Junior Paralegal

About Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a preeminent, full-service law firm with offices around the world and a staff as diverse as the practice areas we support. Our clients range from Fortune 100 companies to medium and small corporations, financial institutions, and private equity firms.  Known for our commitment to excellence, Kirkland strives to provide superior service to our clients as well as our fellow employees. From Information Technology to Human Resources, Paralegal Services to Business Development, Kirkland offers non-attorney professionals challenging careers in a variety of functional areas. Whether starting or growing your career, Kirkland can offer a performance-driven culture filled with bright and innovative teams of co-workers.

Essential Job Functions

The Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP is seeking a Litigation Jr. Paralegal who, under the supervision and direction of a Paralegal, helps to manage and organize the materials and information relating to particular matters and transactions. These duties allow them the opportunity to work with and assist our legal staff in preparing for depositions, due diligence investigations, document productions, trials. The projects typically involve basic file organization tasks and may require long hours and travel.

Essential Job Duties Include:

Provide legal support to Paralegal(s) and Attorneys in the Litigation Department.

• Become thoroughly familiar with each assigned active case by understanding the nature of the documents and their relationship to the case in order to be responsive to document requests.
• Understand the litigation process in order to anticipate what types of documents Attorneys will need so that documents are prepared ahead of time and requests are filled promptly; facilitate communication between Paralegals and Attorneys; work directly with Paralegal’s and Attorneys in coordinating and executing requests.
• Act as a custodian of any and all documents, media and databases relevant to the active cases.
• Organize, update case files, pleadings and correspondence files.  Assist Paralegal and Attorneys with deposition witness files, document productions, briefs and other various tasks as they are assigned in preparation for depositions and arbitrations; create many of the witness preparation materials such as deposition preparation binders, direct testimony materials and cross examination materials.
• Adequately compile and organize case materials; and compile relevant documents in databases and network drives to maintain an accessible case file.
• Employ various Firm resources, e.g. Livenote, Concordance, Sharepoint, LegalKey and shared network drives.
• Commitment to work overtime and travel as needed, which maybe be heavy at times, and may include weekends or holidays with potential to be for extended periods of time.

Qualifications & Requirements

The ideal candidate is a college graduate with a strong interest in the legal profession and litigation law, those with the desire to attend law or graduate school, or for those wishing to pursue a career as a Paralegal.  Excellent oral and written communication skills are necessary with the ability to interact professionally with staff, attorneys, paralegals, clients and vendors.  The successful candidate must be able to multitask and prioritize while working in a high pressure, deadline-driven environment.  Strong technical skills are required, particularly Microsoft  Word, Excel, Outlook and a Document Management System; knowledge of Carpe Diem, Westlaw, Livenote, Concordance, Sharepoint, Legalkey is a plus.  Overtime availability is a must, a bachelor's degree and two years of experience required. California ABA approved Paralegal certification 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.