Sidley Austin

This “lovely and unpretentious” US import is Sid-leading the way with global financial prowess and high-level work.

Sidley Austin training contract review 2026

About the firm

The stock exchange can be a volatile space, you never know what’s a sure thing and what’s about to crash out. However, one investment worth your time and attention is the ever-rising stock of Sidley Austin, a financial juggernaut imported from our stateside neighbours. Despite the reputation for high-quality work, our interviewees outlined that “what really drew me to Sidley was that everyone was just really lovely and unpretentious, it enticed me straight away!” While it's “a busy firm” with a penchant for knuckling down and cracking on with things, “we’re regular people too!” one source quipped.

While the culture proved an almighty draw to incoming trainees, you simply cannot get away from Sidley’s practice punch. Our colleagues over at Chambers UK shower praise on over ten departments in Sidley’s London office such as the financial services, investment funds and regulatory: life sciences teams. Don’t forget that larger global picture either, with Chambers USA offering up accolades in over 130 departments.

“I didn’t want to be part of a big trainee intake.”

With its impressive reputation within the world of global finance, Sidley’s practice offerings were undeniably another major attraction for our sources: “I found I was most interested in private equity and finance,” one interviewee recalled, “I also liked the idea of taking on more responsibility.” And there’s no doubting that Sidley’s smaller cohort facilitates such a model. In fact, “I didn’t want to be part of a big trainee intake,” one junior admitted, with colleagues agreeing that Sidley was perfect for those looking for hands-on experience.

Harrison notes this was only likely to increase, as “the office has grown, and so more opportunities have come about for trainees as well.” As befitting a US firm, insiders flagged the “sink or swim” nature of the training contract and concluded that Sidley was the place to be for those who “like less handholding from day one.”

Training Contract Structure

Even before their feet hit the ground, incoming trainees are treated to presentations on different practice areas to familiarise newbies with their varying seat options. After that, new arrivals send through a list of preferences in order to select their first seat. From there, about a month before each rotation, trainees then submit three ranked choice. “You can speak with HR about what you particularly enjoyed in certain seats,” one insider began, “if you enjoyed research for example, they might recommend doing a more regulatory seat next.”

While the firm seeks to match everyone up with where they’d like to be, many noted that it isn’t always possible: “If it doesn’t work out then they’ll put you into one of your other choices, and they’ll look to prioritise you next time.” We heard it was a similar process for selecting the firm’s solitary international secondment to Brussels for a competition seat, which is advertised about six months prior and then allocated based on business need and previous seats. We heard there are client secondments on offer too.

Seat Experiences

Trainee Life

We heard that most of the firm’s pro bono work revolves around four clinics, which cover cases relating to non-redemption, helping children with citizenship applications, independent payment decisions and supporting families for those that are unable to afford legal representation. “It’s a really big thing here,” one insider told us, “we have our own dedicated pro bono counsel. I’d genuinely say it’s the best firm I’ve come across for pro bono in London!”

What’s more, Sidley offers a three-month pro bono fellowship immediately after qualification, which many sources expressed they were keen to do as they relished the opportunity to “really have an impact.” When it came to diversity at the firm, trainees reported “a number of women in senior positions” in addition to diversity access events and broader representation across all backgrounds. One source concluded “that the firm quite clearly cares.”

While relationships with each supervisor “depends on the individual,” everyone we spoke to referenced their experience of “excellent supervision throughout.” They continued that “some will naturally be a little more hands-off, whereas others give feedback on a more ongoing basis.” As such, “I think it’s a case of being prepared to be malleable and flexible.” The formal mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews are mixed in with regular check-ins. “They really took me under their wing,” one trainee explained, “and made me feel like a really valued member of the team.” So much so, that “I felt like we were friends by the end of the seat!”

The training however, was on the lighter side with trainees noting that it’s “more hands-off compared to other magic circle firms.” Of what’s on offer, onboarding training is a given when joining the firm, and department-specific training sessions kick in with each seat. Interviewees did take an optimistic outlook though; “the learning curve is steep but very useful as a trainee. You end up being a better well-rounded lawyer.”

When asked about the culture of the firm, the general consensus was that the folks at Sidley have created a warm, friendly and collaborative environment: “Everyone’s willing to chat and support you as a trainee,” one explained, with another agreeing that “people are keen to sit you down and talk through things.” One thing flagged up by the current cohort was that there is room for a more active social scene at the firm, with insiders noting that things are “a bit lacking” in that department.

That’s not to say that there aren’t times to get together however, Sidley hosts events such as Christmas and summer parties, in addition to afternoon teas and firm lunches. With more of an “independence culture,” trainees explained that “whilst there is stuff going on, the priority is ultimately work.” A potential trade-off for reduced social calendar perhaps, is the remuneration package, with the salarysitting at £60k for first years and £65k for seconds, scaling up to a jaw-dropping £175k for NQs.

“…high tech, state of the art, and a great place to start your career.”

Of course, the trade-off of this is that “the hours can be intense!” While at quieter times a classic 9am-5.30pm is a possibility, our interviewees made sure to highlight what applicants were getting themselves into: “There’s always an element of not making plans on a weekday,” one trainee explained, and “there might be two or three days a week where you’re leaving at midnight.”

Sidley's office is situated “in the can of ham next to the Gherkin,” in other words, it's close to Liverpool Street station. Commuters rejoice! Despite the “excellent views” that trainees will be seeing in person for a minimum of four days a week, some did bemoan the lack of a canteen. All in all, however, insiders described the office as “high tech, state of the art, and a great place to start your career.”

Sources noted that a number of both trainees and partners have sought to stay at the firm for the long-haul. With that being said, others recognised the demanding nature of the job, leaving a few questioning whether “I could work in such a high-pressure environment for so long.” That said, “the experience you get as a trainee and post-qualification is invaluable.”

Qualification

Speaking of qualification, most of our interviewees were looking to remain at the firm, if the right team was hiring: “There’s a real buzz around the office for certain groups, so there’s definitely options.” The process typically begins with the release of a jobs list around April time, before trainees are invited to list at least two teams they’d like to join. For certain teams, a CV, cover letter and subsequent interview follows, whereas others might only ask for more of an informal chat. In 2025, the firm did not disclose its retention statistics.