks are spent in different practice areas, where you do tasks such as drafting, legal research and client calls. There are regular socials so you get to know your colleagues.

In have further developed skills in legal research that is aimed at a certain audience. I have learnt a lot of technical information from talking to colleagues and completing tasks. Completing document drafting tasks has shown me how much the law is different practically compared to what you do in a degree. Networking events have helped me become a better networker. The presentation was also good for improving my public speaking skills.

Talking to lawyers at the firm gave me a better understanding of what different job descriptions mean. For example, before the scheme, I did not know much about how an associate's work differs from that of a senior associate, or how their work differed from that of a partner and trainee. DLA Piper places a lot of value on its team and their clients, which was evident in every interaction I had.

There is a community feel at DLA Piper - everyone wants you to do well and they support you as much as they can. This is shown by how they do not encourage you to compete with each other on the internship and to focus on doing your best. Social events happened every week which were great for making friends. The firm's commitment to pro bono and diversity and inclusion initiatives is brilliant.

I really enjoyed the work - whilst it was not easy, I loved getting stuck in and managing my workload. I made lots of great friends and think this was helped by the London induction. The lawyers are welcoming and always willing to have a chat with you - they encourage it! The scheme exceeded my expectations and I really felt at home.

Yes

Know why you want to work for the firm and practice your presentation skills. There is a presentation on the assessment centre and on the internship, so these skills are really needed. If I reapplied, I would tell myself to believe in myself and my ability. I was inspired to join by the firm's commitment to social mobility but I am really interested in the firm and its clients too.