Sidley Prelaw Scholars Program

2017 Program Timeline 

For more information, please contact Merisa Lima.

Eligibility

Sidley Scholars will be selected on a competitive basis. 

To be considered as a Sidley Scholar, one must:

• Be a second semester college junior or a senior, graduating from an accredited American college in good standing no later than June 30, 2018, or be a very recent graduate of an accredited American college;
• Be a native-born or naturalized U.S. citizen;
• Submit a complete application and supporting materials by the application deadline; and
• Demonstrate financial need through the application and supporting materials.

Because of the mission of the program, preference will be given to the most well-qualified diverse applicants with an emphasis on populations underrepresented in the legal field.

Required Application Materials:

• Completed Application (Signed and Dated) including Personal Statement (two page maximum);
• Copy of most recent FAFSA Student Aid Report;
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended (unofficial transcript may be submitted initially; however, official transcript must be provided in order to receive award);
• Résumé (one page maximum);
• Signed and completed recommendation form from one academic reference in a sealed envelope. Recommendations may be submitted electronically to: sidleyscholars@sidley.com. If submitting electronically the form must be emailed directly from the recommender (and not the applicant).

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Top applicant phone interviews will take place in late February through early March.

Expectations of Sidley Scholars

Each Sidley Scholar is expected to:

• Graduate in good standing from college no later than June 30, 2018.
• Meet all LSAT, law school application, and program deadlines.
• Attend all classes associated with the LSAT preparatory course.
• Attend the entire Sidley Scholars Summer Seminar in the summer before law school. 

The last installment of the scholarship award is contingent upon in-person attendance and successful completion of the Sidley Scholars Summer Seminar. It is expected that 2017 Sidley Scholars will attend the 2018 Summer Seminar. Reasonable travel expenses to the Summer Seminar will be reimbursed. 

• Matriculate to law school in Fall 2018.
• Be available via telephone and email to Sidley representatives from February 2017 through September 2018.
• Upon starting law school, remain in touch with Sidley representatives to provide feedback on how the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Program is benefiting the Sidley Scholar during the first year of law school.
• Upon an expression of interest, be available to a future Sidley Scholar as a mentor.

In rare circumstances, a student may request that the firm consider an exception to a requirement of the program. Sidley’s Diversity Committee will consider such requests on a case-by-case basis, but certain benefits of the program may not be made available to such student. For example, Scholars who do not attend the entire summer seminar will not receive the second installment of their scholarship award. All such decisions are at the sole discretion of Sidley’s Diversity Committee.

Congratulations to the 2017-2018 Sidley Prelaw Scholars!