Our sources add good judgment and good writing and oral skills as prerequisites. For those without the letters next to their name, just having business interests, experience, and desires are a plus for the corporate department. The firm places great emphasis on first-year grades and law review, and continually talks about how we are the best and the brightest, remarks a source. There are a lot of bright, talented attorneys out there, who just happened not to do so well their first year, who get passed over. Kirkland is also partial to candidates who have worked for a while before law school.
Banking is always a hot area to draw recruits from, says an insider.
While recruiters do not seek one specific type of person, personality matters. We have so many different personalities here, says an insider, that there is nothing you ve got to have, but it helps to be confident and outgoing. It is important to show an interest in Kirkland s business. This is especially true outside Chicago. For example, applicants should show awareness that it is a Chicago firm, but New York is an independent branch office with a separate client base.