Sidley pays market salaries and generally advances attorneys on a lock-step system, although the firm has announced a salary freeze for 2009.  In December 2008, Sidley issued bonuses at the half-Skadden Arps level for both its Chicago and New York offices.  Associates who do not hit their hours do not receive the full bonus awarded to the class.

New Sidley associates participate in a two-day firm-wide orientation and are paired with a mentor to assist them in their transition to the practice of law.  The firm also offers a Trial Advocacy Training Program and an Annual Corporate College for new associates in transactional groups.  Moreover, fifth-year associates participate in a Mid-Level Associates Conference that focuses on client relationships and professional development.  Lateral Link Members report that there are "plenty of training opportunities," both formal and informal, but "it is rare that associates...have time to participate" in the formal programs.  The firm provides a formal mentoring program that "[t]he management seems to take...seriously, but the actual experience varies depending on the attorneys involved."  Work assignments vary by department.  In some groups, there is an assigning attorney, while in other departments, work is obtained through a free-market system.  Associates receive semiannual reviews assessing their performance and progress towards partnership.  The firm was recognized by Yale Law Women as one of the "Top Ten Family Friendly Firms" in 2009.  In March 2009, Sidley eliminated 89 attorney positions for economic reasons.

The firm claims not to have a minimum billable hours requirement, but Lateral Link Members report that the firm requires a minimum of 2,000 billable hours.  Associates also indicate that they must hit that minimum to receive a full bonus.

Although face time expectations seem to vary by department and office, Lateral Link Members find that the firm expects associates "in the office during normal work hours" and "no one works from home unless they really have to."  Sidley offers four weeks of vacation, and Lateral Link Members use between three and four weeks of their vacation annually.

Sidley strongly urges attorneys to devote time to pro bono matters, and the firm counts pro bono hours towards bonus consideration.  The firm's goal is to perform an amount of pro bono work equal to 3 percent of the entire firm's total billable hours.  The firm presents awards to attorneys in its Chicago and Washington, DC, offices who perform over 60 hours of pro bono work during the year.  Sidley's fellowship program is another opportunity for associates to serve the community.  The program allows associates to work for ten weeks at a nonprofit organization prior to starting at the firm.

Sidley has a one-tier partnership track, although Lateral Lateral Members report that junior partners do not have much of an equity stake for their first few years in the partnership.  Attorneys are considered for partnership in their eighth year of practice, but Lateral Link Members say that there will be no new partnership class this year.  Attorneys who do not make partnership on their first attempt may be considered the following year.  Lateral Link Members believe that partnership at Sidley is an achievable goal.  Sidley promoted 34 attorneys to partner last year.

Incoming associates receive a $10,000 stipend and relocation expenses; the firm also covers bar exam fees and a bar review course.  Sidley offers a comprehensive benefits package.  The firm also provides various "wellness" programs, including flu shots, CPR and AED training, and ergonomic supplies.  In addition, Sidley offers subsidized cafeterias in Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC.  In Chicago, there is also a subsidized gym facility on-site.

Depending on the office, summer associates can spend 11 or 12 weeks in Sidley's summer program. Summer associates are able to choose projects from various departments and are expected to complete an average of 10 assignments during the summer. Lateral Link Members praise the "reasonable expectations" and "good feedback" on their work product. Training events are held every week or two and include trial and negotiation exercises and various presentations. In addition, the Chicago office has a "professor in residence" to assist the summer class with legal research and writing questions. In 2008, the firm hired 14 first-year associates from Fordham, more than from any other law school. The firm provides summer associates with BlackBerrys, but Lateral Link Members say that summer associates are still expected to be in the office during normal working hours. Although Lateral Link Members say the "hours are a bit longer" than they would like, they also note that weekend work is uncommon and that they typically leave the office by 7:00 p.m. Summer associates in the New York office can attend a maximum of four lunches over the entire summer, while those in Chicago and Washington, DC, can attend two lunches each week. Although Lateral Link Members note that social events were "rolled back" in 2009, the firm still hosted activities once a week, ranging from small group dinners at partners' homes to baseball games to Broadway shows. The firm has deferred the start date for the newest class of associates to November 2009, although it has offered some associates in its Washington, D.C. office the opportunity to start at the firm earlier in the fall.  The firm is also offering a $75,000 stipend to new associates who pursue a public interest position and defer arrival at the firm to January 2011.  Sidley has announced that some members of the Class of 2010 will start in January 2011, while others will be deferred until January 2012, with a monthly stipend and health insurance offered to deferred associates.