San Diego Summer Program

Sidley’s San Diego office, founded in 2024, builds on the relationships we’ve established with leading companies in this market, and our deeply rooted presence in California, where we have advised clients for more than 50 years. Our San Diego-based team represents clients on a range of matters, including M&A and venture capital, global finance, commercial litigation, consumer class action litigation, product safety and advertising regulatory work, and labor and employment. The establishment of our office in San Diego further expands our ability to provide the highest-level service to companies operating in this dynamic global market, particularly in the ever-evolving technology and life sciences industries.

The San Diego office will offer a 10-week program for law students. Being a part of the office affords you the opportunity to work in a small, close-knit, and dynamic environment while enjoying the resources and support of a large global firm.

Work Assignments

San Diego summer associates will have the chance to perform work that otherwise would be handled by associates and have the flexibility to sample projects from a variety of practice areas. As a summer associate, you will be able to gain hands-on experience and demonstrate your skills on legal projects for Sidley clients. You may also have the chance to observe or participate in client conferences, in-person client meetings, negotiations, meeting with regulators, witness interviews, depositions, and court hearings.

Summer associates interested in transactional practice groups will be introduced to a variety of work including mergers and acquisitions, global financings, private equity, emerging companies and venture capital, preparing for closings, assisting deal teams with debt financings for private equity funds and growth companies, and other transactions. You will get a firsthand look at how a deal team works and how our lawyers devise creative and practical solutions to issues and problems that arise in today’s complex financing and business environment.

Summer associates interested in litigation practice groups will have the opportunity to work on substantive assignments that range from research, deposition outlines, and witness prep and drafting motions and briefs. You may also get to see our lawyers in action by observing court hearings and depositions.

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 San Diego

An important part of your summer experience is building relationships with your future colleagues. Throughout the summer, you will be invited to a mix of social and networking events, and to participate in office-wide programming. Our summer associates will also be able to attend practice-specific presentations and other educational workshops. We give you a chance to get to know our lawyers and your fellow summer associates both professionally and personally while also experiencing all that San Diego has to offer.