The role

We are looking to recruit an Associate or Senior Associate to join our Public Law team.

Our UK Public Law team advises and/or represents a broad range of public and private sector clientsacross industries arising from the development, passage, content, interpretation and application of law and regulations.

The role can be based in one of UK offices and will involve working on a portfolio of domestic instructions as well as working with DLA Piper offices worldwide.  There may be opportunities to travel to our other offices from time to time. 

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking an Associate or Senior Associate into DLA Piper’s market-leading UK Public Law team.  This is an opportunity to join a highly successful and growing team, and to play a key strategic role future development.  

The UK Public Law team advises across the full range of dispute resolution including judicial review; procurement claims; public inquiries; statutory appeals; and human rights and equality claims in domestic courts and other fora. 

The team advises on non-contentious public law matters including in respect of defensible public sector decision-making, statutory drafting, governance, information law and lawful regulation.

The breadth and capacity of the UK’ Public Law team is exceptional, making DLA Piper the advisor of choice for a large number of high profile government clients as well as for domestic and global corporate clients. 

The successful candidate will: 

• Work on all aspects of public law, both contentious and advisory, including in respect of human rights, equality, procurement and inquiries.
• Work with colleagues across the DLA Piper platform in advising on Business and Human Rights.
• Support the draft and implementation of legal frameworks, policies, decisions and legislation, as well as defending public bodies in judicial review, human rights claims, equality claims, procurement litigation and statutory appeals. 
• Private sector matters can include advising clients in the shaping of operations to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulation and broader human rights requirements; in respect of procurements; and representing them in challenges to public sector decisions when appropriate to do so.
• Advise core participants and material providers in inquiries
• Contribute to the delivery of the highest technical standards of client service
• Work closely with the other members of the team on the execution of key mandates
• Have excellent prospects for personal career development and advancement.

ABOUT YOU

We do not set upper or lower limits of PQE for any of our vacancies.  We have however given an indicative PQE as an approximate guide for applicants. Candidates who have between 2 and 6 years PQE are likely to have the right level of knowledge and have gained the right level of experience needed to be able to undertake this role.  Candidates are expected to have: 

• Public Law specialist experience gained in a leading regional or City firm is preferable
• A commitment to technical excellence, both in respect of procedure and black letter law
• The ability to work co-operatively and collaboratively in a team, sharing information and knowledge
• The ability to provide professional, quality service, executed in a timely manner and to respond effectively to requests from internal and external clients
• Commercial awareness and understanding of current key legal and business issues
• Expertise in business development initiatives and the ability to identify ways to contribute collaboratively to the development of the team’s relationships with clients
• A desire to develop an effective network of internal and external contacts
• Strong personal motivation, and a desire to manage and develop their own career path. 

ABOUT US

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES

In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative – we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold – we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional – we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

HYBRID WORKING

We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.