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

As a member of the Firmwide Legal Recruiting & Development Department (“LRD”), the Legal Recruiting Specialist for the Los Angeles/Century City location will provide strategic support to the legal recruiting efforts of this office.  The position will work in collaboration with other LRD functions as well as other Firm Administrative departments to help develop and implement these initiatives on a local basis. 

This position requires a high level of collaboration with attorneys and staff and the ability to work independently, as well as the exercise of independent judgment.

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, possess excellent proofing and communication (oral and written) skills; the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment; a very strong attention to detail; and a professional demeanor.  Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships among lawyers and staff to achieve results.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented and changed as necessary.)

Recruiting

• Work with Los Angeles Director of Recruiting, hiring partners and the recruiting committee to develop, implement and manage recruiting strategies and programs
• Support and maintain Summer Associate Program (including budget)
• Plan, coordinate, and attend events
• Support mid and end-of-summer reviews
• Liaise between the summer associates and the attorneys and staff
• Coordinate with all offices and support on-campus interviews, job fairs and resume collections
• Support the attorney offer and hiring process, including preparing, updating, and managing the correspondence of offer letters, reviewing offers for consistency and uniformity, conducting due diligence, facilitating attorney registration, and identifying liability issues
• Coordinate and support offer dinners, pre-OCI receptions and rising 2L receptions
• Maintain communication with law school career services departments
• Manage law school and law student outreach including panels, receptions, mentoring programs, etc.
• Support judicial clerk outreach and receptions
• Manage sponsorship requests
• Drive local attorney onboarding
• Create department surveys and report results to Directors
• Maintain historical records
• Support WLI and Diversity Programs and Events (including ALLSA)
• Maintain ViDesktop records
• Process employer feedback forms
• Oversee candidate and law firm shared expenses
• Provide strategic direction and implementation for lateral hiring programs
• Communicate and work closely with senior partners within all practice areas regarding lateral needs
• Source candidates and review candidate materials
• Work with the Los Angeles Director of Attorney Recruiting, and attorneys, as well as local and firm management, in the negotiation of lateral hire compensation, utilizing market trends and conditions that may affect compensation, bonuses, raises, and benefits
• Ensure the regular maintenance of, and contribution to, attorney applicant databases for purposes of applicant tracking, NALP reporting, and reference checking; develop, prepare and analyze relevant reports and projections regarding attorney attrition, market analysis and hours
• Collaborate with other Kirkland offices and departments to identify efficiencies and best practices, including efficient in-take of lateral hires/orientation programs; assist with lateral searches as needed
• Support pipeline of transfer attorneys to/from Los Angeles Century City office
• Provide reports and statistical data as needed
• Work closely with Recruiting, Training & Development teams to assist with ad hoc projects as needed

Qualifications & Requirements

Education, Work Experience, Skills

Minimum of seven (7) years of experience, preferably in law firm or other professional services environment. The candidate must also demonstrate strong leadership, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills, and the ability to work across all levels of management with various personality types; build relationships, be proactive, stay organized, and multitask in a fast-paced, pressured environment. A Bachelor’s degree is required, along with superior verbal and written communication skills.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise regarding attorney recruitment activities;
• Strong leadership and teamwork skills;
• Strong problem-solving skills;
• Strong planning and organizational skills;
• Ability to design short-term and long-term goals, with clear criteria to measure success and return on investment;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines;
• Ability to excel in a multiple authorities environment;
• Superior verbal and written communication skills;
• A proactive approach and the ability to work "hands-on" as required;
• High degree of comfort interacting with partners, coupled with a strong image and presence that engenders confidence from firm management and attorneys;
• Strong presentation skills combined with confidence and poise;
• A Bachelor’s degree combined with a minimum of ten years of recruiting experience, preferably in a large law firm or other professional services environment;
• Proficiency in the use office software, including Microsoft Office. Experience with ViDesktop preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

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

How to Apply

Please apply directly through our Careers page at:

https://staffjobsus.kirkland.com/jobs/3699529-legal-recruiting-specialist?bid=4646