2024 DIVERSITY DATABASE UNDERWRITER DLA Piper LLP (US)

• “The summer program focused on realistic training and understanding of what a junior associate's work streams are like. It was hybrid, and summer associates are able to work with attorneys across all offices.”
• “The firm did a great job of sourcing meaningful work for the summer associates and genuinely tried to give us work we were interested in, enabling us to explore various practice groups throughout the program.”
• “We had a centralized database for assignments where attorneys from around the country (both associates and partners) posted assignments, and we were free to volunteer for any of them, regardless of what area of law we had indicated we were most interested in. Most of my assignments involved researching and drafting memos on certain areas of law, although I also had some basic drafting assignments as well.”
• “We had trainings on different topics, some substantive (practice group overviews, discussions of topics such as due diligence, etc.) and some administrative (timekeeping, using firm tools, best practices, etc.). Work assignments usually came directly from our team members, although we had regular check-ins to make sure we were getting enough assignments and the type(s) of work we were interested in trying. We were encouraged to be proactive about seeking assignments from folks we wanted to work with.”

• “DLA sent the entire summer class to the Summer Associate Academy where we were able to meet and interact with each other. The Academy was a training but also coincided with the firmwide annual event, so we were able to meet many people across the firm and practice groups. Also, in the individual local offices, the summer associates had various events throughout the summer that allowed the summers and other associates to bond.”  
• “We averaged two to three social events per week (most were optional to attend). The attorneys and partners who attended these events did a great job in interfacing with the summer associates and seemed to be genuinely interested in getting to know us as people.”
• “The social events were exciting and helped me meet a large network of people from the firm. The firm event in Orlando was a great experience to meet partners and associates from all across the country and North America.”
• “The firm prioritized interactions with associates and partners of all levels. Relationship development was a huge component of my summer.”

• “As a summer associate, I didn't expect to have any trouble managing my workload (mostly because of the summer associate work allocation system and the fact that summer associates don't need to worry about staying busy). Since joining the firm as a law clerk, I've realized that you need to be very proactive—at least as a new associate—about seeking out billable work in order to stay busy.”
• “I have been pleasantly surprised. All representations made during my summer associateship have been accurate. I have received substantive work as a junior that far surpassed my expectations.”
• “I have been incredibly surprised by just how supportive the associates and partners have been in my transition into the firm. They all understand that corporate practice is not something that is really taught in law school and have all been very gracious and generous with their time and resources to ensure that my introduction into the practice is as painless as possible.”
• “The biggest difference is that the workload and expectations are vastly different. This did not come as a surprise, as we were told that this would be the case when we were summers. However, knowing something will happen and then experiencing it firsthand are two very different things. ...”

• “Definitely the Summer Associate Academy in Orlando, Florida! It was a great way to meet and build relationships with the other summer associates.”
• “Since I am a huge baseball fan, my favorite event was when we attended a San Francisco Giants game. We had drinks and hors d'oeuvres before the game.”
• “My favorite summer event was a cannoli-making class hosted by a chef in Italy.”
• “Topgolf, happy hours at various partners' houses.”

At DLA Piper, building a career you are passionate about starts with training. The firm’s goal is for you to leave our program a better lawyer, and the firm aims to accomplish that through its robust training.

The firm offers three different training series. First, our Professionalism series includes sessions on how to put your best foot forward in the workplace. Second, Practice Group training offers exposure to your assigned area and allows a deeper understanding of the related work. Lastly, our Innovation in Law series provides in-depth training on the GenAI tools that are shaping the future of the profession.

As a summer associate, you will participate in the firmwide Summer Associate Academy and a practice group retreat, which will allow you to meet DLA Piper’s senior leaders, engage in training sessions to develop key legal skills, and build lasting connections. Separately, throughout the summer months, each office offers various social and team-building events, allowing colleagues to further develop their professional relationships.