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. As a summer associate, you will be able to select projects that interest you and then perform legal work under the supervision of our lawyers. Such direct participation enables you to observe the way Sidley's lawyers help to solve problems and create opportunities for our clients.
Summer associates can supplement their work experience with optional training programs, including presentations about lawyering skills and aspects of the firm's practice, as well as participatory trial and negotiation exercises. The firm gives you the resources you need to succeed by making available Legal Writing Advisors with whom summer associates may consult concerning legal research and writing questions, who provides assistance to the summer associates that is independent from the evaluation process. We also schedule a variety of social, recreational, and cultural activities throughout the summer in order to help acquaint summer associates with Chicago and with lawyers at the firm.
Although the firm also hires lawyers directly from law school, clerkships and laterally, a substantial majority of the lawyers in the Chicago office started in the summer program.
Highlights of the Summer Program
- Personal and professional development, support, and guidance provided by mentoring relationships with both associates and partners.
- The freedom and flexibility to select many of your own assignments and manage your workload, combined with a supportive network to assist you as you explore areas based on your interests.
- Exposure to interesting and challenging projects in a wide variety of practice areas.
- Practical training opportunities, such as a mock trial skills program, a negotiation skills seminar and presentations by partners and associates on an array of issues.
- A vast selection of events showcasing Chicago's finest, from baseball games and evenings at ethnic restaurants to museum exhibit premiers.
Experience Chicago
- Work in a major international center with a dynamic business and legal community
- Live in a city of diverse neighborhoods
- Explore 31 miles of lakefront with beaches, bike paths and running trails
- Discover Millennium Park, Chicago's newest open air entertainment center
- Visit culturally-rich museums, theaters and festivals
- Listen to music in the home of the blues
- See world-renowned architecture
- Walk on the Magnificent Mile
- Enjoy a multitude of tastes at a wide variety of restaurants
- Work in a state-of-the-art building