Global firm DLA Piper offers no overseas secondments

DLA PIPER, one of the world's largest law firms with offices in 23 countries, is one of just two international firms in the UK's top 50 which does not offer overseas trainee secondments, Lawyer 2B can reveal.

However, the firm is planning to introduce secondments to some of its international offices. Graduate recruitment officer Claire Evans said that the firm has written to the Law Society to apply for permission to run international secondments, and hopes to introduce them by 2009.

Ince & Co is the other UK firm that does not offer international secondments, although in the past trainees have been sent to the firm's Piraeus, Greece, office.

Slaughter and May has introduced a secondment programme to Auckland, New Zealand, adding to the firm's already extensive list of secondments. Slaughter and May practice partner David Frank said: "We're always keen to build links with law firms in leading jurisdictions."

Another firm reviewing its overseas secondment policy is Stephenson Harwood, which currently sends two trainees to its Chinese and Singapore offices. The firm is considering adding Paris to that list.