With the global expertise of this US export, Sidley’s Austin-tatious quality of work speaks for itself.
Sidley Austin training contract review 2025
The Firm
1974 was a year that birthed many a legend… ABBA famously won the Eurovision Song Contest, Stephen King released his debut novel, and Sidley Austin cut the ribbon to its London office. That’s right, following in the footsteps of Leonardo DiCaprio, the US export’s London presence is fast approaching its golden jubilee, and there’s much to celebrate. “We’re an elite global firm – there’s no two ways about it,” training principal Patrick Harrison tells us. “With around 45 partners, we’re the fourth largest office in the firm’s network. For an office of our size, we’re relatively full-service.”
This prowess is recognised by our colleagues over at Chambers UK who shower praise on over ten departments in Sidley’s London office, with the financial services, investment funds and regulatorylife sciences teams in particular picking up top accolades. However, with over half of the firm’s network located stateside, it’s over on Chambers USA where you’ll get the full scope of Sidley’s might. On its home territory, the firm is ranked in over 130 departments, giving you the true picture of the depth of expertise Sidley’s got to its name.
“…a steeper learning curve…”
The firm takes on around 17 trainees each cycle, and it’s these leaner dimensions which attract incomers year on year. “You get more responsibility earlier on,” said one trainee, while others hinted at “a steeper learning curve” being the major pull. Indeed, Harrison explains, “Because we have a lot of different groups, the teams are relatively lean. That means the work trainees do is very important.”
The Seats
Private equity may have been the most desired seat in the past, but this crop of trainees is proving that to be rather cohort specific. “The popularity of certain seats changes with each year; corporate and regulatory seem pretty sought after in my class,” said one trainee.This sentiment is reflected by Harrison who knows that variety is the spice of life, and also the key to a balanced practice: “What sort of person are we looking for? No one type of person,” he makes clear. “We’re very conscious that we need different people with different specialisations.” As far as seat allocation goes, trainees are able to submit preferences for their rotations, and the majority of our sources got one of their top three choices. On the occasion they didn’t, the firm was sure to prioritise them for the next go around.
Secondments are also on offer as part of the training contract. Sources spoke of two examples, including one client secondment and one international secondment. The client secondment has seen one trainee in the corporate group embark on an ad hoc assignment to Tottenham Hotspur. A competition seat in Brussels, on the other hand, is the destination for the international secondment. “It’s quite popular!” a source forewarned, “but as far as I know, everyone that’s wanted to do it has gotten to go.”
Corporate is one of the more sizeable groups at the firm, with the private equity team alone spanning two floors of the office. With such numbers, the firm’s able to cover plenty of ground, serving clients across the life sciences, sports, insurance, asset management, energy, technology, hospitality and real estate investment industries. One recent example saw Sidley represent investment firm Stonepeak in its £450 million investment in the Automobile Association (the AA). Due to its size and popularity, up to five trainees rotate in the department at any given time. “It’s a very busy seat,” said an insider. “You’re mainly working with your supervisor and pockets of the department.”
“…experience both the transactional and the regulatory side of things.”
Smaller teams such as real estate, life sciences and insurance also fall under the corporate umbrella, giving trainees in the rotation plenty of exposure. “You get to experience both the transactional and the regulatory side of things,” one insurance trainee mused. In the insurance realm in particular, the team works with a number of big-ticket clients, including Apollo, Lloyd’s of London and Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC. Examples of trainee tasks in the department include closing checklists, completing first drafts, due diligence, advisory and research tasks and presenting in client meetings.
Within the global finance group sits the structured financepractice, and insiders reassured us there was plenty of work to go around. “It was quite a lot more responsibility than I was expecting to have,” one source awed. “If you do a good job, you get rewarded with more significant work.” And significant work there certainly is; the likes of Apollo Global Management, Citadel Group and Deutsche Bank line the firm’s list of clients. In particular, Sidley recently advised Apollo Global Management in its acquisition of Credit Suisse’s securitized products group (SPG) following the investment bank’s takeover by UBS. Responsibility can certainly ramp up quickly here, as one newbie explained, “it can be quite an intense introduction to the group, but I think most people would prefer that.” The range of tasks trainees take on varies depending on the busyness of the group, but we heard examples including drafting board minutes and capacity opinions, closing checklists, client calls and project management.
“…the London team is particularly well regarded.”
Sidley’s restructuringdepartment also has plenty of prestige attached to it, with interviewees observing that “the London team is particularly well regarded in the firm.” Of course, with great power comes great responsibility, and a seat here will see trainees kept relatively busy. The work done in the group is essentially broken into two: client advice and deal work. Many of the deals, much like the group’s clients, are sizeable. In one recent deal, the firm represented China Fortune Land Development in an offshore debt restructuring valued at just under $5 billion. “I got a lot of exposure to actual work, and from day one I was immediately involved in deals,” one trainee told us of their experience. Typical trainee involvement includes deal management, working on correspondence tables and workstream trackers, drafting, research and client calls. Above all else, trainees praised the level of exposure they were given: “They’re keen to get you involved from the start. You feel you’re part of the team; if you can do the work, you will be given it!”
The data protection & privacy team works with clients across a range of industries – life sciences and financial services in particular – providing multi-jurisdictional regulatory advice. For instance, the firm advises hedge fund Canyon Partners on various GDPR compliance requirements surrounding international data transfers. From first drafts of GDPR documents and privacy agreements to sifting through the details behind a hack, trainees explained the work can take on many different forms. “I get work from every associate in the team, meaning it tends to be more varied,” one explained.
Trainee Life
Pro bono also plays a big role in the trainee experience, with one source explaining, “Everyone is encouraged to do as much pro bono as we can. Everyone really wants to do it as well because it’s so rewarding.” The most common types of cases we heard about were PIP (Personal Independence Payment) appeals, and work for an organisation called Not Beyond Redemption which helps incarcerated mothers keep in contact with their children. There’s plenty more trainees can get stuck into too, as interviewees explained, “It’s really personalised. You’re able to discuss your personal interests and what you want to get involved in.”
Each trainee is assigned a supervisor per seat. Supervision styles varied at the firm, with some trainees describing a more hands-on approach, while others had a more relaxed form of mentorship. “My first supervisor gave me feedback all the time and caught up with me quite frequently,” said one interviewee. “I’ve also had a supervisor who is more informal and hands-off.” It’s worth noting that trainees had no qualms about either approach, as we heard supervisors were uniformly approachable and open to questions. In fact, multiple sources noted that they often stayed in touch with previous supervisors as they rotated through departments. “We still go for coffee and keep in touch!” an insider beamed. “They’re very supportive of me and my experience.” Newbies can expect to receive onboarding training at the start of their training contracts, followed by department-specific training sessions at the commencement of each new seat. That said, we heard most of what trainees learn is picked up on the job.
“…pop up lunches, lots of fruit and a very fancy coffee machine!”
Located just outside Liverpool Street Station, trainees spoke of enjoying great views from the office. On top of lavish showers and changing facilities for those preferring to run or cycle into work, interviewees also boasted of a communal space on the 14th floor serving “pop up lunches, lots of fruit and a very fancy coffee machine!” As far as in-office attendance goes, trainees are asked to be onsite four days a week, with certain teams encouraging five days. The policy had a mixed reception among our interviewees, though ultimately newbies felt it was “positive for trainees to be in the office as much as possible. You can work alongside someone and speak to them directly.”
Hours expectedly varied by team, with trainees reporting wrapping up their day anywhere between 6pm and midnight. Sources were keen to note, however, that with those later finishes come a few perks, including Deliveroo and taxi allowances, and the fact that “if you work late one day, you can start a little bit later the next day” in lieu. As is the case with US firms, weekend work is not anomalous either if there are tight deadlines to be met. That said, “The firm tries to be respectful of weekends where they can,” insiders noted. The trade-off for these longer hours is, however, the rather generous salary trainees receive, which sits at £60k for first years and £65k for second years, before making the whopping jump to £175k for NQs.
It's not all work and no play for this lot either. Trainees explained their cohort was quite social, often meeting for drinks after work and hanging out during lunch. “It’s a small cohort so we meet up a lot actually,” one noted. “We’re all very good friends.” Wider firm events aren’t super regular, but trainees can expect a Christmas party hosted at places like the Pan Pacific London as well as regular team socials to line their calendars. Notably, the firm hosts the European Lawyer Conference held every other year which sees all of Sidley’s European offices meet up and mingle.
Speaking of different backgrounds, Sidley hosts a variety of affinity groups to support diversity within the firm. One source involved in one of the groups spoke highly of the fact it’s not just lip service: “If I have an idea or an opinion, they listen to me and take me seriously. They’re always looking for honesty and candour there.” Admittedly, sources felt there was room for improvement with diversity at the top, but agreed that Sidley was taking active steps to enact positive change. Interviewees were also keen to praise the firm’s wellbeing efforts: “You can receive two firm-provided counselling sessions per month which I’m so grateful for.”
The firm’s qualification process is also rather straightforward. “The decision is probably already made by the time we apply,” sources noted of the transparency. HR releases a list of practice groups looking to take on NQs (we hear most will have spaces), and trainees are required to submit a CV and attend an informal interview with a partner. Just a few months into their final seat, trainees will already know the outcome. “People found out really early this year,” we heard. “I think it’ll help with retention at the firm.” The firm did not disclose its retention rate.
The Talented Mr. Sidley…
The corporate group hosts weekly training sessions which anyone can attend to improve their skillset: “They print out whole booklets or notes and take you through it – it’s so thorough!”
How to get a Sidley Austin training contract
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Vacation scheme deadline: Winter: 13 September 2024
Spring/Summer: 10 January 2025
Applications and assessments
The firm launched a vacation scheme in summer 2013 and now receives around 2,000 applications each year. Sidley recruits all trainees through the vacation scheme.
The initial online form sets out to assess candidates' commercial awareness, academic record and work experience. The form includes a question asking applicants to describe a recent commercial issue. A graduate recruitment source tells us this is “the first question I look at when shortlisting candidates – it's a very telling question, as it reveals what interests applicants have and speaks to elements of their personality.”
Aspiring recruits need a high 2:1 degree with consistently good grades throughout. The firm pays attention to A level results, but also uses Rare’s contextual recruitment system and considers mitigating circumstances.
The firm keeps an open mind on the work experience front. “This doesn't have to be legal experience,” confirms our recruiter source, telling us, “It’s actually refreshing to see non-legal work experience on the form. It's particularly impressive to see someone who has thrived academically while also holding down a part-time job.” Tying these experiences and the skills acquired from them to the realities of a job in a City firm is a must.
Those who impress on paper are invited to attend an hour-long interview with one partner/counsel.
The interview
“We can see from their application form that shortlisted candidates have excelled academically,” our source tells us, “so the next part of the selection process provides us with an opportunity to test their intellect and find out more about the individual and their personality.” Candidates are given each interviewer's biography beforehand. We suggest using this as a tool to stimulate conversation and make the interview a two-way exchange.
Ultimately, it's “the subtle things” that are scrutinised during the interview, we're told – for example, whether someone is confident or over-confident, and whether they could hold their own with clients. “They asked me some professional conduct-type questions to see how I'd deal with certain situations,” recalled a current trainee. “It's about seeing how you react under pressure.”
Interviewers are also likely to raise questions involving the economy and the latest financial news. “They want to see that a candidate has their own thoughts and isn't swayed automatically by the interviewer’s views,” our source reveals. “We're not looking for 'yes' people in that sense; it's always good to have a debate.”
Interviewees aren't expected to be an expert on the inner workings of Sidley's practice areas, but they do need to demonstrate a sound understanding of the firm's work, clients, and recent matters to impress.
Vacation scheme
Since 2015/16, the firm has run a one-week winter and two-week spring scheme on top of its usual two-week summer schemes. Each scheme has space for up to 15-20 candidates and participants spend each week in a different department.
“We try to make it into a mini training contract and cram as much in as we can,” the firm tells us. In between live work, vac schemers attend briefings from various practice groups and a few social events.
Sidley Austin LLP
70 ST MARY AXE,
London,
EC3A 8BE
Website www.sidley.com
Firm profile
About the Firm
Sidley is an elite global law firm. Harnessing 158 years of legal heritage, we provide strong representation on behalf of clients in more than 70 countries. Our lawyers apply a Built to Win℠ client service model to their legal strategies, ensuring the best possible outcomes in complex transactional, restructuring, regulatory, and litigation matters. With 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial and financial hubs across the world, our perspective and our reach are truly global. Our 2,300 lawyers, fluent in more than 80 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape.
Main areas of work
We handle a vast array of litigation, transactional, and regulatory client matters with practices in: antitrust/competition; capital markets; corporate governance; derivatives; employment; food, drug and medical device; global finance (including structured finance); healthcare; hedge funds, insurance; investment funds; private equity; real estate; real estate finance; restructuring; and tax.
Trainee opportunities
The firm is not a typical City firm, nor is it a ‘legal factory.’ Everyone is encouraged to be proactive and to create their own niche from the first day onwards, so there is no risk of being just a number. Trainees spend time in the firm’s main groups. In each group, trainees will work with a partner or associate to ensure individual training with practical hands on experience. You will be encouraged to take on great responsibility where appropriate. Regular meetings with your supervisor ensure both the quality and quantity of your time at Sidley. In addition, there is a structured timetable of training on a cross-section of subjects.
Vacation scheme
We run a one-week winter vacation scheme and two-week vacation schemes in both the spring and summer each year. You will get to experience the day-to-day life of a lawyer at the firm and will have the opportunity to undertake real casework, rather than just observing or shadowing. This practical experience will be supplemented by a programme of presentations and workshops that will ensure you get to know the full firm culture. We aim to recruit all of our trainees from the vacation schemes.
Other benefits
Benefits include: private health insurance, life assurance, contribution to gym membership, interest-free season ticket loan, income protection scheme, and pension.
Open days and first-year opportunities
Sidley is offering first year students the opportunity to attend an Open Day held in March. For more information, please visit our website.
Sidley and Sidley Austin refer to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at www.sidley.com/disclaimer
This Firm's Rankings in
UK Guide, 2024
Ranked Departments
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London (Firms)
- Competition Law (Band 6)
- Restructuring/Insolvency (Band 3)
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UK-wide
- Banking Litigation (Band 4)
- Capital Markets: Debt (Band 3)
- Data Protection & Information Law (Band 3)
- Financial Services: Non-contentious Regulatory (Band 4)
- Financial Services: Payments Law (Band 2)
- Insurance: Non-contentious (Band 3)
- Investment Funds: Hedge Funds (Band 3)
- Investment Funds: Investor Representation (Band 2)
- Life Sciences: Regulatory (Band 2)
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