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Sidley Austin LLP

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Sidley has long been a pioneer in workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. We are able to thrive, in no small part, due to our commitment to diversify our ranks, build an inclusive and welcoming culture, and foster inclusion and collegiality within the greater legal profession. We seek to accomplish these goals by offering a network of support that enables lawyers of diverse backgrounds to succeed — from our first-year associates to those at the partnership level.

Our ongoing efforts to become a more diverse organization include the Built to Succeed Leadership, Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship℠ for second-year law students, as well as the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Program, which helps to build the pipeline of diverse lawyers entering the profession. We are also proud to be one of the first law firms to participate in the OnRamp Fellowship, a program designed to facilitate the re-entry of experienced female lawyers into the legal profession after time out of the workplace.

  • “Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity” 2024 – Seramount
  • “Excellent Performer” for Career Development, Associate Retention, Quality of Life, and Pro Bono; “Strong Performer” for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Chambers Associate 2024 “Associate Satisfaction Survey”
  • “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality”; Perfect 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s 2023 Corporate Equality Index – HRC Foundation
  • U.S. Gold Standard Certification, 2023 – Women in Law Empowerment Forum

PRO BONO AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

At Sidley, we stand firm in our dedication to advancing the fundamental principles of equality, inclusion, and justice. We are committed to action in support of these principles, including through our pro bono representation, which amounted to more than 170,000 hours of work in 2023. We have also maintained a long-standing commitment to volunteering our time and resources to many causes that assist those in need. This includes working in local schools, colleges, and law schools, helping individuals and families who are homeless, providing gifts to needy children over the holidays, and supporting nonprofit and legal services organizations, such as Chicago Cares, New York Cares, United Way, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, and Cycle for Survival.

SUSTAINABILITY

We are dedicated to doing our part to ensure a sustainable future, conducting business in a responsible and mindful way that creates long-term value for our people, clients, and communities. We aim to minimize our impact on the environment by setting ambitious climate commitments to reduce our carbon emissions, as well as by creating a more sustainable workplace and culture across our global firm. From routine but important acts — such as recycling paper and waste — to impactful legal and pro bono work that empowers businesses and social enterprises alike, sustainability is integral to our operations.