Year groups(s)
England - Year 12
Scotland - S5
Scotland - S5
Timing
February half-term
Course format
In-Person
Renumeration
Unpaid
Programme details
Head Start UK has been developed to support talented young people from less advantaged backgrounds who are interested in a career in the professional services sector. This multi-year programme provides opportunities to learn about the different careers and entry routes into the sector, through work experience, mentoring and skills sessions which have been developed to build confidence, motivation and knowledge: supporting students to make informed decisions about their career goals.
How to apply:
Candidates are recruited through our partnership with the Sutton Trust’s Pathways to Law programme. Applications for the Pathways to Law programme open in September each year, candidates should indicate a preference to join DLA Piper for their work placement in order to apply for the Head Start programme.
Work placement (Pathways to Law):
Candidates attend a 5-day work placement in the DLA Piper office local to their location. The placement will consist of a week full of interactive workshops, presentations and activities to develop your skills and experience in a professional environment. Candidates will meet a variety of people from around the firm as possible to learn about how the firm works and the variety of departments and roles within the firm.
During this week, candidates will be invited to apply for the Head Start programme.
This is not a paid placement, however all travel and refreshments will be provided.
Number of spaces:
We host up to 50 candidates on Pathways to Law each year.
Eligibility criteria:
To apply for the programme, students must meet the following eligibility criteria:
• Attend, and have always attended, a state-funded, non-fee-paying school/college
• Be in Year 12/S5 at the start of the programme
• Have a keen interest in pursuing a career in the legal profession
In addition, we are looking for students who:
Would be the first generation in their family to attend university
Have been in receipt of Free School Meals whilst at secondary school
Have attended schools with a lower-than-average progression to higher education, or a higher-than-average proportion of students who qualify for Free School Meals/Pupil Premium
Have parent(s)/guardian(s) who qualify for means-tested benefits
Have been looked after or in care
Have come to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker
The Head Start programme provides bespoke support to each student, including:
• Two mentors from local DLA Piper offices
• Financial support for study related resources
• Regular check ins from the programme team
• Attend the award-winning Social Mobility Business Partnership
• University applications webinars - personal statement, LNAT and Oxbridge information
• Support for the transition to university or employment
• Access to online revision and support for psychometric and critical thinking tests such as the Watson Glaser
• Support networks through peers on the programme and through our peer mentoring scheme
• Employability skills sessions such as presentations, networking, negotiation, commercial awareness and personal brand
• Careers advice (including graduate recruitment support)
• C.V. Skills workshops, mock interview and mock assessment centre
• Work placements at offices throughout the UK
• Access to a dedicated online platform
• Online events and webinars
• Building networks throughout the global firm, our clients and beyond
Apprenticeships
DLA Piper also offers alternative routes into the profession through our Solicitor Apprenticeship and Service Delivery Apprenticeship programmes. The firm’s Solicitor Apprenticeship is an alternative to the traditional qualification route through university and enables apprentices to ‘earn as they learn’ through studying and working at the same time. The solicitor apprentices will complete a 6-year training and development programme which will give them the opportunity to rotate through the firm’s practice groups and undertake client and international secondments. The apprentices will obtain a degree in Legal Practice and Skills and will become qualified solicitors at the end of the apprenticeship.
The firm’s Service Delivery Apprenticeship is a 2-year programme on which the apprentices will rotate through the LDC and other service delivery teams. The apprentices work and complete academic study to equip them with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to be a successful paralegal. The apprentices will be awarded with the Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship standard upon completion of the programme.
How to apply:
Candidates are recruited through our partnership with the Sutton Trust’s Pathways to Law programme. Applications for the Pathways to Law programme open in September each year, candidates should indicate a preference to join DLA Piper for their work placement in order to apply for the Head Start programme.
Work placement (Pathways to Law):
Candidates attend a 5-day work placement in the DLA Piper office local to their location. The placement will consist of a week full of interactive workshops, presentations and activities to develop your skills and experience in a professional environment. Candidates will meet a variety of people from around the firm as possible to learn about how the firm works and the variety of departments and roles within the firm.
During this week, candidates will be invited to apply for the Head Start programme.
This is not a paid placement, however all travel and refreshments will be provided.
Number of spaces:
We host up to 50 candidates on Pathways to Law each year.
Eligibility criteria:
To apply for the programme, students must meet the following eligibility criteria:
• Attend, and have always attended, a state-funded, non-fee-paying school/college
• Be in Year 12/S5 at the start of the programme
• Have a keen interest in pursuing a career in the legal profession
In addition, we are looking for students who:
Would be the first generation in their family to attend university
Have been in receipt of Free School Meals whilst at secondary school
Have attended schools with a lower-than-average progression to higher education, or a higher-than-average proportion of students who qualify for Free School Meals/Pupil Premium
Have parent(s)/guardian(s) who qualify for means-tested benefits
Have been looked after or in care
Have come to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker
The Head Start programme provides bespoke support to each student, including:
• Two mentors from local DLA Piper offices
• Financial support for study related resources
• Regular check ins from the programme team
• Attend the award-winning Social Mobility Business Partnership
• University applications webinars - personal statement, LNAT and Oxbridge information
• Support for the transition to university or employment
• Access to online revision and support for psychometric and critical thinking tests such as the Watson Glaser
• Support networks through peers on the programme and through our peer mentoring scheme
• Employability skills sessions such as presentations, networking, negotiation, commercial awareness and personal brand
• Careers advice (including graduate recruitment support)
• C.V. Skills workshops, mock interview and mock assessment centre
• Work placements at offices throughout the UK
• Access to a dedicated online platform
• Online events and webinars
• Building networks throughout the global firm, our clients and beyond
Apprenticeships
DLA Piper also offers alternative routes into the profession through our Solicitor Apprenticeship and Service Delivery Apprenticeship programmes. The firm’s Solicitor Apprenticeship is an alternative to the traditional qualification route through university and enables apprentices to ‘earn as they learn’ through studying and working at the same time. The solicitor apprentices will complete a 6-year training and development programme which will give them the opportunity to rotate through the firm’s practice groups and undertake client and international secondments. The apprentices will obtain a degree in Legal Practice and Skills and will become qualified solicitors at the end of the apprenticeship.
The firm’s Service Delivery Apprenticeship is a 2-year programme on which the apprentices will rotate through the LDC and other service delivery teams. The apprentices work and complete academic study to equip them with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to be a successful paralegal. The apprentices will be awarded with the Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship standard upon completion of the programme.
