Culture

• "Trainees socialise together, especially on a Friday night. Trainees support each other and it is not a competitive environment. The office is obviously structured but EVERYONE is friendly (even the partners!). This is something that I had the opportunity to experience on my vac scheme and I have never looked back. It is one of the office's main selling points." -- Second year trainee, Sheffield
• "The London office is based in two buildings, litigation and regulatory and IPT in 1 London Wall and the rest in Noble Street. There are circa 25 – 30 trainees per year, and only one annual intake so you get to know everyone quite well. The firm is very down to earth, one of the distinguishing features of the firm and one of the reasons I chose to join DLA. The firm sometimes receives negative press, but I think a lot of this is unfair as I have found it a great place to work. There are lots of social evenings (organised by the social committee for the whole firm) and there is the People Forum, which meets quarterly and is designed to give the people who work at DLA a voice and a chance to raise any issues which may be bothering them. Trainees do of course support each other, and this is key in getting through the training contract. We are all in it together, and even during the qualification process everyone has been remarkably supportive (maybe because the outlook is positive and there isn't going to be much fighting for jobs...).The trainees socialise a lot together, be it going to the pub on a Friday night, having a barbecue at the weekend or going bowling." -- Second year trainee, London
• "DLA Piper is a friendly firm and virtually everyone at every level is very approachable. Trainees will normally be involved in social activities in the department they are sitting in, although some departments are more sociable than others. Christmas is great, as there is normally an office Christmas party, a department Christmas party and a trainee Christmas party. Trainees are also encouraged to socialise together and as well as the organised events they normally get together for drinks on Friday evenings. Trainees from different offices get to know each other really well, as the training contract begins with a week in a hotel with all the first year trainees across the country. The week includes induction courses and PSC classes during the day but there are social events (and a free bar) every evening. This is really useful when you need advice from another office, as you will always know someone you can contact. Every office has a network of Office Trainee Co-ordinators, trainees who are there to provide a link between their trainee colleagues and the graduate recruitment team and help to organise trainee and vac scheme activities. The graduate recruitment team are also very approachable and supportive." -- First year trainee, London
• "Trainees socialise and support each other when pressure is mounting on certain individuals. Highly motivational environment, whilst still able to have a human edge." -- First year trainee, Leeds
• "Trainees share an office with their supervisor, who will either be a senior associate or a partner, depending upon the department that you are in. In my office there will normally be two trainees in each department, and each trainee will get involved in different matters, but generally it is ensured that you work with everyone else in the team in order that you get experience of different types of work and ways of working. There are 6 trainees per year in my office, and we are all very supportive of each other. If you have a problem the others are always willing to help, and we see each other most days. We have informal nights out, but there is also a social committee, which arranges lots of events throughout the year as well." -- Second year trainee, Liverpool
• "I usually only receive work from my own department and mainly from my supervisor. At quiet times, I think it would be better to have a process to allow trainees to carry out work for other departments. Furthermore, it is pot luck as to what work is available during the six months in any one particular seat and which trainee in the department receives the better work. The trainees do support each other and get on very well – I think it helps that there are only 12 trainees in the entire office. The trainees do socialise with each other, either through MYP/JLD events, office organised events or independently organised drinks, etc." -- First year trainee, Liverpool
• "Trainee social life is fantastic. The majority socialise very regularly and become genuine friends rather than co-workers very quickly. DLA provides immense support at the beginning of the TC by paying for a residential. Were it not for this weekend the relationship between trainees would be entirely different." -- First year trainee, London
• "The working environment is very open and non-hierarchical with an "open-door" policy. Most people sit in an office of two so there is always someone on hand to ask for help and guidance. Trainees do offer support to each other and socialise together. The firm has a social club and regularly organises events. The trainees regularly organise informal events too." -- Second year trainee, Liverpool
• "Everyone is motivated and hard working, but there is a definite ‘work hard, play hard’ culture. Trainees are very supportive, we socialise a lot – Friday drinks, cinema trips, lunch by the canal – most are friends, not just colleagues. I think we feel like a band of war buddies, having got through the terrifying first seat together!" -- First year trainee, Leeds
• "The firm is a very friendly one, and there is plenty of opportunity to socialise, both with trainees and with the wider firm in general. There aren't usually a lot of planned events, but more ad hoc going out, for example, drinks on a Friday night. Trainees support one another, but every trainee has a supervisor and they are also very helpful and supportive. There are also plenty of other people to go to if necessary. NQs are always a good source of support and advice as they have very recently been through it all." -- Second year trainee, Birmingham
• "There are weekly social drinks among the employees. The firm has introduced end-of-month drinks in house which is a great way to meet a range of people from the firm." -- First year trainee, Birmingham
• "The trainees are generally close; there are only around 16 of us so it is easy to get to know one another. The trainees often go for drinks after work in a bar right near the office. The working environment is very professional, but with a slightly laid back feel, and people are down-to-earth and friendly." -- First year trainee, Sheffield
• "The firm is an exceptionally friendly place to work." -- Second year trainee, Edinburgh

Hours

• "This is very dependent on what department you are in and how busy the department is. My first seat was in corporate and I was generally working about a 50 hour week and at the worst point a 70+ hour week. If the department is quiet though, they are generally happy for you to do your contracted hours (9am – 5.30pm). My second seat is in regulatory and the hours are generally a bit less (40+ a week), but much more sporadic so sometimes you may have to work weekends because it is so busy. Generally, working more than I expected, but if you are busy and the work is interesting then you don't mind and you are happy to do the hours." -- First year trainee, Birmingham
• "Just now, I am working on average between 40 – 45 hours a week. I am happy with this in the grand scheme of things; I am busy when in work, but I can leave on time one night if need be." -- First year trainee, Edinburgh
• "50 hours plus – depending on the workload/completing projects. I probably expected to be working more hours than I am, for a big law firm, but I most dislike the 'not knowing' what time I will be leaving each day and how busy I will be. It's not very nice not being able to plan anything unless it is short notice and not being able to leave without asking permission, etc." -- First year trainee, Liverpool
• "I record anything between about 40 and 65, but that never accounts for every minute spent at work does it? On the whole I'm working the amount I expected and, at times, a bit less." -- First year trainee, Leeds
• "Department dependent, however expected to burn midnight oil when required but 5.30pm departures are not frowned upon." -- First year trainee, Leeds
• "This depends purely on department and what work is on at the time; in other seats I would typically work from 8.30am until 6/6.30pm, occasionally slightly later if we had a strict deadline coming up. Hours have been longer in corporate because we have been very busy, often working long hours, however, now it has quietened down slightly and hours are back to normal – as to be expected with the nature of a corporate department. Overall, hours have been much better than I expected." -- Second year trainee, Liverpool
• "The average week is good (depending on what department you are in). All potential City trainees should be aware that law is not a 9 – 5 job. However, there is no "face-time" requirement and people are happy for you to leave if you have quiet periods." -- Second year trainee, London
• "Always exhausted. When it’s very busy, it’s very pressurised." -- First year trainee, London
• "Every week is different. Sometimes the hours are extremely long, but only when it's necessary. As a firm they encourage you to make the most of down time and from my experience, don't expect trainees to put in face time." -- Second year trainee, London
• "It really is hard to say! Ultimately, you stay in work to get the job done. As a very loose average, I would say I work between 40 and 50 hours a week. Sometimes you have lots of quiet days (or even weeks!), but then other times you can work long hours every day for a week. It is totally department dependent and work load dependent. I think I am working to about the level I had anticipated I would need to. There are days when it is very frustrating because you can't make plans or have to cancel plans, and that's what makes it hard. When you are working long hours on complex matters, it really is exhausting, but there is an overwhelming sense of achievement when you have completed a difficult task and you can see how your assistance helped to complete a project." -- First year trainee, Leeds
• "Usually 8.45 am till about 6.30 pm on a normal day for most departments. Busy times do go late evenings but this only lasts for a couple of weeks during busy periods and then back to normal. Only corporate trainees work very long hours every week all seat." -- First year trainee, Birmingham
• "40 – 45 hours. This is what I expected and I think generally the trainees don't mind putting in long hours – what they mind is being taken for granted and made to stay to photocopy. But most departments are grateful, and respectful of your free time. Eventually, you learn the balance between being available and preserving a life outside the office. The one gripe is that we do 'London hours' but get regional pay – real joke is that we seem to work longer hours than the London trainees!" -- First year trainee, Leeds
• "It varies from department to department. Last seat was generally 8.30am – 6.30pm, now it's more like 8.30am – 5.45pm. The latest I have worked is 9pm, and there is the occasional week where every night will be 7.30pm. I have also worked two Saturday mornings in 8 months of being here. Solicitors tend to work very hard!" -- First year trainee, Sheffield

Pay

• "Much better than any other Scottish firm (they also pay diploma fees and provide a maintenance grant, which is not the norm)." -- Second year trainee, Glasgow
• "Probably market standard by North West standards, but a little frustrating given that North West trainees work the same hours that our London trainees do, but for £12k less." -- First year trainee, Liverpool
• "Very good – on par with other firms in the region." -- Second year trainee, Leeds
• "Salary is one of the highest in Scotland." -- First year trainee, Edinburgh
• "The salary is equal to other City firms." -- Second year trainee, London
• "The salaries are based on what is competitive for the area that the office is in, which means there is a big difference between the salaries for London trainees and those in the regions, and trainees in Scotland are paid less than the English regional trainees. The salary is ok but could be better. There is, however, a good pension scheme which you and the firm contribute to, an automatic free private medical insurance scheme, and a private healthcare scheme which you can join for minimal amount. There is also a dental scheme you can join and pay for. They will also pay for your young persons' railcard and you pay for it as a taxable benefit. If you get the train to work you can apply for a loan to purchase an annual season ticket (to reduce your rail fare) and pay this back to the firm through your salary monthly." -- First year trainee, Birmingham
• "We are on a good salary given the economic climate. However, when you are working long hours, what you earn an hour is dishearteningly low and we don't get to take back time when we are quiet i.e. finish/start early unless we've pulled all nighters. Further, as I was recruited after completing my GDL and LPC, I did not have all my fees paid or the maintenance grant for those two years. This means I have large professional studies loan repayments that will eat into my salary every month for the next 5 years!" -- First year trainee, Leeds
• "It is one of the highest in the region." -- Second year trainee, Sheffield
• "As a trainee, a bit above the regional average. But I do think the regional NQ salary should be higher, especially as the work and sometimes hours are exactly London quality." -- First year trainee, Birmingham
• "DLA Piper trainee salaries tend to be at the higher end of the scale in Scotland, and do compete with the big Scottish firms. However, they are markedly lower than those for DLA trainees in the regional English offices and, in particular, the London office." -- Second year trainee, Edinburgh
• "The salary is a fantastic reward for all the hard work that trainees put in. However, I feel that the firm's benefit policy could be improved." -- First year trainee, London
• "I think that I am paid a decent salary for the work that I do and the opportunities that training at DLA will provide in my future career. Additionally, DLA paid my GDL and LPC fees, along with providing a £5,000 grant during each year. This has alleviated a lot of potential debt." -- First year trainee, Manchester
• "We work similar hours to our London office on very similar projects. Our salary is indexed to the "local" rate as opposed to the "firm" rate. This means that a first year London trainee would be earning more than a newly qualified solicitor in the regions, even if we are doing the same work... or our clients are based in London! However in Manchester, the salary is competitive (although there are a couple of firms that pay more) and certainly given the economic climate, we can't complain." -- Second year trainee, Manchester

Interviews & Assessments

• "I was hired in 2007. There were two rounds: one interview and then a second round assessment centre. This involved giving a presentation on a topic of choice, two written exercises and an interview. The interview lasted about 45 minutes and was with a member of the GR team and a partner, followed by a tour of the office with a current trainee. It was fairly tough, quite a lot of commercial awareness questions, why London, why law (I had a non-law background), why DLA...at the end of the day, we had drinks and canapés on the top floor with some partners, but we were all so exhausted by the end of it we could only manage one glass of wine!" -- Second year trainee, London
• "There was an initial interview and then an assessment day, which included another interview, a presentation and two tests. However, the assessment day was a lot less formal than I expected and the graduate recruitment team put the participants at ease." -- First year trainee, London
• "I was interviewed on the vacation scheme. For the vac scheme there was an application form, then a business game day that involved group activity for a day (was fun). During the vacation scheme, there was an assessment day which involved two written exercises, an oral presentation and an interview." -- First year trainee, London
• "I had an interview for the vac scheme and on the scheme then had a number of business games and exercises throughout the two weeks. At the end of the vac scheme we had an assessment day which included tests, a group exercise and interview with two partners." -- First year trainee, Leeds
• "After completing an extensive application form, I had to go through two rounds of interviews and a further presentation day. The presentation day involved a one hour interview, a 15-minute presentation with Q&A and two written exercises. The interview questions were quite tough, but the interviewers made me feel as relaxed as possible." -- First year trainee, Liverpool
• "After the initial application, there were three rounds to the recruitment process. Initially, successful candidates were invited to an assessment day, which consisted of a business game. Those who were successful at this assessment day were then invited to attend a vacation scheme which had a series of organised activities throughout the 2-week period. At the end of the scheme we were required to complete a written assessment, answering questions about contract terms. We then had an interview with a partner and a member of the graduate recruitment team, in which we were asked both questions about ourselves and also hypothetical business-law questions. Finally, we had to give a 5-minute presentation on a topic of our choice to the rest of the group and UK head of graduate recruitment." -- First year trainee, London
• "I applied through the vacation scheme method. This involved an initial online application, attendance at a one-day selection day for the vac scheme and then a two-week vac scheme during which you sit in two different departments, attend talks and presentations on the firm and complete an assessment day. The assessment day includes written assessments, an interview, a pre-prepared presentation on a subject of your choice and a team activity. I was interviewed by two senior partners of the Birmingham office. The interview included questions on DLA, current events, my career aspirations and motivations (why DLA, why Birmingham, why corporate law, etc.), as well as personal questions on my own background, education, family, etc. and also questions about my previous work experience. A lot of focus was placed on my initial application form." -- First year trainee, Birmingham
• "There was a comprehensive application form and an assessment day for the vacation scheme. There was then the vacation scheme itself with one day of this being dedicated to a full assessment day. The assessment day included two exams; a presentation and an interview. The interview was relatively informal with standard questions about my CV and commercial stories that interested me. It really felt as though they wanted to see how well I would fit into the firm, which made for a pleasant interview experience." -- First year trainee, London
• "I was interviewed to achieve a place on the firm's vacation scheme. For the TC, I had to complete two tests, give a three minute presentation and have an interview with two partners. The interview was formal with questions surrounding scenarios, client situations, what I had learnt on the vacation scheme, etc." -- Second year trainee, Liverpool
• "DLA is a leading global law firm – it is very competitive if you apply here, like with all other large firms. I submitted an online application for a training contract – I did not do work experience at DLA. I was then invited for a first interview which involved a half hour long chat with a partner and an associate at the Leeds office. It was quite informal and instantly made me aware that I wanted to work at DLA over other firms I had applied for. I was then invited for an assessment day. This was much more formal and was structured to include: a second formal interview with two partners, a 3-minute presentation (on whatever topic I chose), and two written exercises. We also had a lunch/networking event, an office tour and some presentations about the firm. The day was formal, but as relaxed as it could be in context. Everyone was very friendly and I didn't have a ‘good cop/bad cop’ routine in my interview either! The questions were based on why I wanted to work in commercial law, what I would do in a given situation, what I thought the challenges were for DLA and why I wanted to work for them. There were no trick questions and I think questions sprang from the answers I gave – don't be afraid if you get probed about certain things. It means the interviewers are interested in what you have to say and that is a good thing!" -- First year trainee, Leeds
• "An interview to get a summer placement, followed by an interview at the end of the placement. Then the next stage is an interview, a written test and an assessment day where you prepare a presentation and take part in team assignments. Questions at the interview were not designed to 'trick', but were designed to see what your expectations of being a lawyer are, what makes a good lawyer, how ambitious you are, whether you have a good work ethic and whether you have good communication skills." -- First year trainee, Glasgow