Under our global Pro Bono Fellowship Program, Sidley sponsors fellowships in several of our U.S. offices, as well as our London office.
Sidley sponsors several fellowships that expand the capacity of legal nonprofits to advance their missions and serve the critical legal needs of clients. Through the Incoming Associates Pro Bono Fellowship Program (the Program) and the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellowship Program, recent law school graduates are paid their full Sidley salary to work at legal nonprofit organizations for up to 10 weeks before joining the firm. Sidley also sponsors a year-long Sidley Austin Appellate Advocacy Fellowship in the Barbara McDowell Appellate Advocacy Project at the Legal Aid DC. The work spans the range of subjects handled by Legal Aid DC, including evictions, custody and domestic violence issues, public benefits, and consumer protection.
In addition, together with our corporate partners, KPMG and Microsoft, Sidley co-sponsored Equal Justice Works Fellows at Americans for Immigrant Justice and Lawyers for Children.
In London, all final seat trainees are invited to apply for a fellowship for up to 12 weeks in a charity or non-profit organization, prior to commencing their roles as newly qualified associates.
Across the six offices where Sidley provides fellowship opportunities, our 40 fellows dedicated tens of thousands of hours to their respective fellowships in 2025.
My pro bono fellowship was a formative experience early in my legal career. Working on gender discrimination cases in education and employment, I had the opportunity to draft an amicus brief addressing novel issues regarding the interpretation of the Ending Forced Arbitration Act. That work strengthened my litigation and writing skills and provided valuable experience contributing to NWLC’s high-impact matters.
Through my fellowship, I was able to hone my client interaction skills and help disadvantaged entrepreneurs profit from their innovative ideas. It was incredibly rewarding to witness how legal representation can improve someone’s life, and I am grateful that Sidley prioritizes service and pro bono work.
My legal fellowship profoundly reshaped my understanding of the juvenile justice system, revealing both its systemic challenges and the transformative power of holistic, youth-centered advocacy. That experience solidified my commitment to making pro bono work a meaningful and enduring part of my practice and reinforced why I chose this profession.
My fellowship provided me real in-court experience arguing on behalf of clients seeking to expunge or seal their criminal records. And now I’m able to continue doing this work pro bono at Sidley!
During my PILI fellowship, I developed an innovative legal curriculum as part of a pipeline program at Just the Beginning, introducing teenage students from underrepresented backgrounds to both foundational and emerging areas of law. The experience reinforced the importance of early exposure and continues to shape my commitment to expanding access to the legal profession.
My fellowship was an incredible way to begin my legal career. I was immediately integrated into litigation teams bringing cases against gun manufacturers and sellers on behalf of victims of gun violence and local governments. The work was both substantive and meaningful, and I was able to learn from some incredibly intelligent and passionate attorneys dedicated to making the country safer every day.
I’d highly recommend the market-leading fellowship — my secondment at UNICEF UK enabled me to use and develop my pro bono legal experience to support a critical international humanitarian organization. I particularly appreciated assisting the passionate and collaborative team on charity-related regulatory compliance and commercial legal matters, including drafting internal policies and planning innovative partnerships.
During my fellowship with the Brooklyn Defender Services’ immigration unit, I drafted multiple asylum briefs and motions to stay deportation, which allowed me to improve my litigation skills while also advocating for individuals in need. This experience inspired me to continue pursuing pro bono work — specifically immigration work — as a Sidley associate.
During my PILI fellowship, I researched power imbalances in mediation and developed a toolkit to help practitioners address them. The experience showed me how thoughtful dispute resolution design can promote fairness and continues to inspire my commitment to advancing equitable access to justice through pro bono work at Sidley.
My fellowship showed me how crucial pro bono legal help can be for people in my community, especially those who might otherwise go without representation. It was deeply rewarding to support my clients, mostly low-income women, and see how even a small amount of effort on my end could make a meaningful difference to their lives. Helping a young mother secure sole custody of her child was especially moving, and it reinforced my desire to dedicate any extra time to helping those who appreciate it most.
It was incredibly meaningful to serve as a pro bono fellow with LA28. During the fellowship, I strengthened my drafting skills while gaining valuable insight into the business minded approach required to work in an Olympic organizing committee. It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to give back to my hometown of LA — made possible by working at the best firm, Sidley!
Each year, the London office awards a Prize for Pro Bono Services to recognize exceptional contributions by trainee solicitors. The 2025 prize went to Helena Anderson, who chose Team Ted Foundation, a small charity in Sheffield supporting children with cancer, as her nominated charity. Anastasia Rasch-Murphy, Mary-Anne Grego, and Theo Sawkins were also each recognized for their outstanding contributions to pro bono at Sidley.
