What's the deal with Kirkland & Ellis? Forum

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 3:39 pm

I hear from some people that they're "work hard, play hard" - but I hear from others (and the Vault Survey) that they have reasonable collegiality but are "closed door, work-obsessed ... go directly home" etc.

Anyone here with any insight?

Although I wouldn't say either of those are ideal, I'd prefer the latter to the former - lawyers have their good points but I'm not too interested in spending the little bit of time I have outside of the office with lawyers unless its a few that I've really built a real relationship with.

My ideal firm would be a place where people work really hard to beat the other side but aren't motivated to undercut each other(any more than is normal for a law firm, at least) and have their own lives outside of the office. Where's K&E in this calculus? (Specifically DC if anyone knows).

Thanks.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:14 pm

Current SA. It depends on the group and it depends on the occasion and it depends on the day. Some of the attorneys in some of the groups are definitely work hard/play hard. However, some of the other attorneys do definitely just go home after work. It's like any firm. There are a variety of personalities and a variety of working styles. Certain groups do definitely have more of a work hard/play hard mentality especially when it comes to summer recruiting events (and it becomes very obvious once you go to the firm), but others don't.

underdawg · Post by **underdawg** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 7:53 am

people's personalities don't magically change once they start working at a certain firm. they're not cults

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:10 am

Very interested in what some of the more work hard play hard groups are. M&A? Leveraged Finance? And curious as to what office has the frattiest culture?

Gecko of Doom · Post by **Gecko of Doom** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 11:30 am

In before someone uses the phrase "MARKET SHATTERING."

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 11:47 am

underdawg wrote:people's personalities don't magically change once they start working at a certain firm. they're not cults

The thing is, though, that your personality does change based on your environment. People aren't monoliths, our behavior is very situational.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:20 pm

It definitely depends, and I don't think it's Kirkland-specific. As you'd expect, the attorneys with families or even just spouses at home tend to leave at decent hours and work from home if they have to; the single attorneys tend to come in later and stay in the office later and then go out afterwards.

At least on the west coast, I'd say that the corporate groups party more. There may just be a higher concentration of single folks there though.

As for the closed-door thing, I don't really see much of that. Generally a collegial group -- while the firm is known for being cut-throat, that seems to be more external than internal. The associates (to my surprise, to be honest, given KE's reputation) actually get along really well because there is more than enough work and reward for everybody.

Haymarket · Post by **Haymarket** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:29 pm

This is all I can think about when reading this thread.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:11 pm

Anonymous User wrote:It definitely depends, and I don't think it's Kirkland-specific. As you'd expect, the attorneys with families or even just spouses at home tend to leave at decent hours and work from home if they have to; the single attorneys tend to come in later and stay in the office later and then go out afterwards.

At least on the west coast, I'd say that the corporate groups party more. There may just be a higher concentration of single folks there though.

As for the closed-door thing, I don't really see much of that. Generally a collegial group -- while the firm is known for being cut-throat, that seems to be more external than internal. The associates (to my surprise, to be honest, given KE's reputation) actually get along really well because there is more than enough work and reward for everybody.

OP here. Thanks

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:56 pm

From fratty to nerdy:

Bankruptcy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>corporate>>>>>>>>>litigation>>>>>>>>>>>>>IP

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:52 am

Anonymous User wrote:From fratty to nerdy:

Bankruptcy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>corporate>>>>>>>>>litigation>>>>>>>>>>>>>IP

This is hilariously true of the summer associates at my office.

Also, *ahem*, restructuring.

rad lulz · Post by **rad lulz** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:05 am

MARKET SHATTERING BROWNIES

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