Who we are

Innovative Work. Exceptional Training. Professional Development.

More than 150 years after the founding of our firm, Sidley today comprises a group of legal professionals who are dedicated to teamwork, collaboration and superior client service. The firm has built a reputation for successfully representing clients on complex transactional, regulatory and litigation matters spanning a range of legal areas. From our offices in the commercial, financial and regulatory centres of the world, we harness our knowledge to provide thoughtful advice for the myriad legal and business challenges that our clients face.

As a Trainee Solicitor, you will have limitless opportunities to take on sophisticated, substantive work, grow as part of a thriving, diversified practice and collaborate with some of the best legal minds in the world. Hear from their trainees just here.

Inclusion

Since our inception, we have cultivated a workplace culture rooted in mutual respect, open communication, and a deep appreciation for each individual’s unique voice. These core values enable each individual to thrive personally and professionally. We believe the most creative and successful teams embrace distinction in thought, approach, ability, and knowledge.

We have two global committees which offer a space that allows our lawyers and business professionals to make recommendations on how to improve firm culture, practices, and services, as well as sponsoring programming and networking opportunities. Both committees have a direct line of communication to our Management Committee and our Executive Committee. This means that all voices are heard and information about the experience of being a lawyer here flows to the very people who make decisions about how the firm is run.

Sustainability

Sustainability has always been a key priority for the London office and impacts the way we work on a daily basis. Externally, we ensure that all vendors who provide a service for our London office share our environmental values and are focused on limiting our impact and finding suitable eco-friendly alternatives. At Sidley, we are dedicated to doing our part to ensure a sustainable future, conducting business in a responsible and mindful way that creates long-term value for our people, clients, and communities. We aim to minimize our impact on the environment by setting ambitious climate commitments to reduce our carbon emissions, as well as by creating a more sustainable workplace and culture across our global firm. From routine but important acts — such as recycling paper and waste — to impactful legal and pro bono work that empowers businesses and social enterprises alike, sustainability is integral to our operations.

In 2020, the London office relocated to a brand new building which was designed with sustainability in mind and has aspirations to be a net-zero building by 2024. Sidley London also runs an awareness initiative in collaboration with our working group, the Environmental Awareness Group. This group allows employees from all levels of the firm to generate ideas for change and best practice, and has a key focus on increasing internal awareness about the small differences individuals can make to minimise our impact as a collective.

CSR

Sidley London’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme has been designed to allow our employees to help with the causes that mean the most to them while also working collectively to address the primary needs of our local community. Our flagship charity partnership was launched in early 2022 which allows us to have long-lasting impact. YMCA London City and North, and Sidley’s office in London have joined together for a five-year partnership to create a brand new multi-functional youth hub based in Islington. This project will support vulnerable young people living in London by providing essential services and creating a safe and welcoming environment.

Sidley’s financial contributions mean this new space will reach at least 1,000 young people in its onset and will lay the foundation to help more young Londoners in years to come. Beyond fundraising, Sidley’s staff will be participating in volunteering and mentoring activities.

Additionally, all Sidley London personnel are allowed up to two community investment days, which allow them paid time off to work with any registered charity of their choosing. Our charitable partnerships focus on young people and equal access to City careers. Annually, Sidley personnel mentor around 20 young people from a local academy to raise aspirations and encourage them to focus on their studies. The London office also runs a work experience week in collaboration with the PRIME Commitment. This allows a group of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn more about life in the City.

Pro Bono

Pro bono is an integral part of Sidley’s culture and we regard pro bono service as an essential part of our professional responsibility. We encourage our trainee solicitors to get involved in pro bono matters from day one because we know that our trainees want to give back to communities and develop their skills as lawyers whilst doing so.

Under our London pro bono programme, we help individuals and families who face significant barriers in obtaining access to justice. We work with a range of organisations, from small charities to start-up social enterprises, focusing on enhancing community impact and strengthening human rights. We also support front-line legal service organisations by sponsoring a number of Pro Bono Fellowships. Each year, all final seat trainees are invited to apply to undertake a three-month fellowship secondment in a charity or non-profit, prior to commencing their roles as newly qualified associates.

Living well at Sidley

As part of Sidley’s ongoing commitment to support the health and wellness of all of our lawyers and staff, the firm offers a range of health benefits including:

Private Medical Insurance
Private GP Service + Health Screening
In-House Counselling Service
Employee Assistance Programme
Headspace (mindfulness app)
Menopause Support Service
Annual Flu Vaccination
Annual Gym Allowance
Annual Eye Screening and Prescription Allowance
“Living Well” wellbeing programme

Market-leading Benefits

£60,000 First-Year Salary
£65,000 Second-Year Salary
£175,000 Newly Qualified Associate Salary
£20,000 Maintenance Grant (PGDL and SQE)

Sidley – London Vacation Schemes & Training Contract

The vacation schemes

Sidley runs a one-week winter scheme and two-week spring and summer schemes each year. You'll experience day-to-day life as a lawyer at the firm and do real work rather than just shadowing, alongside presentations, workshops, and social events with current trainees.

Who can apply

Penultimate- or final-year law undergraduates, final-year non-law undergraduates, and graduates.

How the process works

Applications are assessed on a rolling basis; candidates are therefore encouraged to submit their applications at the earliest opportunity. The recruitment process comprises the following stages. Candidates first complete a short online application form detailing their academic background, extra-curricular activities, and work experience. The Early Careers team then reviews each application against the firm's eligibility criteria. Candidates who meet these criteria are invited to complete a situational judgment test and a video interview. Those who perform well at the video interview stage are subsequently invited to the firm's London office for a one-to-one interview with Senior Managing Associates and partners.

Key dates

· 2026 Winter Vacation Scheme: opens 1 September 2026, deadline 25 September 2026

· 2027 Spring/Summer Vacation Scheme: opens 28 September 2026, deadline 8 January 2027

The training contract

Sidley recruits its trainees from the vacation schemes, hiring around 19 future trainees each year. Over the two-year contract you'll complete six four-month seats across practice groups, giving broader exposure before you choose where to qualify. Possible seats 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. International and client secondments are also available.

The AI Knowledge Lab

A distinctive feature: every trainee spends one of their four-month seats in the AI Knowledge Lab. It's a working environment, not a training exercise - you'll work with the firm's Knowledge Management, Research, and Data & AI teams and practice-group lawyers to develop real AI tools and ways of working, and to build the judgment to know when AI adds value and when a lawyer needs to take over.

Sidley jobs

2027 Spring/ Summer Vacation Scheme