Open Assignment System

Kirkland’s open assignment system empowers you to connect with attorneys across the Firm on opportunities that align with your interests, giving you the flexibility to discover the practices, industries and teams where you’ll thrive. From day one, you’ll dive into meaningful work and build a career that reflects your strengths and goals.

Shape Your Experience

Rather than a tool or database, our open assignment system is a workflow philosophy rooted in relationships, trust and shared ownership of attorney development. You’ll shape your own unique career path by:

  • Working With Lawyers Who Invest in Your Success: Our partners and senior associates are intentional about creating strong relationships and positive working experiences. The open assignment system naturally encourages thoughtful mentorship and open dialogue.
  • Exploring Work Across Matters and Teams: Practical experience helps bring law school academics to life. Gain exposure to different matters, clients and teams as you refine your strengths and determine the areas of law and types of matters you do — or don’t — want to pursue.
  • Developing Early Professional Skills: The ability to communicate interests, manage workload and establish trust is foundational to long-term success in private practice.

Learn more in the FAQs at the bottom of this page.

Kirkland’s Open Assignment System
2:27 min
One of the things that sets Kirkland apart is the open assignment system. The Firm’s workflow philosophy uniquely enables associates to take ownership of their careers while simultaneously providing them with an integrated support network. Associates have agency over the types of matters they’re working on, with whom they’re working and what their experience is going to be like at Kirkland.
Kirkland’s Open Assignment System
2:27 min
One of the things that sets Kirkland apart is the open assignment system. The Firm’s workflow philosophy uniquely enables associates to take ownership of their careers while simultaneously providing them with an integrated support network. Associates have agency over the types of matters they’re working on, with whom they’re working and what their experience is going to be like at Kirkland.
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Support Along the Way

As you build your career, you’ll be supported by experienced professionals who will help you navigate the open assignment system and make informed decisions about your experience and long-term growth.

Support includes:

  • Introductions to lawyers in your areas of interest
  • Help identifying opportunities aligned with your goals
  • Coordination of early assignments to build relationships and momentum
  • One-on-one check-ins on workload and experience
  • Guidance on prioritizing competing deadlines

Our team takes an active role in ensuring you receive meaningful work across a broad range of teams and matters, while still giving you flexibility to pursue the opportunities that interest you most.

Perspectives

Perspectives

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you receive work in an open assignment system?

Associates receive initial assignments with guidance and support from a dedicated team of lawyers and business services professionals and, where applicable, workflow integration partners focused on attorney development. As relationships develop, work naturally grows from those connections and areas of interest. Over time, the open assignment system provides greater visibility, flexibility and opportunity, allowing associates to pursue work that aligns with their professional goals. That same flexibility also empowers associates to turn down matters that are not of interest to them or the right fit for their evolving practice.

What is unique about the open assignment system for corporate associates?

Rather than progressing through a fixed rotation, corporate associates work across their desired practice groups on their own timeline while using the open assignment system to intentionally narrow toward a corporate sub‑specialty (such as capital markets, debt finance, investment funds or M&A/private equity). This allows associates to build depth, develop continuity with teams and focus their practices as their interests take shape.

Why does Kirkland use an open assignment system?

The open assignment system allows lawyers flexibility to get real experience early on, while exploring legal work that interests them. Because the model is built on trust and relationships, it also reinforces a culture of mentorship, collaboration and mutual respect. Lawyers of all experience levels are invested in creating positive working experiences and strong long-term professional relationships.

Who is the open assignment system best for?

There is no single profile for success at Kirkland. Our lawyers bring different strengths, personalities and working styles, and the open assignment system helps each of them build on those strengths while developing professionally. Associates may seek out new matters and connections directly or build their network more gradually as their interests and experience evolve.