Sidley Austin LLP

• “During my summer associate program, I completed meaningful and cutting-edge work and was made to feel like a valuable asset of the team. I was able to observe calls and try assignments from a variety of practice areas. I really appreciated that Sidley supported summers in their ability to try any work they were interested in. I was able to shadow calls as well, and the senior managing associate on the call, no matter how busy they were, would explain the complicated terms of the deal.”
• “As a summer associate, I felt that my practice group recognized my relevant experience from prior work and study and provided me with ample opportunities to push cases forward by doing legitimate, substantive work. I had the opportunity to work on and learn about new practical aspects of patent litigation practice, through processes like preparing claim charts, and I also had the opportunity to draft arguments for briefs. Overall, I felt incredibly valued and respected.”
• “I enjoyed the bulletin board/free market style of soliciting work as it allowed me to get a holistic view of the type of work that the firm works on. The work that summer associates were given to work on were all substantive projects at the level of junior associates. The work was fulfilling, and I felt like a valued member of the team, even as a summer associate.”
• “Sidley’s summer program offered summer associates the chance to practice and learn within all facets of law they were interested in. First years were encouraged to give out real substantive work, which they could then instruct the summers on how to improve while the partners and seniors were readily available to teach. This included weekly discussions with the various practice groups and lectures where summers were offered the chance to learn more about various practice groups and contracts. Additionally everyone was friendly, and partners were delighted to instruct and chat with anyone regardless of if you worked with them or not or if it was even their matter.”

• “I loved every minute of my summer associate experience at Sidley. The lawyers at Sidley are remarkable and welcoming. They go the extra mile to get to know summer associates and make them feel a part of the Sidley community from the onset. The head of the summer program did an amazing job matching summer associates with mentors. She went above and beyond organizing fun events where summers engaged with lawyers from all practice areas across the Greater Los Angeles offices. My favorite summer events were going to Universal Studios as a VIP ticket holder and having a full tasting menu at Anajak Thai, the coolest and most upcoming restaurant in LA! My fellow summer associate peers are now some of my best friends too.”
• “The social events were fantastic. There were two or three per week, which to me was perfect—always something going on but not so much that it was overwhelming. I bonded well with my summer associates as a result and had a strong community by the time I started as an associate. My favorite summer event was probably a baseball game on the Wrigley rooftops.”
• “Our social calendar was very full with numerous events that gave the summer associates the opportunity to get to know each other and to get to know attorneys at the firm. I like that there was a wide range of events (bowling, mini golf, environmental volunteering, interest group events, exercise classes, etc.). That being said, our summer class was huge (~113 summer associates), which made it difficult to get to know everyone. One of my favorite summer events was the end-of-summer reception at Rockefeller Center.”
• “As a firm with a largely free-market work distribution system, there is a premium on networking over the summer. Sidley really helped all personalities thrive by organizing a variety of events: happy hours, cultural events, volunteering, team building, etc. I especially appreciated that the firm offered a variety of events that didn’t center around alcohol.”

• “As expected, firm work after finishing law school was more fast-paced with [fewer] discrete assignments and more inclusion on deal/project teams. Everything else matched.”
• “I knew going into my first year that Sidley has a free-market system, and that puts the onus on me to reach out if I’m slow. The firm did a good job of letting us know, even as summers, that we have a very open model and basically anyone can work with anyone else. I’ve found that to be completely true, and I’ve been able to chat with partners way outside my practice group who are eager to bring people in.”
• “… I was (I think unintentionally) led to believe that the workload at Sidley is somehow less than that of other firms of the same size, which is certainly not true. I have to say, though, that the people at Sidley are just as kind as they were when I was a summer associate.”
• “I’m pleasantly surprised with how much training that we still do, which is very helpful considering the job has such a steep learning curve.”

When you are at the top of your game, you have choices. The real challenge lies in choosing a law firm that not only offers the resources you need but also provides the meaningful work experiences that will drive your career forward. At Sidley, we excel on all fronts, empowering high-performing, results-oriented professionals to reach their full potential through enriching educational programs, dedicated mentorship, and ongoing professional development.

Our summer program offers students the best of both worlds: the prestige of working at an elite Am Law firm with $3.4 billion in revenue coupled with an inclusive and collegial culture that has defined our nearly 160-year legacy of legal excellence. As a summer associate, you will work on projects—billable and pro bono—that align with your interests, allowing you to gain practical legal experience under the supervision of talented partners and senior lawyers from various backgrounds and perspectives. You will be given a comprehensive view of the firm’s 50+ practice areas, working on substantive matters for high-caliber clients, including the 67 Fortune 100 companies we served in 2024.