THE FIRM: Sidley Austin LLP, with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia and approximately 2,300 lawyers, is one of the largest law firms in the world. Our diversified global practice encompasses the entire spectrum of corporate, transactional, litigation and governmental matters. Nationwide and throughout the world, Sidley Austin LLP prides itself on the breadth of its practice and the quality of its representation of an extraordinary client base, including many of the world's leading industrial enterprises, financial institutions, professional firms, health care providers and media and communications companies, as well as governmental and public entities and sovereign nations.
SUMMER PROGRAM: Our summer associate program is an invaluable window into our practice and firm culture. We provide our summer associates with something priceless -- experience. Our summer associates are able to perform legal work under the supervision of our lawyers. Such direct participation enables the summer associate to observe the way our attorneys help to solve problems and create opportunities for our clients. In addition, we offer summer associate training programs, professional development seminars, and pro bono panels. Finally, we seek to expose our summer associates to the intellectual and cultural life in their local city.
NEW ASSOCIATES: New associates who join Sidley can be expected to gain excellent hands-on experience through our various practice groups and will be exposed to all areas of their respective practices, whether transactional, litigation, or regulatory. In addition to a firmwide orientation, many of the practice groups provide additional group-specific orientation and training. Associates have opportunities from the beginning to develop their skills through informal mentoring and formal training programs. For example, litigation associates participate in our Litigation Academy and Curriculum, while transactional associates participate in Corporate Practicum and Corporate College; hybrid practices that span both areas can customize their training plan to gain the skills and expertise most needed. In addition, our associates have opportunities early in their careers to meet clients and play key roles on matters as Sidley takes a lean approach in staffing. Sidley strives to provide all associates with responsibilities that are commensurate with their achievements, development, and acumen. In addition to informal feedback, we engage in detailed, semiannual reviews of each associate's performance, progress toward partnership, and overall growth as a lawyer.
BUILT TO LEAD®: In 2022, Sidley launched the Built to Lead® initiative, a groundbreaking associate leadership and executive development program uniquely designed to deepen associates’ business acumen and leadership abilities. The program strives to prepare associates to rise to the challenges that clients face in an increasingly complex and dynamic global business environment—helping our associates better understand our clients and speak the language of business. Beginning in associates’ fourth year of practice, the Built to Lead program features MBA-level executive training at top U.S. business schools, along with professional development and personal career and business development coaching opportunities. The Built to Lead program also includes title changes, to Managing Associates (4th-year associates) and Senior Managing Associates (7th-year associates), in recognition of the increased managerial responsibilities at those career stages. The initiative serves as a key part of Sidley’s comprehensive approach to associate development. No matter where their careers may lead—whether ascending to partnership at Sidley, moving to an in-house or public service role, or pursuing another path—Sidley associates will be better prepared to succeed as the next generation of legal, business, and civic leaders.
The Built to Lead initiative is only one element of Sidley’s award-winning Learning & Development efforts. Sidley was the only law firm recognized in Time magazine’s 2023 Best Companies for Future Leaders, and has been recognized as a global leader in learning and development by Chief Learning Officer magazine every year since the inception of its LearningElite award; ranked #2 among the 2023 LearningElite.
To learn more about a career at Sidley: https://www.sidley.com/en/us/careerslanding/
