Kirkland & Ellis

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis draws trainees with its reputation for “market-leading work,” “prestigious clients,” and a focus on private equity. Many highlight the “small trainee cohort” and “unprecedented levels of responsibility” as major selling points, alongside the appeal of “fair compensation, transparent track to partnership and exposure to high levels of responsibility.” One trainee proudly summed it up: “K&E is the best at what it does and the entire apparatus is geared towards providing the best client service in the world.” The “staunchly meritocratic environment” and partnership prospects are frequently cited, with another noting, “Kirkland has some of the most prestigious clients in law, a partnership track that promotes more partners than any other law firm  and the prestige of being one of the most elite law firms in the world.” The training is described as “more intense” and “hands on,” with responsibility arriving quickly due to lean deal teams. “While Kirkland does have formal training sessions, much of the training is hands on, learning by doing,” said one trainee, adding that they were trusted with “work which would usually be reserved for associates in other firms.” Another reflected that “you are pushed harder but the reward for doing so is exponentially better than elsewhere,” with the accelerated professional development tempered by “helpful seniors” who provide guidance and pastoral support. For many, the overall difference is summed up simply: “higher level work, more responsibility, longer hours.” Supervisors are praised for being “friendly and approachable” despite their workloads, with associates and partners said to be “invested in your development” and generous with their time. Trainees also appreciate the “large amount of autonomy with who you work with and what you get involved in.” Downsides are unsurprising: “hours can be very long at times,” and “work-life balance varies from team to team.” For some, the heavy workload is the inevitable trade-off for “exposure to the best Private Equity clients.” Highlight moments include “getting to attend the Supreme Court,” “working on a multi-billion pound fundraise, drafting many of the key documents,” and enjoying a “stress-free qualification process.” Low points mostly come down to “consecutive late nights during a deal closing” and “working on weekends.” Pro bono is also available and encouraged, with “lots” of opportunities for trainees and associates alike. For those aiming to fast-track in private equity, gain high-level responsibility early, and thrive in a meritocratic, hands-on environment, Kirkland & Ellis might be the place for you.

About the firm

The firm: With a global platform of approximately 4,000 lawyers in 22 cities across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Kirkland & Ellis provides elite legal advice and a relentless commitment to client service. Kirkland is a market leader in each of its core practice areas including private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. To learn more, please visit www.kirkland.com.

The clients: Advent International, Antin Infrastructure Partners, Apax, Apollo Global Management, Bain Capital Private Equity, BC Partners, Blackstone, Brookfield, CapVest, GIC, Hellman & Friedman, KKR, Montagu Private Equity, Nordic Capital, Starwood Capital Group, TA Associates, Thoma Bravo, TDR Capital, TPG, Vista Equity Partners, Warburg Pincus.

Other offices: Austin, Bay Area, Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Munich, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Riyadh, Salt Lake City, Shanghai and Washington DC.

Who we are: We are a leading global law firm that is focused on meritocracy and enabling our lawyers to become leading partners as early as possible in their careers. We encourage all of our lawyers to accelerate their growth by advising on complex transactions and being client-facing and business-focused.

What we do: We advise global clients, including holders of private capital, on their M&A and financing transactions, investment fund formations, restructuring and litigation matters.

What we’re looking for in a trainee: We hire trainees who are hardworking, motivated and focused on gaining as much experience as possible and want to become partners on an accelerated career path.

What you’ll do: Our trainees gain experience through active involvement in deals throughout their careers, together with extensive technical training.

Perks: Private medical insurance, life insurance, income protection, travel insurance, pension scheme, corporate fitness centre, BUPA health assessment, dental plan, GP consultation service, fertility and family forming, employee assistance programme, cycle to work scheme, free breakfast and lunch, back-up child/elder care, wellbeing apps, 25 days’ holiday, season ticket loan, business travel accident insurance, menopause plan, annual flu shots, eye care.

Sponsorship

We pay the fees for your PGDL course (if required) and the LLM in Legal Practice (including the SQE exams) and provide a competitive maintenance grant for the year(s) of study.

Seat options

Corporate; finance; investment funds; one other complementary practice area.

Tips from the recruiter

Read the application form carefully. Some applicants do not answer the specific questions being asked. This is perhaps because they haven’t taken their time when reading it, and/or because they have copied an answer from another application form which asks a similar question, but is in fact slightly different. Attention to detail is a really important skill to demonstrate.

Research the firm thoroughly before applying. There is a huge amount of information about the London office online, particularly on our graduate recruitment site. Pick up on our clients, the deals we’ve worked on and what lawyers are expected to do here. All firms in London offer something different, so you have to think about why you want to come here, and what you can offer through your previous experiences and achievements.

Use interviews to further demonstrate your understanding of the firm. Applicants aren’t expected to have strong legal knowledge at this stage, as we accept applications from both law and non-law backgrounds. However, showing some understanding of the private equity market is a good idea, given the firm’s focus on this and transactional work.