Summer Program

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 2023 Summer Program balances local office programming with national firm events. From professional development seminars and pro bono panels to diversity and well-being sessions, our program is an enriching and rewarding experience.

See yourself at Sidley. Hear from our lawyers about how Sidley’s summer associate program has impacted their careers.

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.

In 2022, Sidley launched Built to Lead℠, an executive leadership program uniquely designed to help associates become world-class, business-savvy lawyers. This program features MBA-level executive training at top business schools along with professional development and personal career coaching opportunities.

We are proud to build on the success of this program with the “Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship”. The Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship will be awarded to a limited number of second year law students who show exceptional leadership qualities and have demonstrated contributions to equity and inclusion initiatives. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on inclusion efforts in their schools and communities. We are excited to launch this scholarship as part of 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 Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship awards $50,000 (less any applicable withholdings and taxes) to selected 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. Leadership development opportunities will be available for scholarship recipients during the summer program.

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.
• Receive and accept an offer for a summer associate position with Sidley Austin LLP.
• Submit the following documents:
  • Current law school transcript;
  • Resume;
  • Completed application form; and
  • Personal statement (500 words or less) addressing the qualifications for the Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship including, a description of the applicant’s leadership strengths; contributions, through community service or otherwise, to equity and inclusion initiatives in an academic or professional setting; and how they have overcome adversity, such as a personal or family history of educational or socio-economic disadvantage, and have demonstrated the tenacity and talent to excel in the legal profession. Applicants are encouraged to discuss what they believe makes a great leader and which qualities they possess that have helped them to become a better leader.

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 equity and inclusion initiatives or to equity and inclusion more generally, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, veteran status and/or other underrepresented groups in the legal profession;
• Demonstrated ability to overcome adversity, such as first-in-family college attendance or socio-economic disadvantage;
• Past participation in and/or interest in assisting with the inclusion initiatives of the firm.
• Other extraordinary contributions or accomplishments;

Expectations of Scholarship Recipients

• Scholarship recipients must receive and accept an offer to join Sidley’s summer associate program for its entirety after their second year of law school.
• Sidley’s Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship is intended to defray the costs of the recipients’ legal education.

How to Apply

At this time, the Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship application process is closed. Please check back later in 2024 for information about submitting an application.

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 Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship, and the limited number of Scholarships available, students are encouraged to submit applications prior to their call-back interview. Applications are considered and decisions are reached on a rolling basis.

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
Chambers Associate Profile
Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship Flyer

Check Us Out in Vault

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.

Sidley is currently accepting 1L applications for the 2024 Summer Associate program. Please use the link below to apply to the office(s) in which you are interested in working.

APPLY HERE FOR 1L SUMMER ASSOCIATE POSITIONS

2Ls

Sidley participates in OCI recruiting at top schools around the country. We anticipate our 2025 Summer Associate Applications will open in late Spring/early Summer 2024. Enter your email information using the link below to be notified when our applications open.

SIGN UP FOR A 2L APPLICATION NOTIFICATION

1Ls

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

Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship

Sidley will award a limited number of the Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarships in the amount of $50,000 (less any applicable withholdings and taxes) to selected 2024 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 Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship page.

How to Apply

At this time, the Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship application process is closed. Please check back later in 2024 for information about submitting an application.

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 Built to Succeed Leadership & Inclusion Scholarship, and the limited number of Scholarships available, students are encouraged to submit applications prior to their call-back interview. Applications are considered and decisions are reached on a rolling basis.

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: Paris Kalhor, paris.kalhor@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.