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Sidley

Sidley

Next deadline

2027 Spring / Summer Vacation Scheme · 7 Jan 2027

(94 days)

Apply now
In their own words

Opportunity without limit

Snapshot

Firm type

US firm in London

UK offices

London

International offices

21 international offices including Chicago, New York, Geneva, Hong Kong and Sydney

Training contract places

19

Vacation scheme places

45

First-year salary

£60,000

Second-year salary

£65,000

Newly qualified salary

£175,000

Trainee retention

Not disclosed

SQE support

Full SQE1 and SQE2 support and maintenance grant

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

Yes

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

Not disclosed

Recruitment route

Vacation scheme only

Seat structure

Six four-month seats with one seat in the AI Knowledge Lab.

Can trainees repeat a seat?

Sometimes, depending on circumstances

Can trainees express seat preferences?

Yes, they are taken into account

Non-law applicants

Actively encouraged

Career-changer applicants

Actively encouraged

Remote working

Standard hybrid only

Minimum academic requirements

2:1 at University, AAA at A-level

Typical start time

9:30am

Wellbeing support

Private GP service, private medical insurance, in-house counselling service, complimentary access to Headspace meditation app, employee assistance programme, gym membership subsidy, dental insurance, income protection

Minimum holiday

25 days

SQE1 and SQE2 funding

Yes, full funding

SQE1 and SQE2 maintenance grant

Yes

PGDL funding

Yes, full funding

Retrospective funding

Considered on a case by case basis

Minimum office attendance

4 days a week
Before you apply

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Are you particularly interested in transactional work, given Sidley's strength across M&A and Private Equity, leveraged finance, structured finance, debt capital markets and securitisation?

Would you value working in the London office of a large US firm where much of the work has a cross-border dimension?

Are you comfortable being expected in the office at least four days per week, rather than having a more flexible hybrid arrangement?

Are you prepared to secure your training contract through a vacation scheme, given that Sidley recruits all of its trainees through this route?

How important is an international secondment to you, given that opportunities such as Brussels are available but competitive rather than guaranteed?

Are you interested in completing a compulsory seat in the AI Knowledge Lab?

Would you value working on non-transactional work, given that Sidley is a full-service firm and you may need to complete at least one seat in a non-transactional team?

Next deadline

2027 Spring / Summer Vacation Scheme

7 Jan 2027

(94 days)

View job

Deep dive

Explore this firm in detail

What makes it different

"A truly global platform, seamlessly connected"

What this could mean for you
London is Sidley's largest European office and works as part of a wider international network. Its Global Finance and M&A and Private Equity practices regularly handle cross-border matters. You could build experience on matters involving multiple jurisdictions and work with colleagues across Sidley's international network, with a compulsory seat in the AI Knowledge Lab.

"Trusted on the matters that define our clients"

What this could mean for you
Sidley's London practice is particularly strong in complex finance and regulated-sector work. External rankings highlight leveraged and acquisition finance, debt capital markets, securitisation, life sciences and financial services regulation, giving lawyers exposure to matters involving major financial institutions, sponsors and international businesses. If you are interested in finance, capital markets or highly regulated industries, you could train in practices that are particularly well established in Sidley's London office.

"Talent developed, not just recruited"

What this could mean for you
Sidley places significant emphasis on career-long development, combining practice-specific technical training with wider skills and business-development programmes. Its Built to Lead programme extends that development into leadership and commercial skills as lawyers progress. You could develop through both technical legal training and broader commercial and leadership development, rather than relying only on learning through live matters.

Practice area strengths

M&A and Private Equity

Sidley has a preeminent global M&A practice that is engaged in the full spectrum of public and private mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions across a variety of industries. Our clients include large and small companies, private equity funds and other financial sponsors, boards of directors, special committees, financial advisors and other participants in corporate transactions.

Finance and capital markets

Finance and capital markets are among Sidley's clearest London strengths, spanning leveraged and acquisition finance, debt capital markets, securitisation, derivatives and structured products. The teams act for sponsors, borrowers, issuers, underwriters and financial institutions on major domestic and cross-border transactions, including European and Asia-Pacific capital markets work.

Life sciences and healthcare

Sidley's life sciences practice combines regulatory expertise with transactional work for pharmaceutical, biotech and healthcare businesses. Matters include financing, licensing and strategic collaborations, M&A, competition issues, pricing and reimbursement, and regulatory questions involving areas such as cell and gene therapies and digital health.

Financial services and regulatory

Sidley's regulatory offering is particularly relevant to financial institutions and other highly regulated businesses. Its London capabilities span financial services regulation, fintech, insurance, investigations, data protection and cybersecurity, often involving cross-border regulatory requirements and coordination with lawyers elsewhere in Sidley's international network.

All practice areas

Global financeLife sciencesFinancial services and regulationCapital marketsHealthcareAntitrustDispute resolutionEmploymentEnergyInsuranceInvestment fundsMergers and acquisitions (M&A)Private equityPrivacy and data securityRegulatory and complianceTax
Who it may suit

Before you apply, ask yourself:

  • Are you particularly interested in transactional work, given Sidley's strength across M&A and Private Equity, leveraged finance, structured finance, debt capital markets and securitisation?
  • Would you value working in the London office of a large US firm where much of the work has a cross-border dimension?
  • Are you comfortable being expected in the office at least four days per week, rather than having a more flexible hybrid arrangement?
  • Are you prepared to secure your training contract through a vacation scheme, given that Sidley recruits all of its trainees through this route?
  • How important is an international secondment to you, given that opportunities such as Brussels are available but competitive rather than guaranteed?
  • Are you interested in completing a compulsory seat in the AI Knowledge Lab?
  • Would you value working on non-transactional work, given that Sidley is a full-service firm and you may need to complete at least one seat in a non-transactional team?

This firm may suit candidates who…

  • Want to build experience in commercial law, particularly M&A and Private Equity, leveraged finance, debt capital markets, securitisation and structured products.
  • Want complex cross-border work from a London base and the opportunity to work as part of a wider international platform.
  • Prefer spending most of the working week in person and value regular office-based contact.
  • Are happy to use a vacation scheme as the route to demonstrating their fit with the firm before securing a training contract.
  • Would value the compulsory AI element as part of their six-seat training contract.

Things to consider

  • Sidley's London strengths are weighted towards transactional work, so consider whether these areas genuinely match your interests rather than applying primarily because of the firm's US profile.
  • Sidley has only one UK office, in London, so it will not suit candidates looking for the option to train in a regional UK office.
  • The firm’s policy states a minimum four days per week in the office, which is less flexible than the hybrid policies offered by some peer firms.
  • Sidley recruits its trainees through the vacation scheme, so candidates looking for a direct training contract route should take this into account.
  • Secondments are competitive rather than guaranteed, so you should not apply assuming that you will secure an overseas or client seat.
Work-life reality

Work-life balance varies by team, seat and transaction cycle. This section is designed to help you understand the pattern, not reduce the experience to a score.

Seat variation

Trainees complete six four-month seats and can express preferences, although preferred seats cannot be guaranteed. It is compulsory for trainees to complete a seat in the AI Knowledge Lab.

Flexibility

A standard hybrid arrangement is available within the four-day office requirement.

Holiday allowance

25 days

Office attendance

The firm requires trainees to spend a minimum of four days per week in the office.
Application process

Online application form

What happens

Short online application form sharing details of their academic background, extra-curricular activities, and work experience.

Online assessment

What happens

Situational judgement test and video interview.

In-person interview

What happens

With two partners or senior managing associates.

Assessing

You will be given a Financial Times article to read through. The interviewers will ask you questions based on your application form and the article.
Opportunities
2027 Spring / Summer Vacation Scheme

Sidley

Sidley

94 days leftCloses 12:00am, 7 Jan 2027

View job