Sidley Austin Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes 2027

Applications close 8 January 2027. Pays £500 a week in London.

Yes, with conditionsSpring and Summer Vacation Schemes

Yes. Sidley Austin sponsors its spring and summer vacation schemes for eligible international graduates. The firm's own FAQ confirms both mature and international students are welcome and that it sponsors visas for successful vacation scheme applicants. Students on an existing UK study visa still need the scheme to fall outside term time.

Sponsors grads?: Sponsors
Pay vs threshold: Clears the threshold
Opportunity: vacation scheme
Pay: £500 per week
2027 cycle: Applications open 28 September 2026, close 8 January 2027; spring runs 5-16 April 2027, summer runs 21 June-2 July 2027
Confidence: high

Sidley Austin Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes: at a glance

Sidley's London office runs a one-week winter vacation scheme and two-week vacation schemes in spring and summer each year, where participants do real work rather than just shadowing, alongside presentations, workshops and social events with current trainees. The firm aims to recruit all of its trainees from the vacation schemes and sponsors visas for successful vacation scheme applicants. Applications for the 2027 Spring and Summer schemes open on 28 September 2026 and close on 8 January 2027, and are reviewed on a rolling basis; the 2027 Summer scheme starts on 21 June. Source

Duration: Two weeks (spring and summer schemes); one week (winter scheme)“We run a one-week winter vacation scheme and two-week vacation schemes in spring and summer each year.”Source
Start date: 5 April 2027 (Spring scheme)Source
Who can apply: Penultimate or final-year law undergraduates, final-year non-law undergraduates, or graduates“You’re eligible to apply for the vacation scheme if you are a penultimate-year or final-year law undergraduate, final-year non-law undergraduate, or graduate.”Source
Locations: LondonSource
Degree requirement: AAA at A-level and a 2:1 degree in any discipline“Our minimum criteria is AAA at A-level and a 2:1 degree in any discipline.”Source

How Sidley Austin recruits

2027 spring (5 to 16 April) and summer (21 June to 2 July) vacation schemes; applications 28 September 2026 to 8 January 2027. 4 stages, from Sidley Austin's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-04. Test providers are named only where Sidley Austin names them.

Online application form
Application form
Short online form on academic background, extracurricular activities and work experience, checked against eligibility. Reviewed on a rolling basis.
“We ask all candidates to complete a short online application form sharing details of their academic background, extra-curricular activities, and work experience.”
Source
Situational judgment test
Situational judgement test
Invited candidates take a situational judgement test with scenario-based, numerical and verbal questions. Provider not named.
“The situational judgment test helps us understand your strengths, your thinking and how you approach different scenarios. It is made up of scenario-based, numerical and verbal questions.”
Source
3
Video interview
Other stage
Straight after the test: a video interview of four questions on commercial awareness, the legal landscape and the firm, with two minutes to prepare and two to answer each.
- 4 questions
- 2 minutes to prepare
- up to 2 minutes per answer
“Following this, you will move straight into a video interview, where you will be asked four questions. These questions focus on your commercial awareness, understanding of the legal landscape and knowledge of the firm and the work we do. During the interview, you will have two minutes to prepare for each question, and two minutes to respond.”
Source
Interview at the London office
Final interview
In-person interview at the London office with two Senior Managing Associates or partners.
“If you perform well at the video interview stage, we will invite you to our London office for a 1:1 interview with two of our Senior Managing Associates or partners.”
Source

Every programme and stage at Sidley Austin

“We sponsor visas for successful vacation scheme applicants”

Sidley Austin, from its own careers pages

The catch: Sponsorship applies once you are a successful (offered) vacation scheme applicant, not automatically at application stage; study-visa holders still need scheme dates outside term time.

Sidley Austin early careers Verify on gov.uk See the licence record

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What Sidley Austin publishes about this programme

Checked against Sidley Austin's own careers pages on 2026-10-01. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

Visa sponsorship policy: published
Application dates: published
Programme description: published
Duration and start date: published
Who can apply: published
Pay: published
Locations: published
Degree requirement: published
Recruitment stages: published

More early careers programmes at Sidley Austin

Training Contracttraining contract, yes, with conditions

Sources

https://www.sidleycareers.com/en/europe/london-opportunities?tab=london-vacation-scheme

Verdict last checked 2026-09-18. Application dates last checked 2026-10-01. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does Sidley Austin sponsor visas for its spring and summer vacation schemes?

What is the Sidley Austin spring and summer vacation schemes?

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme clears the Skilled Worker salary threshold.

What is the catch international students miss with Sidley Austin?

Sponsorship applies once you are a successful (offered) vacation scheme applicant, not automatically at application stage; study-visa holders still need scheme dates outside term time.

When do applications open for the Sidley Austin spring and summer vacation schemes?

Applications open 28 September 2026, close 8 January 2027; spring runs 5-16 April 2027, summer runs 21 June-2 July 2027. Checked on 2026-10-01 against Sidley Austin's own site.

How long is the Sidley Austin spring and summer vacation schemes?

Two weeks (spring and summer schemes); one week (winter scheme), according to Sidley Austin's own careers information.

When does the Sidley Austin spring and summer vacation schemes start?

5 April 2027 (Spring scheme), according to Sidley Austin's own careers information.

Who can apply for the Sidley Austin spring and summer vacation schemes?

Penultimate or final-year law undergraduates, final-year non-law undergraduates, or graduates, according to Sidley Austin's own careers information.

Where is the Sidley Austin spring and summer vacation schemes based?

London, according to Sidley Austin's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the Sidley Austin spring and summer vacation schemes?

AAA at A-level and a 2:1 degree in any discipline, according to Sidley Austin's own careers information.

How should I confirm Sidley Austin's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Sidley Austin's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.

Related guides

All visa and sponsorship guides

Other law schemes

Before you apply

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