{ "html_item": { "id": 11301157, "html_text": "
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2025

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At DLA Piper, we believe great business can make a better world. We believe in being collaborative, bold, exceptional, and supportive. We are keen to hear what inspired your application. Why are you interested in starting a legal career at DLA Piper? (Max 200 words/1,500 Characters)

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DLA Piper’s strong regional presence, expertise in employment law, and commendable pro bono work drew me to the firm. Having spoken to various trainees, such as Ahmed Syed, at the firm from different offices at Bright Network’s Future Lawyers event it was clear that through the firm’s One UK approach, DLA offers similar experiences and opportunities across all of its offices. This appeals to me as someone with a strong connection to the north who wants to build a career there. Additionally, DLA’s experience in employment law, with a tier one legal 500 ranking for Leeds and West Yorkshire is attractive to me as someone interested in this area. DLA’s work on the headline Uber case, advising the company on the outcome of the classification of its drivers as workers intrigued me and illustrated the calibre of work the firm is involved with. Therefore, my aspirations to conduct work of high commercial importance in the north drew me to the firm. On top of this, the firm’s work as a partner of the charity KIND UK providing advice to undocumented children aligns with my values and commitment to social justice, further attracting me to a legal career at DLA Piper.

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If successful in securing a training contract after the Summer Internship, what do you anticipate will be the key challenges of the International Training Programme for you? How would you approach these challenges, and what resources or support do you believe you would need to overcome them? (Max 200 words/1,500 Characters)

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I anticipate that there will be two key challenges of the International Training Programme, the first of which is time management. Engaging in challenging work such as high-profile cross-border transactions across the Programme will be very time consuming, especially for trainees looking to develop their knowledge and skills in unfamiliar areas. I would approach this by prioritising tasks effectively, initially drawing upon advice from a supervisor to understand which tasks need to be completed as a priority and then considering this advice when completing work in the future. I would also communicate with fellow trainees to build a support network and ensure that we are all in this together.   

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Secondly, another key challenge will be adjusting to different individuals both within and outside of the firm. Being exposed to four practice areas, potential secondment opportunities, and meeting various clients as part of the Training Programme will require versatility from trainees to adjust to these environments. To approach this I would continue to develop my communication and active listening skills to understand acceptable ways to communicate in these different environments and adjust accordingly. I would also make efforts to build positive working relationships with colleagues and clients alike.

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2025

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At DLA Piper, we believe great business can make a better world. We believe in being bold, driven, compassionate, and collaborative. We are keen to hear what inspired your application. Why are you interested in starting a legal career at DLA Piper? (200 words/1,500 characters)

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My application is inspired by DLA Piper’s commitment to redefining what it means to be a truly global full-service law firm. Through work experience in the Sheffield office’s litigation team, interactions with university alumni, trainees and associates, I have already experienced first-hand the firm’s inclusive culture and the passion it’s individuals have for the DLA brand. DLA Piper’s dedication to fostering strong, supportive networks both internally and within the local community highlights its position as a market leader in terms of mindful business and social responsibility.

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The firm’s impactful work in developing countries resonates with me deeply. Earlier this year, I travelled to Lesotho to address local human rights issues and collaborate with the charity Africa’s Gift, to make eco-cook bags for the community. This experience ignited my passion to continue contributing to global initiatives, and I believe DLA offers the ideal platform to continue this work. Most importantly, DLA Piper’s values are strongly aligned with my own; being supportive and collaborative within the community and with colleagues, being bold and exceptional in not only its work output, but in the relationships, individuals can build internally and externally is the driving quality of the firm.

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If successful in securing a training contract after the Summer Internship, what do you anticipate will be the key challenges of the International Training Programme for you? How would you approach these challenges, and what resources or support do you believe you would need to overcome them? (200 words/1,500 characters)

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If successful, I anticipate that one key challenge of the International Training Programme would be building a personal brand in an environment which fosters remote working across the UK. I am excited to take on this challenge and take advantage of DLA Piper’s opportunities to mould a brand personal to me. There are many opportunities for this support, but the most appealing is the firm’s commitment to its sectors providing a holistic and helpful approach to clients. Networks such as the NextGen CGFR and life sciences networks are amazing resources to network with juniors and share experiences and knowledge.

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DLA Piper’s ‘one UK’ approach excites me as a junior embarking on their career in law. Not only does this offer unparalleled opportunities to network across the UK, but also demonstrates cohesion on a global stage that has been incredible to experience during my work experience; I believe navigating life as a trainee and associate is all about taking every opportunity available and being a personal and approachable individual. I believe my ability to recognise and adapt to different working styles will benefit me personally and ensure I contribute effectively to DLA Piper’s collaborative, bold and accepting working environment.

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2024

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At DLA Piper, we believe great business can make a better world. We believe in being bold, driven, compassionate, and collaborative. We are keen to hear what inspired your application. Why are you interested in starting a legal career at DLA Piper? (200 words)

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The complex, high-profile work which is the norm at DLA Piper matches my career ambitions. An apt example of this is the firm’s advice to Indian manufacturing giants Borosil Renewables on their acquisition of Interfloat Group. Working within a team that is a leading force in so many fields, mid-market M&A being one, would be an invaluable opportunity for personal and professional development.

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Also, DLA’s forward-thinking outlook is hugely attractive and echoes my original motivations for a legal career. The firm’s Aisencion legal-tech service represents its commitment to innovation and maintaining a competitive advantage. Having worked with legally binding smart contracts and blockchain during my time with Ignition, the prospect of using and developing legal technology to provide the best service to clients is incredibly exciting.

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Finally, having met DLA representatives at the Legal Cheek Law Fair, the friendly yet productive culture at the firm became apparent to me. The firm’s full-service nature requires interaction with other teams, something which suits my collaborative attitude. Also, the importance which the firm places on Pro Bono work really impressed me; in my role at BookAid, Ethiopia is one of our main support countries, and hence DLA’s involvement in developing Ethiopia’s first Green Tribunal particularly stuck out to me. The firm’s compassionate environment renders it an attractive place to develop one’s career.

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If successful in securing a training contract after the Summer Internship, what do you anticipate will be the key challenges of the International Training Programme for you? How would you approach these challenges, and what resources or support do you believe you would need to overcome them? (200 words)

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One challenge I anticipate in the International Training Programme is the ability to adapt between seats and ensure an efficient transition from one department to another. However, using the avenues of support offered during the programme and coupling these with a flexible and enthusiastic mindset would be central to success. The opportunity to ask a mentor how they overcame such challenges would offer a sense of calm. Also, another incredibly important resource would be your fellow trainee network: a meeting with the trainee who has just completed that seat would allow any outstanding work to be passed over and offer a chance for them to introduce you to some members of your new team. Finally, having a clear idea of one’s legal interest and putting considerable research into each seat before meeting the Programme Manager will allow the most success from each seat or secondment.

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Secondly, the inherent challenges of technical, high-profile legal work might cause feelings of self-doubt. However, a strong relationship with your supervisor would allow for candid conversations about any difficulties faced during client work or research tasks. Similarly, by using the on-demand training services on DLA’s intranet, there is an opportunity to develop general and seat-specific skills. Therefore, a resourceful attitude is incredibly important to hurdle these challenges. On top of this, a feeling of self-belief would give me the confidence to build productive relationships.

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2023

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Note that this CV has been anonymised (hence the white space in places). In addition, the candidate couldn't access their 250 word answer to the commercial question set by the firm, so we only have the CV for the 2023 example.

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2022

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Which business news story has interested you the most in the last 12 months and why? (Maximum 1500 characters / approximately 250 words) 

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After taking an initial 25% stake in Ecotricity’s Electric Highway, Britain’s largest electric vehicle charging network, GRIDSERVE took the remaining 75% in June 2021. The takeover was part-funded by Hitachi Capital, a partner and shareholder of GRIDSERVE that has provided a £10 million loan facility to accelerate the UK’s adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Having knowledge of the Electric Highway as a [job title] at [Company], this article is interesting to analyse how the network is evolving.

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For GRIDSERVE, the purpose of the deal is to modernise the network and widen access to new EV users. EV infrastructure is a key factor in consumers’ decisions to switch from fossil fuels – as over half of drivers surveyed by the Department for Transport in 2020 indicated that a lack of confidence in the network’s reliability was preventing them from purchasing EVs. GRIDSERVE aims to address these concerns through faster charging points, contactless payment systems and automatic charging options.

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As the Electric Highway operates 80% of EV infrastructure nationwide, changes to the network will have industry-wide implications. With transport being the UK’s greatest source of carbon emissions, improving EV infrastructure may help the UK meet its net-zero targets. ABB, the company GRIDSERVE has chosen to supply the Electric Highway’s new chargers, previously provided EV chargers to Norway – a country where 54% of all new cars sold were pure electric in 2020. By introducing the same technological expertise that enabled Norway to meet its net-zero goals, GRIDSERVE’s acquisition may accelerate the UK’s progress in this area.

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2021

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Which business news story has interested you the most in the last 12 months and why? (1500 characters)

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I came across a news story from September 2019 on FinTech start-ups that are trying to lower the cost of money transfer in Africa after a World Bank report named remittances to Africa as the most expensive in the world at 9.4 percent. I found this story interesting as I am very passionate about the opportunities emerging markets open. Additionally, I am passionate about how legal tech and FinTech could be used to transform the legal and business sectors in the future.

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I believe Africa to be one of the most profitable emerging market today. FinTech initiatives, such as M-Pesa that was invented in Kenya, allow for money transfer for people who do not have bank accounts. In fact, 50% of transactions in Kenya and South Africa are transferred using mobile money. While I believe FinTech to be important everywhere in the world, it is important especially in the emerging markets where new securities need to be created for vulnerable individuals through entrepreneurship.

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As DLA Piper is one of the world's leading FinTech focused law firms, I believe this to be a very relevant area for the firm. Moreover, with offices in Morocco and South Africa in addition to partnership firms all over the continent, DLA Piper puts a lot of emphasis on the emerging power that is Africa. In fact, DLA Piper has written about the rise of FinTech in Africa in their Africa Connected Issue 2 (17 April 2019) that concludes mobile payments to be a rising trend that leads to increased security and efficiency.

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2021

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Which business news story has interested you the most in the last 12 months and why? (Maximum 1500 characters / approximately 250 words)

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WeWork went from a $47 billion valuation to talks of bankruptcy in just six weeks. It is a fascinating but tragic story because it illustrates how quickly a business can change and transform. It was known as the USs most valuable tech start up but everything went wrong when it filed for an initial public offering of shares. It exposed a sky-high valuation, hefty losses and questionable business model. It had taken on the risk of long-term leases and providing short term contracts to clients which were huge liabilities if there was a downturn. It controversially offered Neumann, the CEO, millions at favourable rates and substantial control after going public. It is an intriguing and defining story about how WeWork did not survive the public scrutiny and will force other tech startups in the future to shape up before heading to the public markets. Therefore, changing the trajectory of the future of IPOs and corporate governance.

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Neumann voted to remove himself as CEO and gave up his majority control of WeWork’s stock after facing scrutiny of his controversial behaviour. This illustrates how CEOs are increasingly prominent as key figures and their reputation and influence are closely watched by investors. Neumann is considered a controversial figure, and I have found this business story interesting because it serves as a brilliant example of how important character, ethics and strategy of the individual are in the business world.

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2021

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Which business news story has interested you the most in the last 12 months and why?

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Recently, the headlines surrounding the difficulties faced by the retail sector have been of interest to me as I work within the industry and am therefore observing how they are impacting the way we conduct our business. I was particularly shocked to find out about House of Frasers decision to close their landmark store in Deansgate, which I realise opened many people’s eyes to the hardships being faced in retail. Developing from an argument put forward from a trainee that I spoke to whilst at the DLA Piper Panel Presentation, I believe that retail has been suffering since the recession but is now only being recognised fully. Talking from the perspective of John Lewis, who made only 1% of their target profits in the first half of this year, they failed to appreciate the significance of online shopping too late, as their business model primarily focuses on the 'Partner experience'. The difficulties faced by the retail sector also come down to several issues caused by Brexit, namely the uncertainty and weakening of the exchange rate. The entire saga surrounding Brexit is something that I've followed with much enthusiasm because there are so many perspectives on the same topic, which makes it fun to debate and formulate my own opinion. For instance, with regards to prices of household goods, some argue that they will increase, and others argue contrary. I think that it is too early to predict what will happen; there are other things that also influence prices.

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2021

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Which business news story has interested you the most in the last 12 months and why? (Maximum 1500 characters / approximately 250 words)

As a digital native, imagining a future without Google as the most prominent search engine is almost impossible. The antitrust lawsuit against Google filed by the United States Department of Justice and eleven state attorneys general seems monumental. The fact this case is transcending partisanship and focussing on structural change seems to be a rare moment of unity for a world which seems increasingly divided. Having lived in Seattle during my year abroad, I am familiar with tech culture with the city being headquarters for giants such as Microsoft and Amazon.

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The similarity between this case and US v. Microsoft in 1998 is therefore particularly intriguing. The ruling was that Microsoft did violate antitrust laws but its market share eventually declined due to new competition. This has created some discussion on whether it is necessary to bring about antitrust cases against non-coercive monopolies of which the free market is able to correct.

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The Justice Department is also challenging contracts Google has with smartphone makers which would especially affect its relationship to Apple, through which nearly half of Google's search traffic occurs and also accounts for twenty percent of Apple's annual profits. However, Apple is already developing its own search technology to replace Google in light of this antitrust case, thus opening up the possibility of this huge partnership to disappear.

Significantly, this case could allow for enhanced privacy to the benefit of the consumer, which would be a welcome development towards more data regulation.

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2021

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Which business news story has interested you the most in the last 12 months and why? (Maximum 1500 characters / approximately 250 words).

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Participating in the global Universitas21RISE Showcase of environmental projects piqued my interest in sustainability. Following developments in this area illuminated the importance of renewable energy.

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For instance, the FT recently reported that Boris Johnson is drawing up a package of green energy policies to help the UK meet its climate targets. This includes an increase to the 2030 target for offshore power generation, from 30GW to 40GW. Effectively, current offshore wind generation would be quadrupled within 10 years under the new target.

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This is exciting because it suggests that wind farms in the UK are going to be a favoured source of renewable energy. Britain is already the world’s largest user of offshore wind power, with about 10GW of capacity installed, and we continue to invest in new technologies such as floating wind turbines.

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Further research is revealing this is a global trend. For example, DLA Piper is helping Enlight Renewable Energy build one of the largest onshore wind parks in Sweden. Wind park projects such as the Swedish Björnberget are expected to soon reach profitable commercial operation.

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The growing renewable energy market will experience an increased need for legal advice on co- investments, acquisitions and negotiating of construction and operational agreements. According to Legal 500, DLA Piper is at the forefront of the renewable energy market. The firm is therefore ready to leverage its expertise in helping clients capitalise on this trend.

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