The goal of Sidley’s summer program is to provide law students with a realistic experience of what it is like to be a lawyer at Sidley. As a summer associate, you can expect the opportunity to work on substantive and complex matters, as well as participate in a variety of training and professional development programs.

Our 2022 Summer Program balanced local office programming with national firm events. From professional development seminars and pro bono panels to weekly diversity and well-being sessions, our program was an enriching and rewarding experience. We look forward to our 2023 Summer Associate Program, and sharing the details of the program as they become available.

Our 2024 Summer Associate applications will open mid-April. Enter your email information using the below link to be notified when applications open.

SIGN UP FOR A 2L APPLICATION ALERT

Limitless Opportunities

In most offices, you are able to choose your own assignments and create a workflow that best suits your professional interests. We also provide practical on-the-job training, such as writing seminars, mock trials, and mock negotiation exercises, to help you build your skillset and sharpen your critical thinking.

We offer a world of opportunities to make your mark – join our summer associate program and discover why Sidley is a great place to begin your career.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Summer Program

Sidley has long been one of the most prominent and progressive proponents of law firm diversity, creating opportunities for lawyers of all backgrounds regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical ability or beliefs. Our programs support diverse and women law students and lawyers each step of the way in their career – from law school, to the first day as a summer associate and into partnership.

Summer Associate Experience

Our summer mentors and advisers support all summer associates as they familiarize themselves with Sidley’s practice areas, culture, programs and internal operations. Diversity Committees in each office host a welcome breakfast, lunch or reception with diverse summer associates, in addition to providing opportunities to network and build bonds with lawyers in the office throughout the summer. In our larger offices, Associates Diversity Committees sponsor events, such as happy hours, where diverse summer associates and lawyers meet and connect in relaxed settings. Both committees also hold substantive programming on various diversity-related topics, either with clients or exclusively for Sidley lawyers.

Likewise, in each office, SIDLEYWomen hosts networking and social events throughout the summer, allowing women summer associates to develop connections with senior women lawyers. Women summer associates also participate in special programming that includes career-planning discussions, mentoring and networking opportunities.

We invite you to learn more about our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

**The application process for the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship for Summer 2023 has ended. No new applications will be considered

As a pioneer in workplace diversity and inclusion, Sidley has long been involved in the diverse communities in which we live and work. To help promote diversity within the legal profession and to support Sidley’s diversity policies, the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship initiative for 2L law students was created. Since 2012, Sidley has allocated nearly $4 million to our Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship initiative as part of the firm’s efforts to build and support a diverse pipeline into the legal profession.

To keep aligned with our mission to continually attract, retain and promote to partnership and leadership outstanding lawyers who reflect the global marketplace and the communities that we serve, the Scholarship initiative amount has increased from $25,000 to $50,000 (less any applicable withholdings and taxes) to selected Sidley summer associates. Scholarship recipients will receive $25,000 upon joining Sidley as a summer associate, and the remaining $25,000 will be paid after joining the firm as a full-time associate.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

A Scholarship applicant must:

• Be a full-time law student in your second year of classes at an accredited law school.
• Submit the following documents:
  • Current law school transcript;
  • Resume;
  • Completed application form; and
  • Personal statement (500 words or less) addressing what you believe demonstrates your qualification for the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship including, potentially, a description of your academic and personal strengths; exceptional contributions, through community service or otherwise, to the cause of diversity; and/or how you have overcome adversity, such as a personal or family history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage, and have demonstrated the tenacity and talent to excel in the legal profession.

Scholarship recipients will be selected from among the eligible applicants who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership qualities, and who have demonstrated exceptional ability, including through:

• Demonstrated contributions to diversity initiatives or to diversity and inclusion more generally, such as in the area(s) of racial or ethnic diversity, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, veteran status and/or other areas underrepresented or otherwise important to diversity in the legal profession; and/or
• Other extraordinary contributions or accomplishments; and/or
• Demonstrated ability to overcome adversity, such as first-in-family college attendance or socioeconomic disadvantage; and/or
• Past participation in and/or interest in assisting with the diversity and inclusion initiatives of the firm, such as the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Program or the Sidley 1L Diversity Summer Mentorship Program.

Expectations of Scholarship Recipients

• Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship recipients must join Sidley’s summer associate program after their second year of law school.
• The Sidley Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship is intended to defray the costs of the recipients’ legal education.

How to Apply

Complete the Sidley Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship application and send it, along with a resume, current official law school transcript and personal statement to:

scholarship@sidley.com

or

Sidley Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship
c/o Tabitha Hill
Sidley Austin LLP
One South Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60603

Please contact Tabitha Hill, Legal Recruiting Diversity Coordinator, with any questions regarding the scholarship, tabitha.hill@sidley.com.

Application Timeline

Given the highly selective nature of the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship, and the limited number of Scholarships available, students are encouraged to submit applications at their earliest convenience. We strongly prefer to receive the application by the time of the candidate’s call-back interview.

Please note that the scholarship application is not an application for employment. You must apply separately for a summer associate position.

This season, Sidley will be participating in the interview process at more than 30 law schools and at several job fairs.

We know that you’ll be thoroughly researching the law firms you’ll be interviewing with, and we want to help you learn as much about Sidley as possible. We hope you find the resources on this page useful in preparing to meet us during the OCI season.

For more information, see How to Apply.

Additional Resources

Opportunity Without Limits
Built to Lead℠
Sidley Learning & Development
Sidley’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Women at Sidley
Chambers Associate Profile
2021 Vault Associate Profile e-print

Check Us Out in Vault

NALP Forms

For detailed information about the offices where we actively recruit law students, please click on the links below to view our NALP forms.

Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
Greater Los Angeles
New York
Palo Alto
San Francisco
Washington, D.C.

Our 2024 Summer Associate applications will open mid-April. Enter your email information using the below link to be notified when applications open.

SIGN UP FOR A 2L APPLICATION ALERT

Each year, we interview accomplished students at top law schools for our summer associate program, seeking candidates we believe will be successful associates and ultimately develop into future partners of the firm. In addition to academic success, Sidley values drive, integrity, confidence, leadership and maturity as well as strong interpersonal skills.

Students who are not able to interview with Sidley on campus or at a job fair can click here to apply to the office(s) in which they are interested in working.

2Ls

Sidley participates in OCI recruiting at top schools around the country. Find the calendar of our participation here.

1Ls

Individual Sidley offices occasionally hire first-year law students for summer associate positions. The firm generally considers applications from December 1 to February 28. Interested 1Ls should click here to apply to the office(s) in which they are interested in working.

Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship

*The application process for the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship for Summer 2023 has ended. No new applications will be considered.**

Sidley will award a limited number of Diversity & Inclusion Scholarships in the amount of $50,000 (less any applicable withholdings and taxes) to selected 2023 Sidley 2L summer associates. Scholarship recipients will receive $25,000 upon joining Sidley as a summer associate, and the remaining $25,000 will be paid after joining the firm as a full-time associate.

For more information, visit the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship page.

How to Apply

Complete the Sidley Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship application and send it, along with a resume, current official law school transcript and personal statement to:

scholarship@sidley.com 

Please contact Tabitha Hill, Legal Recruiting Diversity Coordinator, with any questions regarding the scholarship, tabitha.hill@sidley.com.

Application Timeline

Given the highly selective nature of the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship, and the limited number of Scholarships available, students are encouraged to submit applications at their earliest convenience. We strongly prefer to receive the application by the time of the candidate’s call-back interview.

Please note that the scholarship application is not an application for employment. You must apply separately for a summer associate position.

Recruiting Contacts

If you have questions about the summer associate program or recruiting process, please reach out to the contact in your office of interest.

Boston: Lauryn Bronstein, lbronstein@sidley.com
Chicago: Olivia Schmit, CHLegalRecruiting@sidley.com
Dallas: Kate Robinson, kate.robinson@sidley.com
Houston: Madison Deal, madison.deal@sidley.com
Century City/Los Angeles: Susan McGrady, smcgrady@sidley.com
Miami: Kate Robinson, kate.robinson@sidley.com
New York: Katrina Heinig, kheinig@sidley.com
Palo Alto: Lauren Johnston, lauren.johnston@sidley.com
San Francisco: Lauren Johnston, lauren.johnston@sidley.com
Washington, D.C.: Sarah Bergen, sbergen@sidley.com

EEO Statement

Sidley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, religion, disability, citizenship status, national origin, veteran status and any other factor protected by applicable law.