Los Angeles Summer Program

Sidley’s Los Angeles office, established in 1980, is one of the largest law offices in Los Angeles County. Having advised clients in California for more than three decades, we have a deep understanding of the local issues businesses face here. From groundbreaking regional startups and global Fortune 500 companies to major banks and investment firms, our lawyers provide high-quality and insightful legal advice across numerous industries. The firm’s culture of teamwork and collaboration helps the Los Angeles office to assist clients in myriad legal disciplines and to harness the talents of Sidley’s lawyers across four continents.

Summer associates in the Greater Los Angeles offices (the Downtown Los Angeles office and the West LA Century City office) have a combined summer program.

Work Assignments

Summer associates in Greater Los Angeles perform work that otherwise would be handled by associates. You will have substantial flexibility to choose assignments that reflect your individual and professional interests, and the freedom to explore a variety of practice areas or just focus on a few. As a summer associate, you will have the opportunity for significant client contact by attending or participating in client meetings and conference calls, court hearings, depositions, interviews, negotiations, due diligence and closings.

Professional Development

We provide summer associates numerous opportunities to learn and develop their professional skills. Our hands-on training includes detailed reviews of each summer associate’s work product, as well as more formal training programs such as writing seminars, a mock negotiation exercise and a networking tips program. We assign senior associates and partners to provide guidance and feedback to our summer associates throughout the summer, and each summer associate receives a formal review at the midpoint of the program. You will also be paired with a junior associate mentor, who will provide you with practical advice and a view into the life of junior associates in the office.

Summer Life in Greater Los Angeles

An important part of your summer experience is building relationships with your future colleagues. Throughout the summer you will be invited to attend a mix of large-scale and smaller social and networking events, and to participate in office-wide programming. We give you a chance to get to know our lawyers and your fellow summers both professionally and personally while also experiencing all that Greater Los Angeles has to offer.

As a summer associate in one of the Greater Los Angeles offices, your calendar might include activities like:

• Sampling the city’s international cuisine at lunches and dinners with associates and partners
• Cheering on the Dodgers from a suite at Dodger Stadium
• Attending a dinner at the world-famous Magic Castle
• Enjoy a sunset cruise in Marina del Rey
• Participating in a cooking class
• Opportunities to be active, such as a spin class, yoga, or hiking