DLA Piper New Zealand Graduate Programs & Internships

In your application you will be asked to provide the following:

• Cover letter detailing why you would like to work for us.
• CV, detailing your work experience, community involvement, and outside interests.
• Academic transcript.
• Indicate a preference for either our Auckland or Wellington office or let us know that you're open to either location.
• Confirm whether you are a:
  • final year student seeking a law clerk position
  • penultimate year student seeking a summer clerk position
  • an antepenultimate-year student interested in the Insight Programme

Following your submission, you will be invited to complete a brief video allowing us to learn a little more about you. Please consider this, in your timing when you submit your application.

At DLA Piper NZ, we value your commitment to the firm and provide a range of benefits, programmes, and opportunities to reward our people for their contributions and performance.

Your growth is our growth

Our goal is simple: we want to create the future leaders of the firm. That means giving you the skills you need to become a successful lawyer, but also the experiences to discover where your true interests lie. As you progress, you won’t just develop your legal knowledge. You’ll also develop the commercial, international outlook that’s the hallmark of a DLA Piper lawyer. This will be delivered in a bespoke way to maximize your learning.

What to expect

Your journey at DLA Piper starts with our Best People orientation program, designed to ease you in and get you acquainted with our culture. It will equip you with the necessary knowledge and tools to start your career on a firm foundation.

You will then undertake two rotations in different practice groups, where you’ll work alongside people at all levels of the business, including partners. Learning through practice and observation you’ll get a real feel for commercial law in practice.

Upon your successful completion of the rotations, you will join a permanent team, and complete your legal professional studies.

Work in the community

We’ll encourage you to do both pro bono and community work; not simply because it’s the right thing to do, but because it will develop your skills in leadership, teamwork, and communication.

Supporting you

Throughout your clerkship, you will be supported by a supervising senior lawyer or partner who will provide you with regular guidance and feedback. You will also have a buddy who will help you make the most of the opportunities the firm has to offer.

Learning that never stops

Once qualified, you’ll continue to learn through real-life commercial practice. You’ll also have access to knowledge centres, technical courses, and business skills training. Likewise, our International Career Academies will help you continually enhance your professional skills while developing your internal networks across the firm.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion underpin how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our firm where everyone can bring their authentic self to work. We welcome the unique contribution that each person brings to our firm which is why over a third of our people are active in one of our four D&I committees: 

• IRIS: Promoting an inclusive work environment for colleagues who identify as LGBTTQIA+.
• MOSAIC: Enhancing inclusion for all races and cultures while recognizing the uniqueness of Māori as tangata whenua.
• THRIVE: Promoting and enhancing our workplace agility and wellness (including mental health).
• LAW: Leadership Alliance for Women Group, our network that plays an integral role in our vision for a gender balanced and inclusive firm.

Our people own our D&I journey.

Health and Wellbeing

At DLA Piper NZ, we truly differentiate ourselves through an innovative and purposeful well being plan and forward-thinking initiatives that are applicable internationally ensure our people thrive, both in and out of work.  

We facilitate sustainable high performance and build capability to manage well being through market leading wellness programmes and benefits.  

At DLA Piper, to support our staff we offer:

• Fresh fruit everyday
• Mid and end of year functions
• Dedicated development programmes including leadership, continuous professional development, courses and seminars
• Employee Assistance Program -24/7 access to confidential expert counselling, guidance and specialist support on any kind of issue for you, your family members (over the age of 16) and team via phone, video call or in person appointment.
• Flu vaccinations and discounted medical insurance
• Wellness and Parents room
• Market leading Parental Leave entitlements