Don’s Career Story

Kirkland is a place where hard work, commitment and being proactive in your career are rewarded with tremendous opportunity.

I’ve grown personally through the relationships that I have fostered and maintained at Kirkland. It’s a true testament to Kirkland’s culture, which creates an environment that is fair, respectful and friendly.

Kirkland’s attorney and practice-specific training programs are unparalleled in the industry.

We have training programs year-round that give attorneys ample opportunity to strengthen our skills and bolster our confidence as legal professionals. In particular, Kirkland offers the Kirkland Institute for Trial Advocacy (KITA) training program for litigation associates, which is a comprehensive in-house training program. At KITA, depending on your class year, associates take part in all aspects of trial advocacy from mock direct and cross-examination to opening and closing arguments. Last KITA, I tried a two-day jury trial, from voir dire to closing arguments, where professional actors served as witnesses, lay persons served as jurors, and senior trial lawyers served as judges. This experience strengthened my skills in all of the challenging arts of trial advocacy, persuasion and communication.

At Kirkland, junior attorneys are given challenging and substantive work early on in their careers, guided by seasoned and dedicated mentors who are invested in your growth and development.

As a second-year associate, I had the opportunity to go to trial three times. I was an indispensable team member and had a hand in all phases of each of these high-profile trials. That involved drafting different dispositive briefs to taking depositions, all the way to preparing trial witnesses for testimony. 

I’ve been given great opportunities on challenging, substantive matters alongside the very best. Our partners have provided me with guidance and feedback. This experience has allowed me to grow professionally, to take pride in my work and to walk into any room with the utmost confidence.

During my time here, I’ve established strong relationships with a network of mentors and sponsors who truly invest in my success and provide me with invaluable guidance along the way. As I’ve grown in seniority, I too have started to invest in the success of junior associates, summer associates and aspiring students.