Closing Date: 20th January, 2026

Description:

DLA Piper is, at its core, bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive. Our people are the backbone, heart and soul of our firm. Wherever you are in your professional journey, DLA Piper is a place you can engage in meaningful work and grow your career. Let's see what we can achieve. Together.

Now accepting applications for DLA Piper's Summer Undergraduate Internship Program!

Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Summary:
DLA Piper's Raja Gaddipati Fellowship is an in-house pipeline initiative that offers undergraduate students and recent graduates insight into a large law firm environment. The six-week, full-time paid summer internship involves a combination of research projects, lectures, and direct mentoring. Students complete a rigorous application and interview process to compete for a limited number of seats. The fellowship is named in honor of former DLA Piper partner, Raja Gaddipati, who was deeply involved in the community and ensuring all law students have an opportunity to succeed in the profession. The 2026 program will be held in the following offices: Chicago, New York, Palo Alto, and Washington, DC. The program is scheduled to run from the middle of June through late July.

Candidates must submit the following for consideration: a resume and a cover letter explaining their interest in the program, an unofficial school transcript, and two letters of recommendation. The most qualified candidates will be invited to answer a series of questions via recorded video. Once all video responses are reviewed, the top candidates will be notified by the recruitment team to schedule a live video interview.

Applications will be accepted starting Monday, December 8, 2025. The application window will close on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Only complete submissions will be reviewed. Please note that expenses, such as relocation, housing, or transportation fees, are the fellow's responsibility. Fellowships will be awarded in late March 2026.

Location:
This position is located in our New York office and offers a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities:

Your internship will include a variety of tasks providing you a broad view of the different types of work in a large law firm environment.
Each day may provide different experiences, working on a variety of projects with lawyers, paralegals, and business professionals.
Your workday may include assisting on legal assignments, visiting a client with an attorney, witnessing a court hearing, attending local industry events, or visiting local government entities.

Minimum Education:
Be enrolled in an accredited college degree program entering their senior year in fall 2026 or be a recent graduate applying to law school within one year

Requirements:

Have a genuine interest in attending law school and have taken, or plan to take, the LSAT.
Intend to apply to an accredited law school in 2026 or 2027.
Demonstrate strong academic performance.
Demonstrate involvement in the campus and local community.
Present exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

Essential Job Expectations
While the specific job requirements of a DLA Piper position may vary depending upon scope of the job and area of specialty, there are certain universal requirements that are expected of all DLA Piper employees, which include but are not limited to:

Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties;
Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner;
Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product;
Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required;
Foster positive work relationships;
Comply with all firm policies and practices;
Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as (a) working at a computer for extended periods of time, including on-screen reading and typing; (b) participating in digital/virtual conference calls; (c) participating in meetings as needed;
Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment;
Perform all other duties, tasks or projects as assigned.

Our employees are expected to embrace and uphold our firm values as a part of our DLA Piper culture. We are committed to excellence in how we represent our clients and develop our people.

Physical Demands:
Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Work Environment:
The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement comprised of remote and in-office work, the requirement for which will be determined in coordination with the hiring manager or supervisor and may be modified in the firm's discretion in the future.

Disclaimer:
The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm's discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at-will nature of employment.

Application Process: Applicants must apply directly online instead of sending application materials via email. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to permit individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions and responsibilities of the position or to participate in the job selection process. If you have a request for an accommodation during the application process, please contact careers@us.dlapiper.com.

Pay Transparency
The firm's expected hiring range for this position is $24.00 - $26.00 per hour. The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on other factors, including the candidate's experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications.

Agency applications will not be considered.

No immigration sponsorship is available for this position.

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DLA Piper is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Job applicant poster viewing center. (https://mandatoryview.com/?LicenceId=09b17fa3-b781-4022-bfdd-ec61a570463c&ProductType=OnlineApplicant)