Over the past four years DLA Piper has run a summer internship project designed to give undergraduate students a chance to experience working within a global business law firm, gaining first-hand knowledge of how a global law firm functions. Our 'Undergraduate Internship Program' targets students from underrepresented backgrounds, who are doing well in school and have demonstrated an interest in a career in the law, providing them with access to mentoring and an opportunity to develop their skills during a six-week paid internship.

Over six weeks students are immersed in numerous activities, shadowing our lawyers and support staff from a range of practice areas and business functions to ensure they gain a wide variety of experience and perspective on how the departments all work together to support our clients. Students are given research and writing assignments, observe a deposition, visit a client's legal department, attend a hearing and support our lawyers with some of our pro bono matters. At the end of their internship students deliver a presentation on the functions and synergies of the various departments, providing them an opportunity to further develop their communication skills and demonstrate what they have learned through the experience. Participation in the project helps students to begin to establish their professional network, while giving them with real insight into the legal profession and a chance to develop the skills required for success within it.

Long after their internship with DLA Piper, we continue to communicate with the alumni participants, offering support and guidance along their educational and professional journeys. In an effort to add another layer of networking for the students, we have launched a networking platform for the alumni of the DLA Piper Undergraduate Internship Program via LinkedIn.

Since the project was established in 2009:

• 30% of participants are currently in law school
• 30% of participants are currently preparing for and/or applying to law school
• 50% of the 2012 participants are currently enrolled in, or have completed, a LSAT preparation course

"My experience at DLA Piper this summer can be described as an unforgettable foresight into our future as attorneys. The information presented to us throughout these six weeks provided us an in-depth look at what to expect post-law school. If being a lawyer is anything like we anticipate after completing the programme, then I've definitely picked the right profession."
Undergraduate Internship Program participant