Kirkland & Ellis International LLP

Training Contracts at Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis is highly regarded as one of the most successful American law firms in the City and in turn looks to recruit ‘confident and charismatic individuals who are independent workers’ and who are ‘ready to take the initiative’. The London office is duly situated in one of the most iconic buildings in the City – the Gherkin. The firm only takes on a select number of trainees each year with up to ten training contracts available.

Trainees are generally very satisfied with their training which involves ‘great exposure’ to high-quality work and ‘as much responsibility as you can handle’. As one trainee tells us, you may frequently find yourself ‘working on tasks usually carried out by junior associates at other firms’. There is close and continuous contact between partners and trainees, and the ‘very open-door culture’ makes Kirkland & Ellis ‘a friendly place to work’.

The structure of the training contract resembles that of most other law firms in the City, consisting of four six-month seats typically in corporate (a compulsory seat), banking, restructuring, funds, IP, tax or international litigation/arbitration. ‘As the number of trainees is very small, there is a great degree of choice involved’ and trainees are particularly drawn to the fact that secondments can be completed in the firm’s international offices – trainees have been to New York and Hong Kong.

Due to the small intake, Kirkland & Ellis can be very selective in picking its candidates so the recruitment process is suitably competitive and extensive. The firm looks for confident, intelligent people that will fit in quickly and easily, and have an interest in the work the firm does. When you apply you’ll go through several rounds of interviews with a mix of partners and associates. Interviews are said to be ‘formal, but honest, relaxed and very fair’. The firm has a tendency ‘to recruit from Russell group universities’ and current trainees recommend that potential applicants ‘use their initiative and research the firm and the areas in which we specialise’ thoroughly before applying.

Apply Now