Sidley Austin Associate Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 31 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Sidley Austin.
Sidley Austin
Summer Associate
Entry Difficult Neutral experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I was invited straight to a callback, and I signed up for a time using an online portal link. The only option was virtual. After selecting the interview time, I was shared a link to the online meeting along with the names of the three interviewers. I got 20 minutes with each interviewer, who would join the meeting at the 20-minute mark. Given 20 minutes isn't a long time, the conversation would be ongoing when the next interviewer joined, so be sure to review any notes you have on the interviewers well beforehand. They asked a few tough questions, which seems reasonable given they skipped the screener altogether.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you describe a significant challenge you've faced?
Sidley Austin
Associate
Mid Average Positive experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen
Interview formats
Behavioral
Everyone was really nice and there weren't any tricky questions. It was a standard screener and callback process. You can tell it's a good firm culture because everyone was upfront about time commitments and what to expect. They could be a little more open about the interview process for lateral hires, but overall it was a really good experience.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Can you tell me why you chose to pursue a legal career?
- What is it about Sidley that interests you?
- Describe your current role and how it aligns with the requirements of this position.
Sidley Austin
Summer Associate
Intern Average Neutral experience Decline offer 5 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite Panel Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
This is an interactive interview process where you'll get to talk with a bunch of partners and associates. They really show you what the firm is like, what your first few years would look like, and the general culture. It's a bit of a bummer though, because the culture is super snobby and probably only appeals to people chasing money and prestige. The firm comes off as aggressive, as expected for a big defense firm, but there's this extra layer of snobbery and entitlement that really taints the whole thing. One interviewer even talked about her various houses at ski and lakeside resorts.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Tell me more about your background.
- Can you tell us about your eclectic background?
Sidley Austin Associate Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Sidley Austin interview reports.
“Which 1L class did you like the most?”
Read reports →“What area of law do you want to practice?”
Read reports →“Why do you want to practice corporate law?”
Read reports →“What specific area of law are you interested in practicing, and what are your reasons for that choice?”
Read reports →“What makes you choose Sidley Austin compared to other international firms?”
Read report →“Can you walk me through the entire transaction process?”
Read report →“What is it about Sidley that interests you?”
Read report →“Which of your classes have you enjoyed the most so far?”
Read report →“What motivates your desire to pursue a legal career?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 31 Sidley Austin interview reports.