Overview
Introduction
With an impressive global footprint of over 2,300 lawyers across 21 offices and a roster of top-notch clients across the energy, financial services, healthcare, insurance, life sciences, sports and media, and technology industries, Sidley Austin is the cream of the crop when it comes to law firms. Come for the sophisticated work and stay for the polite, amiable Midwestern vibes as well as the sincere commitment to building a welcoming and inclusive workplace.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2025)
No. of Partners Named (2024)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2025)
No. of Summer Associates (2025)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
Sidley is a realistic target for law students at T14 schools and those at the top of their class in schools geographically close to a Sidley office. Sidley offers a culture grounded in friendliness, respect, and sociability while still recognizing that people want to leave work behind and be with their families at the end of the day. Associates appreciate respect and kindness from partners, as well as regular communication around their own performances. Although the billable hour requirement of 2,000 is thought to be high, once 1,800 client billable hours are reached, the remaining 200 hours may comprise pro bono, knowledge management, and other contributions to the firm. Base salaries and bonuses are market. Discretionary bonuses are possible for attorneys who miss the 2,000-hour...
Firm's Response
Sidley has long fostered a culture of career-long learning. In 2022, we launched the firm’s new associate development program Built to LeadSM. This leadership and executive development model is uniquely designed to help our associates become world-class lawyer...
About the Firm
Sidley Austin is a global powerhouse with a long list of clients from Fortune 500 companies to startups in a range of industries, including energy, financial services, healthcare, insurance, life sciences, sports and media, and technology. With over 2,300 lawyers across 21 offices who collaborate across disciplines and borders, Sidley helps clients in more than 70 countries with cross-border transactions, investigations, restructurings, crisis management, litigation, and regulatory matters.
Chicago and New York Powers Unite
Sidley traces its history back to the 1860s in Chicago and has represented marquee clients from the start, including former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, George Pullman, and the Western Union Telegraph Company (later AT&T). The Chicago-based firm merged in 2...
2026 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “Lawyers do socialize together quite a bit, though I would say most of it is firm-sponsored. However, there are a lot of people who have found close friends at the firm. The day-to-day atmosphere is very polite and friendly. Lawyers are generally very nice to business professionals, but I wouldn’t say we socialize with business professionals much. That’s an area where I think we can improve. We tend to stay in our lawyer ‘bubbles’ and not talk to business professionals beyond work matters.” <...
Why Work Here
LEADERSHIP IN LAW
We are proud of the range and caliber of the clients we serve. Many of our clients—from financial institutions and investment banks to Fortune 500 companies, hedge funds and private equities—are household names and at the forefront of their respective industries, professions and markets. Our success is born as much out of knowledge of the law as it is out of the strong relationships we build with our clients.
The firm strives to maintain an environment focused on teamwork and cooperation, and values the skills and knowledge that each individual brings to a project. Our lawyers and professional staff collaborate at all levels and treat each other with genuine respect. We believe our culture sets us apart from many other firms and enhances the experience, development and career satisfaction of our lawyers and staff alike.
Culture & Inclusion at Sidley Austin LLP
Inclusion at Sidley: One Firm, Many Voices. At Sidley, we have cultivated an inclusive workplace culture rooted in respect, open communication, and a profound appreciation for each individual’s unique voice. By collaborating with people from various perspectives and backgrounds, we enhance our ability to create and execute effective legal strategies. Our people are supported in reaching their full potential through enriching educational programs, mentoring, and continuous professional development.
Getting Hired Here
- “The firm hires from traditional market schools (notably Harvard and University of Chicago). However, they have begun to transition from traditional OCIs to more of an open market, advertising applications from any school.”
- “Generally, I think there are two typical types of candidates: successful candidates from top-tier law schools and those at the very top of their class from less-than-top-tier law schools. Either type of background is welcome, and neither is particularly favored ove...
Perks & Benefits