Opportunities for graduates at DLA Piper Australia

By Laura Bergan, Graduate in Finance & Projects, Brisbane

Throughout the duration of your law degree, the desire to land a graduate job is probably at the top of most law student’s list. Graduate roles give you the ability to work on real life matters, provide a supportive network of peers to complete your practical legal training with and are a lot of fun.

On 1 May this year DLA Phillips Fox integrated with global business law firm DLA Piper, and in so doing opened up a myriad of opportunities for lawyers within the firm, extending to senior lawyers and partners, right down to graduates.

In July 2011, I was seconded to the Perth office of DLA Piper Australia for three months to work on a multi-billion dollar iron ore project, which includes port and rail infrastructure development in the Mid West of Western Australia. As I am sure most of you would agree, being given such an opportunity in your graduate year is exciting so I immediately jumped at it!

I had never been to Western Australia before, nor did I have any friends or family over there. This however did not deter me in the slightest. Knowing the culture of DLA Piper; I knew that I would not have any problems making new friends in the Perth office. In fact, the culture at DLA Piper was one of the reasons I chose to accept the graduate position at this firm. It was very nice to find out that the culture is not just office specific, but is very much global.

The firm was really supportive in ensuring that my move over to Perth was as smooth as possible. I attended College of Law workshops and important meetings in Brisbane via video conference and it was arranged for me to sit all the Queensland assessment in the Perth College of Law offices. From day one, I was incorporated into the Perth graduate program, and attended all graduate program workshops that were running while I was over there.

A secondment is an amazing experience both on a professional and personal level. You get the opportunity to work in a different team environment on different matters relevant to that particular jurisdiction, and have the ability to build your professional networks outside your home office. On weekends, you have time to explore your new surroundings, do some travel or catch up with your new-found friends. I personally found that a secondment gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of the law and the types of work our project group (Finance and Projects) is often involved in, and have used this knowledge in my work back in Brisbane.

DLA Piper Australia has recently introduced a nationwide secondment opportunity for the graduate program. Approximately two graduates will be seconded to an Asian country (generally Hong Kong or Singapore) for six months. Even if you do not have the opportunity to complete a secondment in your graduate year, do not stress as your graduate year is just the beginning of things to come. Two junior solicitors in Finance and Projects are currently on secondment, working in-house for clients. Solicitors in other practice areas of the firm are currently on secondment both within Australia and overseas.

I cannot emphasise enough that from the commencement of your graduate year at DLA Piper, opportunities with the firm are endless. If you would like the opportunity to travel with work and to be involved in international projects, then I would highly recommend that you consider applying for the graduate program at DLA Piper.