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 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 diverse and inclusive workplace.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2024)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2023)
No. of Summer Associates (2022)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
Sidley’s prestige and importance to both the Chicago and national markets cannot be overstated. The culture in this very large firm is social but respectful of the boundary between attorneys’ work and personal lives. Partners value associate input and treat them with respect, but there is some opacity between firm leadership and the associates when it comes to firmwide policies. The firm has a requirement of 1,800 client billable hours, and 2,000 total hours are needed for bonus eligibility with the 200-hour difference fillable with pro bono, DEI, and/or training-related and CLE hours. Sidley pays its attorneys market salaries and bonuses, offering above-market bonuses for high billers. Associates generally perform substantive, client-facing work at or above their formal experienc...
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 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, litigation, and regulatory matters.
Chicago & 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 2001 with a top Wall Street-founded l...
2025 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “Collegiate, friendly, professional, moderately social. Lawyers socialize together both organically and in firm-sponsored events. The day-to-day atmosphere is relaxed but with a lot of hard work involved. Pleasant interaction with staff.”
- “Family-friendly environment of people whose professional lives are focused on world-class work but whose personal lives are focused on family.”
- “People are there for each other when called upon, and the relationships largely feel organic. Not everyone is social away from the office, but that is not indicative of negative social aspects of the firm. No one person is the cup of tea for everyone. However, people are always willing to help.”
- “Groups are close-knit and socialize independently, and the firm also encourages socialization. Generally, everyone (associates, partners, staff) are on the same team, and there are firmwide events that include all groups.”
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.
Diversity at Sidley Austin LLP
Getting Hired Here
- “Academic excellence is a given, though what constitutes ‘excellence’ varies by school. Those in more selective schools have more leeway, while those in less selective schools must be at the top of their class for consideration. Northwestern and UChicago are mainstays of hiring. My best advice is to demonstrate curiosity in the work we do—come knowledgeable about our practice areas and ask questions and follow-up questions about the practices of the attorneys you meet.”
- “Many of those recruited to join the litigation group had prior work experience before entering law school. There are not many people who went straight from college to law school.”
- “I know Sidley looks at objective criteria like GPA, law review, etc., but I know for a fact they also look to well-rounded applicants. As someone who had a relatively low GPA, I speak from experience that those items are not all they look for. Sidley reviews applicants on other items like extracurricular activities, leadership, community involvement, and personality. ...”
Perks & Benefits