Have it your way at DLA, where high-level disputes and transactional expertise will make your day.
DLA Piper Lateral Profile 2024
Make no mistake – despite being a teenaged law firm (the result of a three-way, transatlantic merger in 2005), DLA Piper is no rebellious adolescent. Rather, as one of the largest firms not only in the US but the world, it’s a textbook overachiever with a 4.0 GPA and eligibility for early graduation – it definitely would’ve been the class valedictorian. The firm has earned enough gold stars to cover a sheet of A4, collecting over 100 (!) accolades from Chambers USA. And with a presence in over 40 countries and more than 26 offices across the US, we’d bet that it would’ve aced geography class too! DLA’s curriculum offers a broad depth and breadth of practices across corporate and finance, employment, government affairs, IP & technology, litigation, real estate, and tax, with overarching global expertise. “It fits the bill perfectly,” one junior praised. “The beauty of DLA Piper is you work across offices and blend resources accordingly.”
View the firm’s Chambers USA rankings
Read the firm’s Inside View feature on junior associate life
Why did you join your firm? Associates say…
“The office camaraderie was truly something to behold, particularly for a firm of this size. Folks really seemed to like each and support each other.”
“The one thing that has stood out and continues to stand out to me is how my sub-group feels like I'm working at a boutique, but with the added advantage of the resources of a big law firm.”
“The practice groups are diverse and young practice with aspirations to continue growing and improving.”
Strategic Recruitment Focuses 2024
Life sciences careers
The view from the firm: Our Life Sciences team is one of the largest and most active of any law firm. Our award-winning lawyers can help with all of our clients' legal needs, including litigation, regulation, compliance and investigations, IP strategy and enforcement, data privacy, M&A, and licensing and distribution.
Life sciences clients: Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, Johnson & Johnson.
Recent work highlight: Represents Taiho Oncology and Taiho Pharmaceutical Corp in several patent infringement cases related to Lonsurf, an oral combination therapy used for treating adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Technology careers
The view from the firm: Our lawyer tech group handles corporate transactions ranging from emerging growth and venture capital to M&A, private equity and capital markets. We advise on IP issues including technology transfers, inbound and outbound licensing and distribution, outsourcing, privacy and government contracts.
We work on fintech and blockchain counseling on NFTs, cryptocurrency and digital payments, and litigation, including IP and regulatory.
Technology clients: TikTok, Netflix, Twitter.
Recent work highlight: Represented Appfire in its acquisition of Nextup.ai, a developer of productivity and collaboration software intended for engineering, executive functions, operations, product management, sales, and team support.
Financial services careers
The view from the firm: Our multidisciplinary team handles large financial and commercial transactions and complex, cross-border, first-of-a-kind deals. We advise on data protection, crypto regulation and the growing fintech sector. We represent banks and financial institutions in litigation before courts and tribunals around the world. We advise on emerging growth and venture capital matters and regulatory, public policy, and enforcement issues.
Financial services clients: JPMorgan Chase, Oxford Capital, Silicon Valley Bank.
Recent work highlight: Represented IG Design Group in connection with its $125 million senior secured ABL credit facility with HSBC Holdings and NatWest Group which refinanced its previous credit facility.
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
24 |
1.1 : 1 |
80% |
||
|
partners made in 2023 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
62% |
61% |
74% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with children | felt partnership was achievable at the firm | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
Hours & Compensation
|
2,000 |
8.4 |
49.7 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
54% |
75% |
80% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
said the benefits package makes the workload worthwhile |
found the bonus allocation fair and transparent |
Salaries
1st year: $225,000
2nd year: $235,000
3rd year: $260,000
4th year: $310,000
5th year: $365,000
6th year: $390,000
7th year: $420,000
8th year: $435,000
Is DLA Piper the right firm for you?
|
85% |
91% |
83% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work is interesting |
felt comfortable being themselves at work |
The view from the firm: Please refer to the firm’s career page: https://www.dlapiper.com/en-us/careers
Here's what survey respondents had to say about the firm's culture...
“People have been with the firm for 30+ years and seem to genuinely care about one another.”
“It’s a really collaborative culture, very team-oriented and prioritizes attorney life balance.”
“That everyone views themselves as part of a larger team. The team may have leaders/captains/etc. but everyone is still a member of the team.”
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
71% |
27% |
32% |
||
|
reported diverse staffing on teams/cases/matters |
of partners are women |
of associates identify as ethnically diverse |
||
The view from the firm: At DLA Piper, we believe that embracing and cultivating diversity creates a workplace where the industry’s top talent can thrive. Diversity and inclusion at DLA Piper is bigger than metrics. The firm takes a holistic approach to culture, mentorship, and development. The firm’s LEAD (Lawyer Experience, Advancement and Development) framework provides a well-defined road map for individual career development.
Additionally, DLA Piper’s seven resource groups and more than two dozen local-office-based DEI committees work to provide resources and networking opportunities among our people and throughout the legal and business community. The firm’s Raja Gaddipati Fellowship is a pipeline initiative that offers undergraduate students insight into large law firm practice through a six-week paid summer internship.
DLA Piper has achieved Mansfield 6.0 Certified Plus status for 2023. DLA Piper sponsors and participates in programs with many of the national diverse bar associations.
- Black In-House Counsel (BIHC): DLA Piper is a sponsor of BIHC, an organization dedicated to increasing opportunities for Black attorneys in Fortune 500 legal departments and AmLaw 100 law firms.
- Legal Mentor Network (LMN): DLA Piper is a founding sponsor of the LMN, a nonprofit organization focused on providing junior lawyers and law students with free mentoring services.
- PODER25: DLA Piper is a sponsor of the Hispanic National Bar’s PODER25, the first General Counsel pipeline program that specifically supports Hispanic attorneys.
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA): DLA Piper supports NAPABA and provides pro bono legal assistance to ensure that victims of anti-Asian crimes can access legal services.
In June 2023, the firm hosted the Inclusion Forum, an event where partners, of counsel, and associates engage with leaders and each other to network and engage in motivational events.
Pro Bono
|
67.5 |
93% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm is committed to pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: New Perimeter (non-profit affiliate); combating hunger and representation of food banks such as Feeding America and The Global FoodBanking Network; Associate of Women Judges (immigration and asylum); Serving Those Who Serve Our Country (veterans’ rights); The Krantz Fellowship (allows associates to dedicate their entire first year to pro bono matters).
Sustainability & CSR
The view from the firm: Environmental sustainability is integral to our business. The firm has an established sustainability program of continual improvement, and we are committed to improving our environmental performance. In addition, we report annually our environmental progress through an annual sustainability report for transparency.
Our commitments and policy define the way we work across all DLA Piper offices and reflect our ambition to be a leader in environmental sustainability: for our clients – in providing legal advice and related services in support of the low carbon transition as well as promoting greater environmental responsibility, sustainability and innovation.
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Stacy Silverstone, Chief Talent Acquisition Officer - Stacy.Silverstone@us.dlapiper.com