Contract Legal Recruiting Coordinator

Job ID: 8302

Updated: Mar 14, 2025

Location: Washington, DC, United States

Category: Legal Recruiting & Development

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.

As one of the world's leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don't just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With over 6,500 employees (including approximately 4,000 lawyers) operating from 21 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.

Essential Job Functions

As a member of the Firmwide (FW) Legal Recruiting and Development Department (LRD), the Washington, D.C. Legal Recruiting Coordinator will work with all aspects of attorney recruiting programs in DC, including lateral, clerk, law student, and entry level hiring.

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

The ideal candidate will possess excellent oral and written communication skills; be a team player; demonstrate strong client service; have the utmost respect for confidentiality and attention to detail; work independently and be able to follow up with minimal instructions; have the ability to prioritize work and work on multiple projects in a fast paced environment; interact with potential recruits, attorneys and staff at all levels of the Firm's business; have strong organizational skills, demonstrate initiative and work under pressure and deal with demanding deadlines. Individual must be flexible with work allocation and have the ability to work overtime.

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

• Work closely with local Legal Recruiting team and senior partners within all practice areas regarding lateral needs
• Act as a contact for judicial clerks, lateral candidates and headhunters, source candidates and review candidate materials
• Schedule interviews, collect & distribute interview feedback, accurately track all candidates and update website with open position information
• Coordinate judicial clerk outreach and receptions
• Manage pipeline of transfer attorneys to/from other Kirkland offices
• Assist with law school and law student outreach including panels, receptions, mentoring programs, receptions, and annual on and off campus events etc.
• Assist with sponsorship requests
• Process local law school, diversity and pro bono related sponsorships as necessary
• Schedule screen and callback interviews, assist with offer process and follow up, track candidate follow-up and offer status
• Maintain ViDesktop records with support of LRD team
• Assist with candidate and law firm shared expenses
• Coordinate Summer Associate programming including: orientation, work allocation, assignment of mentors and trainings, coordinate and attend events, track budget and coordinate mid and end of summer reviews
• Plan orientation events, prepare New Associate and Lateral onboarding materials and prepare and oversee onboarding/HR paperwork process
• Manage all speakers and related presentations for the DC office
• Maintain recruiting timeline for events and projects
• Coordinate Firmwide purchase of Kirkland branded gifts and giveaways
• Assist with budget tracking year round and preparation for annual budget process

OTHER FUNCTIONS (This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented and changed as necessary. Delete if not applicable.)

• Assist with administrative support
• Prepare and distribute department documents and materials
• Provide meeting support, including scheduling meetings
• Update and maintain department calendars
• Enter accurate and timely department data into various databases
• Maintain files and provide reports and statistical data as needed
• Prepare check requests and expense reports
• Provide event support
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Requirements

Education, Work Experience, Skills

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• 3+ years of recruiting experience in a law firm or professional services industry
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise regarding lateral and student attorney recruitment activities
• Strong leadership and teamwork skills
• Strong strategic planning problem-solving skills, and organizational skills
• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Ability to build relationships and work with individuals at all levels with varying personality types
• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• A proactive approach and the ability to work "hands-on" as required
• Strong presentation skills combined with confidence and poise
• Proficiency in the use of software, including Microsoft Office. Experience with ViDesktop preferred.

Kirkland Ellis is a highly collaborative and collegiate environment where each contributing member is expected to excel in communication, initiative, building relationships, client focus, agility, business insight, and influencing outcomes.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Closing Statement

The www.kirkland.com job postings and recruiting mailbox are for candidates only. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency, and do not have a signed contract with Kirkland & Ellis LLP ("K&E") and have not been asked specifically to submit candidates, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if K&E hires the candidate. Direct contact with K&E employees in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with the Firm.