Sidley Austin opportunities

Sidley

Sidley is an elite global law firm. With approximately 2,300 lawyers and nearly 160 years of experience, the firm has established a reputation for deploying innovative legal strategies to achieve powerful results for its clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters.

Its perspective and reach are truly global, supported by 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial, regulatory, and financial centers across the world. Sidley’s lawyers and business professionals, fluent in more than 75 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape.

Sidley aims to recruit all its trainees from the vacation schemes. Each year the firm takes on around 19 recruits. They are looking for people who are bright, with outstanding academic qualifications. Applicants need to have a minimum of three A-levels (at least three A grades), and to have (or be expected to achieve) at least a 2.1 degree or equivalent (not necessarily in law).

Sidley Insight Evening 

Monday 16 November 2026, 6pm onwards
Kimpton Charlotte Square, Edinburgh

Join the team from Sidley to learn more about the vacation scheme and training contract opportunities at one of the largest international law firms in the world.

The event will include:

  • A panel presentation from Sidley
  • An opportunity to network with members of the Sidley team
  • An informal drinks reception

Who can apply?

This event is open to undergraduate students only. Students from all years are welcome to apply, although priority will be given to penultimate- and final-year law students, as well as final-year non-law students.

Places are limited and applications will be screened by Sidley. Only successful candidates will be contacted with an invitation to attend.

How to apply

To apply, please email ukgraduaterecruitment@sidley.com with the following information:

  • Full name
  • Year of graduation
  • Degree
  • A 100-word statement explaining why you would like to attend the event
  • Confirmation that you have not accepted a training contract
  • Confirmation that you have not qualified in any other jurisdiction

Meet the team

  • Andrew Fox, Partner
  • Samantha Cumming, Counsel
  • Monie Cheung, Early Careers Senior Specialist;
  • and more Sidley Representatives.

Sidley run a one-week winter vacation scheme and two-week vacation schemes in spring and summer each year.

During the scheme, you will experience the day-to-day life of a lawyer at the firm and will have the opportunity to undertake real work 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 as much about the firm as you possibly can during the placement.

There will also be some organised social events to help you get to know our current trainees.

Application period:
2026 Winter Vacation Scheme:
Application open: 1 September 2026
Application deadline:  25 September 2026

2027 Spring/ Summer Vacation Scheme:
Application open: 28 September 2026
Application deadline: 8 January 2027

Vacation Scheme dates:
2026 Winter Vacation Scheme: 7 December – 11 December 2026
2027 Spring Vacation Scheme: 5 April – 16 April 2027
2027 Summer Vacation Scheme: 21 June – 2 July 2027

About Our Programme

Sidley aim to recruit all of our trainees from the vacation schemes. Each year, Sidley hire approximately 19 future trainees. 

From day one, you’ll work alongside lawyers and clients across the firm, contribute to multijurisdictional matters and start building the skills and judgment you’ll need as a lawyer.

Over your two-year training contract, you’ll complete six four-month seats within our practice groups, with one rotation being completed within our AI Knowledge Lab. Six seats give you broader exposure to our work, our people and our clients - and more perspective when the time comes to decide where you want to qualify.

Your practice group seats may include Banking and Financial Services, Capital Markets, Antitrust and Competition, Energy and Infrastructure, Global Finance, Healthcare and FDA, Insurance, Investment Funds, Litigation, M&A and Private Equity, Regulatory and Enforcement, Restructuring, and Tax.

You’ll also have the opportunity to apply for international secondments, as well as ad hoc client secondments.

The AI Knowledge Lab

Every trainee completes one of their four-month practice group rotations while sitting in the AI Knowledge Lab.  This will be available to trainees as their third, fourth, fifth or sixth seat, after spending their first two seats building a grounding in legal work and professional practice.

The AI Knowledge Lab is not a training exercise. It is a working environment designed to build practical AI capability - for you, for your practice group and, over time, across the firm. You'll work alongside our Knowledge Management, Research and Data & AI teams, as well as experienced lawyers in your practice group, testing approaches and helping develop tools, templates and ways of working that can be used again. You'll learn to assess AI output critically, recognise its limitations and develop the judgment to know when AI can add value and when a lawyer needs to take over.

Sidley take a flexible approach to your development, shaped by your ability and willingness to contribute. The more you put into each seat, the more opportunity you will have to learn, take on responsibility and develop your skills.

 

Career Opportunities Programme