Kirkland & Ellis

Private equity powerhouse Kirkland & Ellis knows a thing or two about investment, particularly when it comes to building associates’ careers.

About the Firm

Fortune favors the bold. Kirkland & Ellis proved as much in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis by doubling down on its private equity and restructuring offerings – a move that arguably accelerated its growth for years to come. Today, this boldness is reflected in the firm’s undeniable prestige, market-leading revenue, global reach, and six-year path to income partnership – all of which continues to draw associates to its doors.

It’s safe to say Kirkland is no rookie in the world of BigLaw. “It’s a place for people eager to take on responsibility; there’s a lot happening, and there’s quality across the platform,” insiders emphasized. Indeed, our colleagues over at Chambers USA can only agree, awarding the firm with a long list of top-tier accolades. Kirkland gold stars for over 50 of its practices – 20 of which are recognized as some of the best nationwide (you’ll have to head over to chambers.com for the full list – we have a word count over here!). The firm’s status as a global leader is further cemented by its appearance in Chambers Global for its investment funds, private equity, and restructuring/insolvency prowess across multiple international jurisdictions.

“Juniors take on meaningful responsibilities. If you want it and go after it, it’s not a hypothetical.”

On such high-stakes deals, associates aren’t left to the wayside either. “Juniors take on meaningful responsibilities,” a source made clear, “If you want it and go after it, it’s not a hypothetical.” Feel like a lot to bear? You’re not wrong. Thankfully, associates have the training and investment to complement the responsibilities. “It strikes a nice balance,” sources observed. Moreover, with the autonomy afforded by the open assignment system, “You’re in charge of your own path,” we heard.

Summer Program

2L summer associates join a specific practice area (for example, corporate, litigation, or restructuring), while 1L summers are encouraged to try out different work assignments and explore multiple practices through the open assignment system. Summers are also encouraged to network and be curious; “Talk to as many people as possible and ask why they like the work and find those that you most relate to,” an associate advised, “It’s the best use of your time to figure out what interests you; ask as many questions as possible!”

During the program, interviewees recalled shadowing associates, attending meetings, and getting involved in research tasks and other discrete assignments. There are also plenty of events put on for summers to get to know one another and their future colleagues, including lunches, dinners, Broadway shows, and baseball games.

Strategy & Future

2025 can only be described as yet another record-breaking year for Kirkland: the firm surpassed the $10 billion revenue mark, with profits per equity partner averaging $11 million and an estimated 225 parter promotions. It’s also been a continued story of growth for the firm’s geographical footprint with the addition of new offices in Philadelphia and Nashville. The firm’s Miami presence has also continued to grow since its inception in 2023, with the addition of a restructuring team.

As one would expect, artificial intelligence has also been top of mind for many, including associates at Kirkland: “I can see with the evolution of AI the firm is doing its level best to keep up with changes.” Associates have access to tools such as Harvey and Westlaw, alongside a dedicated working group on speed dial to answer any queries. “It’s totally changed my workflow, and I use it almost every day,” an insider shared of the AI toolkit.

The Work

Most junior associates join the corporate department, followed by general litigation and restructuring. The rest are spread across IP litigation, taxation, technology & IP transactions, antitrust/competition, investment funds, real estate, and international trade.

Across practices, associates find work through an open assignment system which allows juniors to reach out to senior associates and partners for work, and vice versa. “You get to find the people that you want to work with and the cases that you want to work on,” an insider explained. Ultimately, “it’s an adjustment to learn how to do that, but it’s a good skill to learn,” we heard.

Career Development

“Absolutely, there is a big focus on structured training and learning every day with the work that you’re doing - the training is rigorous,” insiders were quick to highlight. There are plenty of resources available to juniors, starting with general sessions for first-years. These turn into more targeted training sessions as associates progress.

For instance, litigators undergo take part in the annual Kirkland Institute for Trial Advocacy (KITA) program which is aimed to provide hands-on learning opportunities: “We had a weeklong mock trial: witness prep, trial prep, and a bench or jury trial, with direct instruction from partners who have done this many times before.” Those in restructuring have similar exercises including a mock presentation to a board for a restructuring deal.

Upon joining the firm, associates are typically assigned mentors, including more senior associates for career guidance and colleagues for more day-to-day questions. “I’ve been able to take younger associates under my wing and summers that are coming back – it goes both ways,” an insider emphasized.

“…you’re given leeway to make mistakes and grow.”

We heard that associates ultimately benefit from an entrepreneurial spirit as “there are lots of opportunities to raise your hand, and no shortage of mentorship and guidance.” One added, “it’s rough and tumble sometimes, but you’re given leeway to make mistakes and grow; you’re treated like a professional with respect.”

As for long-term career progression, our interviewees agreed that the path to income partnership is transparent and attainable with a defined six-year path, though the equity tier was a tad more elusive. Associates were also confident about their ability to look at alternate options, with a robust alumni network and career services support particularly for those looking to clerk and go in-house.

Hours & Compensation

Associates at the firm don’t have a formal billable hour requirement, nor are bonuses tied to any hours targets. However, insiders indicated that informally, there is the general expectation to be hitting at least 1,800 to 2,000 billable hours, which is pretty typical for BigLaw. Regardless, the lack of a formal target certainly helped ease stress level for sources, who commented: “I just bill time without worrying about meeting a target – there’s certainly no shortage of work.”

Breaking this down, sources indicated working anywhere between 40 to 50 hours a week, although naturally there are ebbs and flows. For example, associates working on M&A might have more intense periods in contrast to those in investment funds which typically have longer time frames and are a bit more predictable. Those in litigation can find themselves in particularly busy periods as well, especially in the lead up to and during trials.

In turn, associates receive market-rate compensation for their efforts, and are awarded a bonus for being in good standing. There is also an additional discretionary bonus available.

Culture

While there are a variety of personalities across the firm, associates consistently described a culture where “people are driven and willing to put themselves out there, go above and beyond, and look for opportunities.” This drive manifests itself in different ways, from those seeking out exposure to highly-sophisticated clients, those pushing towards partnership, or those wanting to make a mark before moving in-house.

Associates are expected to be in office Tuesday through Thursday, with some flexibility for those working later hours or in different time zones, for example. Ultimately, “one of the biggest selling points of being in is the free coffee, breakfast, and lunch every day!” one associate quipped.

There are also weekly opportunities to mingle, typically revolving around food or drinks. Insiders agreed the summer program is certainly the liveliest period at the firm, and associates also look forward to the holiday party: “a big shebang which everyone goes to!”

Pro Bono

There is no limit on how many hours of pro bono work associates can undertake, and “it’s all counted as billable, which is fantastic!” Of course, “You need to balance it out with client billable work,” a source reasoned. This policy was certainly appreciated by first-year associates during their ramp up periods at the firm – not only for logging hours, but also for gaining experience. “I got substantive drafting experience from month one,” a litigator enthused. The firm also rewards those who accrue a certain number of hours with a ‘pro bono all-star’ sign on their office door.

There are plenty of projects to get involved in which are circulated regularly by the firm’s dedicated pro bono coordinators. Opportunities range from short-term legal clinic commitments to veterans, immigration, and asylum cases, and criminal justice matters – to name just a few. “It’s so great to see the good work that we’re doing in real time,” an insider beamed.