Legal Recruiting & Development Assistant

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.

As one of the world’s leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and management; restructurings; high-stakes litigation and trials; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don’t just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With 6,500 employees (including 3,000+ lawyers) operating from 18 offices across the United States, Europe and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.

Essential Job Functions

At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, dedication to improving our communities, inclusion, respect and gratitude. We believe our people are our greatest asset. By investing in the brightest talent and encouraging each individual’s distinct strengths, we create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. We value unique perspectives, and we want our talented professionals to show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.

As one of the world’s leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions and restructurings; investment fund formation and management; high-stakes litigation and trials; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. We handle the most complex and sophisticated legal matters because we don’t just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, we have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With 6,500 employees (including 3,000+ lawyers) operating from 19 offices across the United States, Europe and Asia, we are both one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.

Essential Job Function:

As a member of the Firmwide (FW) Legal Recruiting & Development Department (LRD), the LRD Assistant role will provide support for the LRD Resources Team.  This position will assist with the general management of our department, Firmwide, which includes supporting various internal and external initiatives, along with a variety of special projects. This role will also intersect with many other administrative departments within the Firm including Accounting, Diversity & Inclusion, Support Services, Purchasing, etc.

We are seeking a resourceful, self-starter to assist with but is not limited to: managing team mailboxes, scheduling meetings, processing purchase requests and invoices, compiling expense packages for approval, entering expenses for reimbursements, file organization/management, and responding to requests quickly and appropriately. You should possess strong organizational, writing and time management skills with the ability to interact professionally with high-level attorneys, staff and attorney candidates of the Firm. Meticulous data entry, writing and proofing skills are also essential.

Key Responsibilities:

• Handle all LRD Resources administrative support responsibilities.
• Prepare select departmental expense reports and check requests as needed.
• Maintain team shared calendar(s), inbox and OneNote/SharePoint sites.
• Process all team invoices, expenses, and purchase requests.  Package emails with relevant documentation for review and approval of certain requests for spend by the FW LRD Senior Director or other authorized approvers.
• Help maintain and organize the team’s digital storage system and inventory management.
• Provide backup administrative support if needed for the FW Senior Director of Legal Recruiting & Development.
• Perform other ad hoc responsibilities or projects as assigned by manager.
• Schedule meetings including room reservations, invitations, agenda development, minute preparation and distribution, and conference calls/Zoom meetings. 
• Assist with development of onboarding schedules for LRD new hires and schedule orientation sessions based on the schedules.
• Coordinate travel arrangements, including flight (domestic and international), lodging, ground transportation and other reservations.
• Manages LRD swag inventory and works with various mailroom teams to timely ship items.
• Survey development and analysis of collected data.
• May also be called upon to assist with various other LRD initiatives and projects that intersect with other functional areas within the LRD context, including events.

Qualifications & Requirements

• A four-year degree is required. Ideally with at least one-plus years in a similar role, with preference for experience working in a law firm or professional services firm environment. 
• Must have solid command of MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Excellent client service orientation, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong ability to adapt to change and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage a diverse range of assignments and projects and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Provides quality work that is error free n a deadline-driven environment (attention to detail)
• A history of taking initiative is essential to success in this position.
• Flexible for overtime as necessary.

Work Environment:

• The ideal candidate will possess outstanding proofreading and communication (oral and written) skills, and the ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment with meticulous attention to detail and a professional demeanor.

Technologies/Software:

• Must demonstrate mastery in Excel and be proficient in MS Word and PowerPoint. Familiarity with other collaboration tools such as OneNote and SharePoint is a plus.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP.  To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Closing Statement

The www.kirkland.com job postings and recruiting mailbox are for candidates only. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency, and do not have a signed contract with Kirkland & Ellis LLP ("K&E") and have not been asked specifically to submit candidates, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if K&E hires the candidate. Direct contact with K&E employees in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with the Firm. #LI-Hybrid