Kirkland & Ellis - The Inside View

When it comes to the riches of BigLaw, this global megastar is ruler of all the (Kirk)land.

You won’t find the term BigLaw in a dictionary, but if we were going to present you with some synonyms or real examples, Kirkland & Ellis would be high on that list. No firm has given the rest of the legal world jitters more over the past decade. Its prestige, market-leading revenue, clients, international outreach, and boundless practice coverage make it a magnet for any ambitious law student eager to make their mark in the industry.

Our interviewees consistently pointed to practice strength as a chief reason for choosing Kirkland. Indeed, according to our sister publication, Chambers USA, the firm is a domestic leader in a whole host of areas like banking & finance; restructuring; corporate crime & investigation; corporate M&A; oil & gas; environmental; government relations; intellectual property; international trade; private equity; real estate; and tax. Chambers Global also places the firm in the top band for restructuring, private equity, and investment funds.

“Kirkland is a name that can open doors for you…”

Evidently, “Kirkland is a name that can open doors for you,” as one associate put it. But it’s not just high-stakes corporate work that drew in juniors to the firm, but an equally compelling commitment to associate development. Not only is Kirkland willing “to pay for the people they are bringing in,” they're also invested in training, which sources tell us is “top tier – there are tons of opportunities, so you don’t just get thrown in without preparation.”

The Work

As a summer, you’ll dive into substantive matters across a spectrum of practices, depending on your chosen branch. Corporate summers, for example, get involved in anything under general corporate. Work during this time is obtained “based on relationships, telling people you’re interested, and you have social events to help build those relationships.”

Summers also have an open portal to pick up work. However, once they hit first year, while the portal is still open, “the responsibility turns to you to get your deal flow going.” Consequently, it’s not unusual for newbies to have a few quieter months “because it takes time to get ramped up. Once you’ve built up relationships with the people you like working with you get a constant flow of work; now I can say no if I don’t want to work with a group, so there is comfort in being busy.”

Like summers, corporate juniors work across the practice’s various teams, including debt financing, capital markets, and M&A. This cross-practice versatility extends to working across different offices – a concept which at the firm, “they really drive home. Texas, for example, is viewed as one big office across Austin, Dallas, and Houston, but associates also work with partners across the US like those in Chicago and New York.” While cross-office work isn’t a given, the opportunity is there, and it even extends internationally. Most of the juniors we spoke with focused mostly on M&A, handling buy and sell side on all sorts of transactions, as well as real estate, energy, and reinsurance. We heard that while each office does have a broad spectrum of work available, some offices are a little stronger in particular areas. For example, one junior helpfully clarified, “if you’re interested in energy and infrastructure, you might reach out to people in Houston to do that, because the practice is stronger there – reinsurance or project finance though, are stronger in Chicago and New York.”

“If you pick up fast there is no limitation on what you can do.”

When it comes to day-to-day responsibilities, juniors noted that “as a first year, your role is pretty organizational, sorting invitations for calls, comments from specialists and the like,” but added that “in terms of progression, there’s a big difference between first and second year.” Although second year involves a bit more of the same, interviewees listed exposure to drafting, taking the first pass at marking up comments from the other side, running diligence, and handling small agreements and ancillaries as tasks which begin to take more of a front seat – “with supervision, of course.” Ultimately, “if you pick up fast, there is no limitation on what you can do,” surmised one interviewee.

Corporate clients: Verizon, Accenture, and BAE Systems. Represented the controlling stockholder of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the $21.4 billion merger with Endeavour Group.

“The range of industries is huge.”

IP at Kirkland runs the gamut of the practice at market leading capacity, covering patent, copyright, trademark, trade secrets, and advertising. Clients “tend to be international or American with a large footprint – and the range of industries is huge,” explained one junior.

While the patent group tend to hire individuals with technical backgrounds like chemistry or engineering, it is by no means a prerequisite. Associates, much like those in the corporate group, can work on any kind of IP matter. “Juniors can do anything from task lists and doc review to sections of brief motions and summarizing case research,” one insider told us; they added that “on top of that partners have a willingness for juniors to take on extra responsibility; we do writing on expert reports, drafting on summary judgement briefs, so we’re not just relegated to research.”

We heard of juniors attending up to five trials in their first few years, as well as times when juniors took on major roles in prepping witnesses in court. These opportunities are there for those who demonstrate competence. So, “though there is the typical grunt work, there is also the opportunity to do much more.”

IP clients: Intel, Lenovo, Motorola, Samsung, and Sony. Represents IBM in litigation adverse to VirtaMove, asserting that VirtaMove’s products infringe certain IBM patents.

Litigation follows a generalist approach, at least for juniors, allowing newbies to work across various teams within the practice. Again, certain locations have more targeted practices – New York shines with securities and white-collar investigations, while Chicago excels in mass torts and product liability. Regardless of location, one junior reassured us that “the work is a wide range – my biggest practices have been all over the place!” Associates can work on anything from beer licensing disputes to more traditional commercial real estate litigation and bankruptcy matters.

Sources enjoyed the variety on offer, one explained, “you feel like you’re learning about things you’ve never heard of before, then in a few months you’re speaking the language of an industry you used to know nothing about, that’s part of the fun!” For first years, typical tasks were as follows: “Most of it is doc review, research and reading contracts, but there is still a lot of valuable substantive experiences too including writing from briefs and deposition prep.” The opportunities only grow in second year too, with some even getting to do direct examinations of a witnesses in trial, “so there are opportunities depending on where you’re at.”

Litigation clients: Gulf Oil, WeWork, and LG Electronics. Represented Fox Corporation and Fox News in a defamation lawsuit filed by electronic-technology company Smartmatic.

Career Development

At Kirkland, mentoring is available to help juniors along, but one associate felt that “a lot of that comes on the job, so you do have to be quite proactive in seeking it out.” Insiders admitted that it can be “daunting” for some as “the onus is on us to ask for feedback.” While some sources mentioned wanting more formal practical training, there’s “a lot of theoretical training” to give associates a platform to build on. For example, the general corporate department has training in place at least once a week in the first year, related to the practice, and litigation training is similarly “really good! We have a really elaborate mock trial once a year for all litigation associates including a mock deposition program.”

All the associates we spoke with were very positive about the firm’s approach to BD as, even from first year “you have good interactions with clients, travelling to meet clients in person, and being involved in closing and signing dinners.” Interviewees praised the fact that “they don’t hide us from clients, and that’s good for longevity because in the future they can look back and know we’ve been working with them since year X.”

Regarding long term prospects at Kirkland, “they make it clear if they think you are doing a good job,” clarified one interviewee. Amongst juniors, there was the general belief that “if you devote your career to making partnership you probably can do that, but it’s a challenging road.” This was attributed to the limited number of partnership promotions each year. Nonetheless, sources we spoke to did feel that the path was clear to them: “The more I’ve progressed the more I’ve seen you really can make partner track.”

Hours & Compensation

Billable hours: no requirement

There is no set requirement for billable hours, meaning as long as you’re in good standing, “you always get your bonus, even if you have a lower year,” noted one associate. However, it is widely understood that there’s an informal target. Interviewees suggested this target hovers around 2,000 billable hours, which is fairly typical for BigLaw. Associates who exceed this threshold may be eligible for an additional bonus.

Of course, there’s always the question, “Is the juice worth the squeeze?” one junior chuckled. Nonetheless, hitting that target “is not impossible, you won’t struggle to get hours.” Another mused, “most associates here are probably working more than 2,000 hours,” in any case. Even though “people are pinging you at all hours,” sources felt the workload was reasonable given the strong compensation. “They’re paying you $225,000 straight out of law school!” one insider quipped.

Culture

“…there’s no toxicity. Everyone has been very understanding.”

Kirkland, like many a leading law firm, carries a reputation among law students as being “a cutthroat, tough, working environment. A lot of friends would ask why you’re going to Kirkland because of the culture!” Despite this, all the juniors we spoke with were very positive about the culture – interactions, relationships, and atmosphere across the offices, especially during the three days a week associates are expected to be in the office.

The firm’s culture does vary slightly depending on practice group, as “each of them have ways of working that are very different, each with people with different personalities. You can find many subcultures within one big culture; you just need to be conscientious of where you work.” For example, one junior in the patent group mentioned that people there can be on the “quieter side.” But across the board, the overall sentiment was clear: “I have yet to see anything close to people yelling; there are some people that are more pleasant to work with than others but there’s no toxicity. Everyone has been very understanding.”

The culture also differs somewhat by office. Associates noted that the Texan offices have a more laid-back vibe than New York and Chicago. “In Texas everyone is so welcoming!” one insider beamed, which was appreciated because “when you’re working until 1am, you really don’t want to have to deal with assholes!” Moreover, those in Texas told us “it’s very much work hard play hard,” but in New York, we did hear that it tends to be “just work hard in corporate really! It’d be nice if there was a bit more play hard, but you can’t let your guard down here.” Across all offices, Kirkland put on a ton of events. One junior recalled, “whether it’s some drinks downstairs with food, St Patrick's, Valentine’s Day, and a happy hour cart at 5pm some days – they pull out the stops for us!”

Pro Bono

While the focus at Kirkland is “definitely on billable work,” sources pointed out that “first years get a ton of pro bono in.” This was particularly welcomed as newbies are still building up connections for work. Insiders told us that “there isn’t really a cap on pro bono hours” and that the firm also “treats pro bono work the same as billable work for your bonus and your review.” Many juniors clock up to 100 hours in the first year: “It is encouraged, it just gets harder as you get more senior.”

Kirkland supports participation by pushing regular emails with pro bono opportunities around two to three times a week. The kinds of matters are quite varied regardless of office, but we found that across our interviewees, associates work on a lot of matters, including non-profit support, child and family issues, civil rights, veterans’ benefits, immigration, prisoners’ rights, and more. Outside of this, one insider clarified that “if you have a specific area of work you’re interested in, you can also see if a partner will sponsor your pro bono matter.”

Pro bono hours

  • For all (US) attorneys: 137,358
  • Average per (US) attorney: 41

Get Hired

The first stage: recruitment on and off campus

OCI Applicants: undisclosed

Interviewees Outside of OCI: undisclosed

Kirkland offers a variety of engagement opportunities, both in person and virtual, to create a dynamic and inclusive recruitment process to reach the best talent, regardless of law school. Through in-person networking events, candidates have the chance to engage face-to-face with the firm’s attorneys, fostering genuine interactions and gaining deeper insights into Kirkland’s culture. Additionally, the firm hosts curated podcast and webinar content, and virtual office hours, ensuring accessibility for all candidates.

“Our approach to recruiting emphasizes consistent engagement with candidates year-round, leveraging networking and engagement events to offer students distinct opportunities to cultivate relationships with the firm,” hiring sources explain. “By providing multiple opportunities to engage with members of our recruiting committees and Kirkland attorneys, we ensure candidates are adequately prepared for the interview process and feel empowered to make informed decisions about their summer associate experience.”

Interested 1L candidates are encouraged to apply in November through January; 2L applications open in April.

Callbacks

Applicants Invited to Second Stage Interview: undisclosed

The interview represents a crucial stage for candidates and attorneys alike. The firm utilizes this phase to establish meaningful connections while assessing a candidate's capacity to manage multiple tasks professionally and in a collegial manner, contribute effectively to the firm’s collaborative environment, and deliver value to both clients and the organization.

For candidates, the interview also serves as a valuable opportunity to assess whether Kirkland aligns with their professional aspirations and career trajectory. Hiring sources at the firm tell us: “Self-starters who demonstrate initiative, ambition, passion and enthusiasm often thrive.”

Summer program

Summer Program Offers: undisclosed

Summer Program Acceptances: undisclosed

At Kirkland the work is interesting, cutting-edge, and involves clients from businesses in all industries and sectors. When joining Kirkland, starting with the Summer Associate Program, associates quickly become part of the team. Providing solutions to high-profile clients, they are involved in real deals and cases — not just listening and learning — but relied upon to make valuable contributions. Summer associates experience substantive, hands-on work, accelerating their early career development by working directly with partners.

Like Kirkland attorneys, summer associates experience the distinctive open assignment system which empowers individuals to choose the types of matters on which they work while the firm provides an integrated support network to help ensure robust development opportunities. In addition to specific assignments, summer associates participate in the firm’s numerous interactive training programs, shadow attorneys in negotiations, team meetings and client calls, and participate in trials, depositions, hearings, negotiations, and deal closings. There are also opportunities to network with attorneys and fellow summer associates though various social events.

Kirkland & Ellis

Firm profile

 

At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move the Firm forward. We invest in our people and build dynamic teams powered by passion and enthusiasm. Our work is underscored by our shared commitment to our core values; excellence, collaboration, drive & energy, and empowerment. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.

Our work is interesting, cutting-edge and high-profile, and involves clients from businesses in all industries and sectors. Kirkland & Ellis attorneys handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don’t just meet industry standards, we create them.

As a Firm with a global presence, we embrace inclusion at Kirkland, throughout the legal profession and within the communities in which we live and work. We strive to build and maintain a culture that values our differences and provides a supportive environment to grow and develop the next generation of leaders.

Kirkland and Ellis operates across the United States, Europe and Asia.

Social media

 

Recruitment website: www.kirkland.com/careers
Linkedin:Kirkland & Ellis
Twitter:@Kirkland_Ellis
Instagram:@lifeatkirkland

This Firm's Rankings in
USA Guide, 2024

Ranked Departments

    • Banking & Finance (Band 1)
    • Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Band 3)
    • Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation (Band 2)
    • Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (Band 2)
    • Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite (Band 2)
    • Private Equity: Buyouts (Band 1)
    • Real Estate (Band 2)
    • Tax (Band 3)
    • Antitrust (Band 2)
    • Environment: Mainly Transactional (Band 1)
    • Intellectual Property: Litigation (Band 1)
    • Labor & Employment (Band 3)
    • Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite (Band 1)
    • Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 3)
    • Corporate/M&A & Private Equity (Band 5)
    • Antitrust (Band 1)
    • Banking & Finance (Band 1)
    • Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Band 1)
    • Corporate/M&A & Private Equity (Band 1)
    • Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 2)
    • Intellectual Property (Band 1)
    • Litigation: General Commercial (Band 1)
    • Litigation: Securities (Band 2)
    • Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 1)
    • Real Estate (Band 1)
    • Tax (Band 1)
    • Technology & Outsourcing (Band 1)
    • Banking & Finance (Band 2)
    • Private Equity: Buyouts (Band 1)
    • Private Equity: Fund Formation (Band 1)
    • Tax (Band 3)
    • Antitrust (Band 4)
    • Banking & Finance (Band 1)
    • Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite (Band 1)
    • Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense (Band 2)
    • Corporate/M&A: The Elite (Band 1)
    • Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 3)
    • Environment: Mainly Transactional (Band 3)
    • Healthcare (Band 4)
    • Insurance: Transactional & Regulatory (Band 3)
    • Intellectual Property: Patent (Band 1)
    • Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (Band 1)
    • Labor & Employment: Transactional (Band 1)
    • Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite (Band 1)
    • Litigation: Securities (Band 2)
    • Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations: The Elite (Band 5)
    • Media & Entertainment: Litigation (Band 2)
    • Private Equity: Buyouts (Band 1)
    • Real Estate: Mainly Corporate & Finance (Band 2)
    • Tax (Band 1)
    • Antitrust (Band 3)
    • Banking & Finance (Band 2)
    • Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Band 2)
    • Corporate/M&A: The Elite (Band 1)
    • Environment: Mainly Transactional (Band 1)
    • Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 3)
    • Private Equity: Buyouts (Band 1)
    • Tax (Band 1)
    • Tax: Litigation (Band 2)
    • Litigation: General Commercial (Band 2)
    • Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 1)
    • Litigation: General Commercial (Band 4)
    • Advertising: Litigation (Band 2)
    • Antitrust (Band 3)
    • Antitrust: Cartel (Band 3)
    • Banking & Finance (Band 1)
    • Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite (Band 1)
    • Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel (Band 2)
    • Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt (Band 2)
    • Capital Markets: Investment Grade Debt: Issuer Counsel (Band 4)
    • Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS (Band 3)
    • Climate Change (Band 4)
    • Corporate Crime & Investigations: The Elite (Band 1)
    • Corporate/M&A: The Elite (Band 1)
    • E-Discovery & Information Governance (Band 2)
    • Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 3)
    • Energy Transition (Band 2)
    • Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) (Band 5)
    • Energy: Electricity (Transactional) (Band 2)
    • Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation) (Band 5)
    • Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) (Band 1)
    • Environment: Mainly Transactional (Band 1)
    • FCPA (Band 2)
    • Government Relations: Congressional Investigations (Band 1)
    • Impact Investing (Band 2)
    • Intellectual Property (Band 1)
    • Intellectual Property: Appellate (Band 2)
    • Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (Band 1)
    • International Trade: CFIUS Experts (Band 2)
    • International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded (Band 1)
    • International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337) (Band 1)
    • Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance (Band 2)
    • Life Sciences (Band 3)
    • Offshore Energy (Band 2)
    • Oil & Gas Litigation (Band 2)
    • Outsourcing (Band 3)
    • Privacy & Data Security: Highly Regarded (Band 3)
    • Private Equity: Buyouts: High-end Capability (Band 1)
    • Private Equity: Fund Formation (Band 1)
    • Private Equity: Secondaries (Band 1)
    • Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite (Band 2)
    • Projects: LNG (Band 2)
    • Projects: Power (Band 3)
    • Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy (Band 3)
    • Real Estate (Band 1)
    • Registered Funds (Band 3)
    • REITs (Band 5)
    • Retail: Corporate & Transactional (Band 2)
    • Securities: Litigation (Band 2)
    • Securities: Regulation: Enforcement (Band 3)
    • Tax: Controversy (Band 5)
    • Tax: Corporate & Finance (Band 1)
    • Technology (Band 4)
    • Transportation: Aviation: Litigation (Band 4)
    • Corporate/M&A (Band 3)
    • Litigation: General Commercial (Band 2)

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