Legal Education & Development Specialist

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

The New York office is seeking a Legal Education & Development (LED) Specialist as a member of the Legal Recruiting and Development Department. The LED Specialist will provide support to the Capital Markets (CM) practice group in the New York office.  The NY CM practice group of approximately 60 attorneys is a rapidly growing group that works with a variety of clients and many different practice groups throughout the firm. The practice is highly substantive, complex and fast-paced and involves intensive interaction with colleagues and clients. CM group leadership prioritizes collaboration and excellence. The NY team is currently ~60% diverse by gender and ~40% diverse by race/ethnicity and a key priority is to advance a diverse pipeline for promotion over the next five years. Commensurate with the group’s dramatic growth, we have decided to seek an LED specialist dedicated to supporting our team and our education and development goals for CM team members.

Essential Functions

Collaboratively work with CM attorneys and Legal Education to support the following objectives for the  CM practice group:

• Sustainable performance, as demonstrated by a team characterized by flourishing, vitality, engagement, loyalty, satisfaction, health and high performance
• Progressive development of leadership skills, specifically in management, delegation, and communication

Lead professional development for CM attorneys

• Conduct initial and periodic assessments of the skills and experiences of the CM group and identify areas for development
• Become a resource and point person dedicated to mapping the skills, work experience and any self-identified professional aspirations of CM attorneys onto the established CM milestones
• Periodically review, update and disseminate CM milestones as well as design and help implement any programs or training designed to build up to a specific milestone
• Collaborate with CM Knowledge Management and Firmwide LED to identify FAQs, training and development opportunities for specific target groups (e.g., senior associates, junior associates, etc.) or the overall CM practice group
• Collaborate with CM group leadership to assist team members who require additional training or support

Workflow

• In coordination with the NY workflow integration team, advise CM group leadership on workflow within group, including designing and executing processes to ensure that associates are not over-staffed / burning out
• Assist associates with workflow selection and management questions

Design and operationalize best practices for formal reviews and informal feedback

• Work with the Firmwide Associate Review team and CM SPs on annual and mid-year formal review process design and implementation
• Conduct post-formal review meetings to help attorneys analyze feedback and develop action plans
• Design and implement systems to facilitate interim feedback, including post-deal assessments and interim check-ins
• Develop alliances with the Kirkland CareerLink and alumni to help CM team members chart their careers

Structure and execute mentorship programming

• Work with CM group leadership to assess mentoring needs and design appropriate mentoring program to partner junior and senior attorneys
• Establish connections between and organize collaborations among CM attorneys seeking to build certain skills and attorneys who are more experienced in those areas
• Take into account specific needs of diverse associates and NSPs
• Hold regular office hours to discuss professional development issues or questions that may arise in an informal and confidential setting
• Provide support with practice group retreat and engagement events where needed
• Provide support with lateral attorney integration for NYC CM attorney new hires and office transfers
• Build key stakeholder relationships across the CM practice group to enable leadership development, integration, and support strategies.

Play a support role to the NY Legal Recruiting Team during the summer program and fall recruiting related to CM hiring

Work and collaborate with vendors where needed

Qualifications & Requirements

Education, Work Experience, Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in similar setting, law firm or professional services strongly preferred
• High level of collaboration and the ability to work independently
• Strong organizational skills including excellent proofing and communication (oral and written) abilities
• The ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a very strong attention to detail and a professional demeanor. 
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across departments and offices to achieve results. 
• Ability to work overtime, and evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines

Technologies/Software

• Technical experience should include the Microsoft Office Suite; Proficiency in Excel required.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.

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

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