Kirkland Megathread Forum

[Anonymous User]

What is Kirkland's 401K contribution policy? I understand they don't match your contribution but wondering what they provide and when it kicks in. ty.

(edit: looked in the 2023 benefits PDF for associates and there is no information in there concerning this).

[Anonymous User]

What is Kirkland's 401K contribution policy? I understand they don't match your contribution but wondering what they provide and when it kicks in. ty.

(edit: looked in the 2023 benefits PDF for associates and there is no information in there concerning this).

The information you got from the PDF is correct.

[Anonymous User]

anyone in the chicago office know when k&e will be moving to the new 333 Wolf Point location? I think they announced the move in August 2021 and said it would be happening in fall of 2023. Will be starting at k&e in september and starting to think about apartments.

[Anonymous User]

anyone in the chicago office know when k&e will be moving to the new 333 Wolf Point location? I think they announced the move in August 2021 and said it would be happening in fall of 2023. Will be starting at k&e in september and starting to think about apartments.

You might just be mentioning your timing for flavor, but if not: I can't imagine a world where your apartment selection would be affected by whether K&E is at the new location yet, unless you're dead-set on living right on the bus line that will take you to the office front door. Merchandise Mart is the closest L stop either way, and if you live along the Green or Blue lines, you'd maybe have one further stop to ride pre-move. (Sorry to not have an actual answer.)

[Anonymous User]

The career office at my school only has GPA data on Kirkland DC and Kirkland NYC. Anyone know if Kirkland Chicago is more, less or on par to Kirkland DC in terms of competitiveness/grade sensitivity?

[Anonymous User]

The career office at my school only has GPA data on Kirkland DC and Kirkland NYC. Anyone know if Kirkland Chicago is more, less or on par to Kirkland DC in terms of competitiveness/grade sensitivity?

My instinct is it's on par/lower. DC has dropped in desirability while Chicago has stayed constant. For us (HYS), Chicago was slightly harder to get than NYC (though few tried), but lower than DC. Granted, this was pre-Clemexit, so it was seen as a much more desirable office than it's seen as today (not that it's undesirable now, but Clement's name carried significant weight in recruitment).

[Whoknows141317]

How is Kirkland about allowing split summers between offices? The website just says "case by case basis".

[Anonymous User]

The career office at my school only has GPA data on Kirkland DC and Kirkland NYC. Anyone know if Kirkland Chicago is more, less or on par to Kirkland DC in terms of competitiveness/grade sensitivity?

At my T14 I think DC was more solidly competitive than Chicago/NYC. Granted, we don't send a ton of kids to Chicago and a lot to DC, so YMMV. And again this is just my memory. Clement leaving may have some effect but unless you're running in the upper tier of students at HYS, my impression is most students knew they weren't going to touch the more high-profile cases he was bringing in anyway.

[Whoknows141317]

The career office at my school only has GPA data on Kirkland DC and Kirkland NYC. Anyone know if Kirkland Chicago is more, less or on par to Kirkland DC in terms of competitiveness/grade sensitivity?

At my T14 DC was solidly higher than Chicago/NYC. Granted, we don't send a ton of kids to Chicago and a lot to DC, so YMMV. Clement leaving may have some effect but unless you're running in the upper tier of students at HYS, my impression is most students knew they weren't going to touch the more high-profile cases he was bringing in anyway.

I've heard talk that the Chicago office is on par/as competitive as getting a DC slot, is that just a rumor?

[Sackboy]

I've heard talk that the Chicago office is on par/as competitive as getting a DC slot, is that just a rumor?

At Northwestern, KE Chicago's recruiting standards are on par with CSM, DPW, and S&C's NY offices and various good DC offices.

[northernlion9]

I've heard talk that the Chicago office is on par/as competitive as getting a DC slot, is that just a rumor?

At Northwestern, KE Chicago's recruiting standards are on par with CSM, DPW, and S&C's NY offices and various good DC offices.

Eh, this requires more nuance. It's true for litigation, not true for corporate.

Looking at GPA bands and who goes to KE Chi for Lit, they seem to prefer a 1L GPA 3.8+, and basically require 3.7+ (unless you're URM).

But for corporate, KE Chi routinely takes median or even below-median students with significant factors (JD-MBA, URM, strong personal connections, etc.). Whereas CSM/DPW/S&C based on OCI data seem to require at least a 3.6 and more likely 3.7+ even for corporate.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone at KE knows if they currently have a hiring freeze for lateral associates? Understand there may not be anything formal so just looking for the general vibe.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone at KE knows if they currently have a hiring freeze for lateral associates? Understand there may not be anything formal so just looking for the general vibe.

Also curious

[Anonymous User]

Why is Kirkland so hated? Is it getting rejected from them during OCI, sloppiness of their work, horror stories of internal meanness, all of the above? Is Kirkland really just that much worse than every other BigLaw firm?

[Anonymous User]

Why is Kirkland so hated? Is it getting rejected from them during OCI, sloppiness of their work, horror stories of internal meanness, all of the above? Is Kirkland really just that much worse than every other BigLaw firm?

It’s run like a profit-maximizing machine where the share partners skew younger and hungrier. The result is a more demanding and exhausting atmosphere than just about anywhere else (obviously there are some groups and individuals that are less exposed to this). From the outside, this creates an image that the average Kirkland lawyer is unnecessarily aggressive and arrogant (perhaps in an effort to satisfy the unsatisfiable higher ups and anxiety that comes with pretending you are also someone who never takes their foot off the gas). It’s a giant firm so horror stories get out and those who don’t work there enjoy retelling and distorting those stories to tell themselves that their firm isn’t so bad (it still is bad), I mean, look at how awful K&E is?!

[Anonymous User]

Why is Kirkland so hated? Is it getting rejected from them during OCI, sloppiness of their work, horror stories of internal meanness, all of the above? Is Kirkland really just that much worse than every other BigLaw firm?

From the outside, this creates an image that the average Kirkland lawyer is unnecessarily aggressive and arrogant (perhaps in an effort to satisfy the unsatisfiable higher ups and anxiety that comes with pretending you are also someone who never takes their foot off the gas).

K&E was the only firm I interviewed with that spent the entire time talking about how fucking amazing they are. No substantive questions, no shooting the shit, just aggressively trying to sell me on the firm after like a 5 minute introduction. "Nobody else is even close, we dominate the entire industry" are actual words that came out of a partners mouth during an interview. They ARE unnecessarily aggressive and arrogant - both in interviews and in the workplace.

[Anonymous User]

I've heard talk that the Chicago office is on par/as competitive as getting a DC slot, is that just a rumor?

At Northwestern, KE Chicago's recruiting standards are on par with CSM, DPW, and S&C's NY offices and various good DC offices.

Eh, this requires more nuance. It's true for litigation, not true for corporate.

Looking at GPA bands and who goes to KE Chi for Lit, they seem to prefer a 1L GPA 3.8+, and basically require 3.7+ (unless you're URM).

But for corporate, KE Chi routinely takes median or even below-median students with significant factors (JD-MBA, URM, strong personal connections, etc.). Whereas CSM/DPW/S&C based on OCI data seem to require at least a 3.6 and more likely 3.7+ even for corporate.

KE Chicago is far more competitive than KE NY for lit. The Lit summers from Northwestern all had a minimum of 3.8. I think RX for KE Chicago is around 3.6-3.8. Not as sure about corporate.

[Anonymous User]

I've heard talk that the Chicago office is on par/as competitive as getting a DC slot, is that just a rumor?

At Northwestern, KE Chicago's recruiting standards are on par with CSM, DPW, and S&C's NY offices and various good DC offices.

Eh, this requires more nuance. It's true for litigation, not true for corporate.

Looking at GPA bands and who goes to KE Chi for Lit, they seem to prefer a 1L GPA 3.8+, and basically require 3.7+ (unless you're URM).

But for corporate, KE Chi routinely takes median or even below-median students with significant factors (JD-MBA, URM, strong personal connections, etc.). Whereas CSM/DPW/S&C based on OCI data seem to require at least a 3.6 and more likely 3.7+ even for corporate.

KE Chicago is far more competitive than KE NY for lit. The Lit summers from Northwestern all had a minimum of 3.8. I think RX for KE Chicago is around 3.6-3.8. Not as sure about corporate.

Not sure about how competitive KE lit is in chicago v nyc. But I can say with 100% certainty that it is NOT required that one coming from a t13 needs to have a 3.8+ to get a summer offer from Kirkland. I know of multiple summers (non-diverse) who had LOWER gpas.

[northernlion9]

I've heard talk that the Chicago office is on par/as competitive as getting a DC slot, is that just a rumor?

At Northwestern, KE Chicago's recruiting standards are on par with CSM, DPW, and S&C's NY offices and various good DC offices.

Eh, this requires more nuance. It's true for litigation, not true for corporate.

Looking at GPA bands and who goes to KE Chi for Lit, they seem to prefer a 1L GPA 3.8+, and basically require 3.7+ (unless you're URM).

But for corporate, KE Chi routinely takes median or even below-median students with significant factors (JD-MBA, URM, strong personal connections, etc.). Whereas CSM/DPW/S&C based on OCI data seem to require at least a 3.6 and more likely 3.7+ even for corporate.

KE Chicago is far more competitive than KE NY for lit. The Lit summers from Northwestern all had a minimum of 3.8. I think RX for KE Chicago is around 3.6-3.8. Not as sure about corporate.

Not sure about how competitive KE lit is in chicago v nyc. But I can say with 100% certainty that it is NOT required that one coming from a t13 needs to have a 3.8+ to get a summer offer from Kirkland. I know of multiple summers (non-diverse) who had LOWER gpas.

Well, duh.

Corporate is less GPA competitive, and as my earlier post said people at or below median at NU get KE Chi offers all the time for corporate or restructuring.

Kirkland NY Lit is less GPA competitive than Kirkland Chi Lit. KE NY is behind Paul Weiss, Cravath, DPW, S&C, Skadden - and in depending on goals & circumstances, others - in terms of pull & GPA selectivity. In Chicago, it's Kirkland and Sidley then everyone else (Latham and Jenner are in the same neighborhood, too).

If you wanna waste half an hour, pull up the big Chicago firms and filter by lit associates who are UofC and NU grads. Most of Kirkland's lit associates from NU are magna or coif, meaning top 3-5% or 10% - meaning at least 3.7, more likely 3.8+ by end of 1L.

[Anonymous User]

I've heard talk that the Chicago office is on par/as competitive as getting a DC slot, is that just a rumor?

At Northwestern, KE Chicago's recruiting standards are on par with CSM, DPW, and S&C's NY offices and various good DC offices.

Eh, this requires more nuance. It's true for litigation, not true for corporate.

Looking at GPA bands and who goes to KE Chi for Lit, they seem to prefer a 1L GPA 3.8+, and basically require 3.7+ (unless you're URM).

But for corporate, KE Chi routinely takes median or even below-median students with significant factors (JD-MBA, URM, strong personal connections, etc.). Whereas CSM/DPW/S&C based on OCI data seem to require at least a 3.6 and more likely 3.7+ even for corporate.

KE Chicago is far more competitive than KE NY for lit. The Lit summers from Northwestern all had a minimum of 3.8. I think RX for KE Chicago is around 3.6-3.8. Not as sure about corporate.

Not sure about how competitive KE lit is in chicago v nyc. But I can say with 100% certainty that it is NOT required that one coming from a t13 needs to have a 3.8+ to get a summer offer from Kirkland. I know of multiple summers (non-diverse) who had LOWER gpas.

Well, duh.

Corporate is less GPA competitive, and as my earlier post said people at or below median at NU get KE Chi offers all the time for corporate or restructuring.

Kirkland NY Lit is less GPA competitive than Kirkland Chi Lit. KE NY is behind Paul Weiss, Cravath, DPW, S&C, Skadden - and in depending on goals & circumstances, others - in terms of pull & GPA selectivity. In Chicago, it's Kirkland and Sidley then everyone else (Latham and Jenner are in the same neighborhood, too).

If you wanna waste half an hour, pull up the big Chicago firms and filter by lit associates who are UofC and NU grads. Most of Kirkland's lit associates from NU are magna or coif, meaning top 3-5% or 10% - meaning at least 3.7, more likely 3.8+ by end of 1L.

NU restructuring seems to have a higher GPA threshold than corporate, based on what I know of the summers that have gone to KE Chicago in the last few years.

For corporate, I still think Chicago transactional takes higher GPAs than NY transactional. Even if by a slim margin. I don't think KE corporate is any less competitive than corporate at other V10 firms in Chicago. Plenty of median NU students get Skadden Chicago, and some of the most subpar get Sidley Chicago.

[Anonymous User]

What has the WFH policy in Chicago been like and how has it been enforced (if at all)? For anyone that answers, would be helpful to know what practice group you're in (and if in corporate, the specific practice area would be helpful!)

[northernlion9]

I've heard talk that the Chicago office is on par/as competitive as getting a DC slot, is that just a rumor?

At Northwestern, KE Chicago's recruiting standards are on par with CSM, DPW, and S&C's NY offices and various good DC offices.

Eh, this requires more nuance. It's true for litigation, not true for corporate.

Looking at GPA bands and who goes to KE Chi for Lit, they seem to prefer a 1L GPA 3.8+, and basically require 3.7+ (unless you're URM).

But for corporate, KE Chi routinely takes median or even below-median students with significant factors (JD-MBA, URM, strong personal connections, etc.). Whereas CSM/DPW/S&C based on OCI data seem to require at least a 3.6 and more likely 3.7+ even for corporate.

KE Chicago is far more competitive than KE NY for lit. The Lit summers from Northwestern all had a minimum of 3.8. I think RX for KE Chicago is around 3.6-3.8. Not as sure about corporate.

Not sure about how competitive KE lit is in chicago v nyc. But I can say with 100% certainty that it is NOT required that one coming from a t13 needs to have a 3.8+ to get a summer offer from Kirkland. I know of multiple summers (non-diverse) who had LOWER gpas.

Well, duh.

Corporate is less GPA competitive, and as my earlier post said people at or below median at NU get KE Chi offers all the time for corporate or restructuring.

Kirkland NY Lit is less GPA competitive than Kirkland Chi Lit. KE NY is behind Paul Weiss, Cravath, DPW, S&C, Skadden - and in depending on goals & circumstances, others - in terms of pull & GPA selectivity. In Chicago, it's Kirkland and Sidley then everyone else (Latham and Jenner are in the same neighborhood, too).

If you wanna waste half an hour, pull up the big Chicago firms and filter by lit associates who are UofC and NU grads. Most of Kirkland's lit associates from NU are magna or coif, meaning top 3-5% or 10% - meaning at least 3.7, more likely 3.8+ by end of 1L.

NU restructuring seems to have a higher GPA threshold than corporate, based on what I know of the summers that have gone to KE Chicago in the last few years.

For corporate, I still think Chicago transactional takes higher GPAs than NY transactional. Even if by a slim margin. I don't think KE corporate is any less competitive than corporate at other V10 firms in Chicago. Plenty of median NU students get Skadden Chicago, and some of the most subpar get Sidley Chicago.

Don't know enough about Rx to reject your claim. It does seem like the people who want lit but don't have the grades end up in Rx.

Not sure how a "slim" difference in GPA medians between Chi/NY matters. It's all the same.

I do agree that Chi corp. recruiting seems mostly personality and ties based for T13 students. But you're either a 1L or some kind of prestige-obsessed 2L/3L/weird corporate associate because who uses Vault rankings in Chicago???? For corp (and lit too), Skadden is pretty irrelevant in Chicago. It's basically a service office to NY and LA. Kirkland is Tier 0, Sidley/Latham Tier 1, and the rest doesn't really matter - for corp.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone at KE knows if they currently have a hiring freeze for lateral associates? Understand there may not be anything formal so just looking for the general vibe.

Bumping this question - curious market for more senior associates

[Anonymous User]

Don't know enough about Rx to reject your claim. It does seem like the people who want lit but don't have the grades end up in Rx.

LOL @ the claim that RX people are just folks that couldn't get lit. If that were true, I'd feel bad for the poor souls that end up in RX. There's not enough 'lit' in the practice to justify that. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous User]

Don't know enough about Rx to reject your claim. It does seem like the people who want lit but don't have the grades end up in Rx.

LOL @ the claim that RX people are just folks that couldn't get lit. If that were true, I'd feel bad for the poor souls that end up in RX. There's not enough 'lit' in the practice to justify that. Ridiculous.

Yeah that's a weird take. In my experience people who end up in RX are looking either like working with distressed companies or want some hybrid of lit and corp. We're definitely not like the litigators (and I thank god for that everyday lmfao)