As a firm, we never standstill. We think nimbly and seize opportunities. We're ambitious and are never afraid to innovate. So if you possess these qualities too, there could be a bright future for you at DLA Piper.

A clerkship will be your first experience of DLA Piper. On a clerkship, you'll experience what life is really like at DLA Piper. What's more, you'll also be considered for a place in our graduate programme.

The graduate programme will see you rotating between different practice areas and rapidly acquiring the skills to be a successful lawyer.

During your graduate programme have an opportunity to engage in dynamic work across a range of sectors. Working alongside experienced lawyers, you'll develop your commercial acumen as well as your legal expertise. You'll also be encouraged to do pro bono and community work; not only because it's the right thing to do, but because it will develop your skills in leadership, teamwork and communication.

Diversity and inclusion are an everyday part of who we are and what we do.

We're a global firm with diverse clients and we know our clients expect us to represent the communities in which we work and value our advice on both local and global markets. Diversity isn't just about visible differences, it's the unique blend of talents, experiences and perspectives that make you who you are and we pride ourselves on having a culture and environment where everyone is valued for being themselves.

Wherever you are from, wherever you join and however long you stay, by joining our firm, you join our family. DLA is striving to achieve a culture where everyone's voice is heard and counts and where everyone can be themselves.

To support in achieving an inclusive culture. DLA has a number of people networks. These networks are internal communities with an interest or focus on a particular topic and are open to everyone.

These are:

• Law (Gender Balance)
• IRIS (LGBT+)
• Mosaic: (Cultural Heritage & Ethnicity)
• PACT (Family & Carers)

Iris

The Iris network is the voice, contact point, and support mechanism for LGBT+ people and their allies at DLA Piper. The network engages the firm's colleagues, clients, and communities on LGBT+ issues, working closely with external partners such as Pride In Diversity in Australia. In addition to providing support to its members, Iris serves as a forum and advisory body, and supports projects that promote justice for the wider LGBTI community - here in Australia and internationally. Our Australian Iris network works closely with the International Iris Steering Committee. We are proud of our achievements to date, but we recognise the ongoing work required to continue to do better and to champion similar change across our industry. 

Iris Represents

Iris Represents is the pro bono wing of our LGBT+ network, pushing for fair legal representation and an end to discrimination for LGBT+ communities worldwide. 

During your graduate programme, you'll experience three x six-month rotations throughout our eight different practice groups, giving you breadth in your knowledge of the law as well as the practical skills that will stay with you for your entire career.

At DLA Piper, we know that the connections you make as you build your network will stay with you for the rest of your career. At the start of your graduate programme, you will participate in a National Graduate Induction, which brings together our graduates from all 4 offices in Australia to take part in a fun, engaging and experiential learning programme. The Graduate Induction takes place in Sydney where we bring together our National graduate cohort and is an inspirational and memorable week filled with business leaders, engaging team building activities and the networking opportunity of a lifetime. We’re committed to giving our graduates an industry leading start to their careers..

By the end of your graduate programme, you will emerge with a clearer understanding of where your talent and interests lie. The experience you'll have gained – and the networks you'll have nurtured – will provide a strong foundation for your future career at DLA Piper.

The aim of LAW is to support gender balance at all levels by strengthening the influence, leadership, and voice of women within our firm to effect change. The experience that our people, our clients, and our communities have should be of a gender-balanced firm that lives its values. We aim for our people to be proud of our firm, and to work with our clients to make business better.

Reconciliation Action Plan - known as RAP committee - is a committee focused on educating and engaging our staff and celebrating Indigenous cultures within our own workplace. Our vision for reconciliation is to create an inclusive workplace where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are welcome and supported, and where their cultures are celebrated and woven into the daily life of our firm.

Our paid summer clerkship is designed to give you insight into what DLA Piper is really like.

Our programme starts with an induction. This induction provides an advanced introduction to the legal sector and the firms practice groups. It also builds your professional skills and workplace capability. Throughout the induction there will be opportunities to hear from and network with senior members of the firm.

Once you are inducted you'll have the opportunity to complete work placements in our different practice groups. You'll be given real responsibilities. Whether you're attending a court hearing, contributing to a client meeting or assisting a large corporate transaction, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to reach your potential.

This year we will be recruiting clerks into all of our Australian offices, as follows:

• Brisbane
• Perth
• Melbourne
• Sydney

At the end of the clerkship, participants are assessed for a graduate position.

Application dates for our clerkship programme differ by state. Please refer to the opportunities available section for more information.

Enabled is our international ability people network, supporting anyone affected by a disability, neurodiversity, or physical or mental well-being issue, and breaking down barriers to ability inclusion in the workplace. Whether personally impacted or through knowing colleagues, friends, or family who are affected, most of our people have been touched in some way by a disability, and we believe our business should reflect this.

At DLA Piper we are committed to providing more of our people with the opportunity to experience a global secondment. Secondments provide a number of benefits to our clients, our business and of course to our people. Secondments are a critical element of our strategic agenda and are often based upon business needs. We offer a range of secondment opportunities through formal programmes, that are both short term and long term. We launched “The New Deal” in 2022 which has 4 different global secondment programmes our employees can participate in.

Our aim is to prioritise opportunities for our lawyers at the 1 – 3 year level to have an international experience as we understand that living and working in a new location and experiencing a new culture provides fantastic personal and career opportunities. 

PACT (Parents and Carers Together) is a network for people with caring and family responsibilities of any kind - at any time during their lives. In Australia, we have the Parents and Carers Buddy Program, a support group for working parents and carers. Launched in April 2022, the program provides a platform for sharing experiences, seeking and providing reassurance, and discussing the challenges faced by working professionals with caring responsibilities.

We have three areas of focus: 

• Supporting our people.
• Providing information and sharing knowledge with each other and the wider firm.
• Connecting with our clients and community partners on this topic.