Legal Recruiting & Development Resources 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 3,500+ lawyers) operating from 19 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

As a member of the Firmwide (FW) Legal Recruiting & Development Department (LRD), the LRD Assistant role will provide approximately 50% general administrative support for the FW LRD Senior Director and the LRD Resources team (approx. 10 ppl). The rest of the position also include (but not limited to) special projects, event assistance, oversight of selected projects, liaise between other departments and provide support to the broader LRD team when needed.

This position requires a highly motivated professional who is well organized and capable of working within a demanding, fast-paced environment. Strong interpersonal and communication skills along with the ability to work collaboratively within a team are paramount for this role. It is important to note that this role often requires the need to pivot from project-to-project quickly based on the department’s demands.

Additionally:

• You must possess strong organizational, writing and efficient time management skills.
• Strong proofing skills (newsletters, OneNote sites, etc.) will be helpful in this role.
• Tenacious data entry for Excel documents and recruiting platforms may be an integral part of this position at times.
• Demonstrated intermediate Excel skills will be necessary (sorting/ filtering, pivot tables, use of functions, etc.) and the desire to expand Excel knowledge to a masterly level will be noted. This role demands a professional demeanor who can interact with high-level attorneys, staff and attorney candidates.
• We are looking for a strong critical thinker who actively problem solves on their own and provides solutions for an issue, rather than looking to be told the answer.
• Someone who seeks out projects on their own, develops relationships outside of the team, is proactive in their daily role and provides near-flawless output each time will likely find fulfillment in this role.  
• Confidentiality and discretion are a must.

Key Responsibilities:

We are seeking a resourceful, self-starter to heavily assist a core team within LRD and provide auxiliary support for the overall LRD department on specific tasks. We expect this team member to be extremely responsive and to pivot quickly when needed. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting to maintain applicable shared calendars, shared inboxes and selected team members’ schedules.
• Scheduling meetings/room reservations, sending invitations, drafting meeting agendas and taking/distributing comprehensive notes for both in-person and remote meetings.
• Coordinating travel arrangements, as needed, including transportation, lodging and other travel-related reservations.
• Masterful in processing department wide invoices and LRD Resources team expenses.
• Helping to maintain and organize the team’s digital storage system and inventory management.
• Performing other ad hoc responsibilities or projects as assigned by manager.
• Providing back up support to the LRD Resources coordinator.
• Maintaining the department’s swag (branded items) inventory and be a gatekeeper to ensure proper inventory levels.
• Taking initiative to respond to inquiries on behalf of team members.
• Acting as proxy to liaise with external vendors and internal departments. Proactively learns, suggests ideas and seeks to strengthen the team’s brand.

Qualifications & Requirements

• A four-year degree and at least one year of experience in a similar role. Preference for someone with experience working in a law firm or professional services firm environment. 
• Solid command of MS Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint).  Master in Excel skills is a plus.
• Excellent client service orientation, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with limited instructions. 
• Must be flexible and adapt to new challenges as they arise.
• Agile to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Can manage a diverse range of assignments/projects and prioritize efficiently.
• Provide quality work that is error-free in a deadline-driven environment.
• Attention to detail is a must.  
• Proactive and able to take initiative.
• Flexible for overtime as necessary.

Technologies/Software:

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

Work Environment:

Kirkland has a hybrid work arrangement, with the requirement to work in the office three days a week (but must be flexible to come in the office up to five days a week, when needed). 

Our teaming and collaborative workstyle requires a person who can adapt their communication skills when the situation presents itself. Someone who is self-aware, motivated, and can interpret cues to pivot/flex at a moment’s notice, should be able to succeed in this role.

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.