Barbara’s Career Story

Kirkland’s culture is defined by a combination of support, high standards and genuine collegiality. People are not only exceptionally talented, but also kind and approachable, which makes a meaningful difference. I’ve consistently felt that my colleagues are rooting for me and are invested in my growth.

I’m proud to be a Kirkland attorney working alongside excellent lawyers on top-tier teams. Everyone consistently gives 100% to their clients and takes real ownership of their work. The level of dedication and excellence sets the standard for everything we do.

The Firm places a strong emphasis on mentorship, and I’ve benefited from mentors who provide both guidance and honest feedback. At the same time, there are opportunities to take on challenging work and continuously improve, which has pushed me to develop quickly. The balance of support and challenging work makes the culture at Kirkland both rewarding and motivating.

The most significant legal work I’ve done early in my Kirkland career is a current case. It’s a very small team, which has given me a high level of responsibility and trust from the outset. I’m responsible for key aspects and am actively involved in strategy discussions. The level of ownership has been significant and has accelerated my development while giving me a real sense of how cases are shaped and run at a high level.

I was also involved in a recent pro bono matter in which our team obtained a successful decision in a Veterans Affairs disability claim appeal. It meant a lot to help a veteran navigate a complex process and ultimately secure a favorable outcome. The experience was especially satisfying because the legal work had a direct, tangible impact on our client’s life.

As a summer associate at Kirkland, what I found most valuable was the opportunity to work on a wide variety of substantive tasks across different matters. It gave me a real sense of the breadth of work and the level of responsibility associates are trusted with early on. I was impressed by how collaborative and supportive the environment is, which ultimately played a major role in my decision to join the Firm.

The program is exciting and filled with opportunities to meet new people, attend great events and get to know your summer class. One experience that stayed with me was a trip to Iowa where we helped prepare a witness and attended their deposition. It was my first time seeing that level of preparation and strategy come together in person. Being part of the process from preparation through deposition gave me a clearer understanding of how much care and coordination goes into effective advocacy.

In my first few years at Kirkland, I’ve been able to experience nearly every stage of a case and gain hands-on exposure to high-level advocacy. These opportunities have pushed me to challenge myself continuously and have significantly contributed to my professional growth.

I’m excited about the next stage of my career at Kirkland and the opportunity to work on more complex cases and gain deeper insight into case strategy. I’m especially looking forward to taking on even greater responsibility and further developing how I think about and contribute to overall case direction.