Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Kirkland's Black, Asian and Unidos affinity groups allow our attorneys to exchange ideas, develop relationships and address issues of importance to their communities. The groups host events and programs and engage in outreach to external nonprofits, pro bono organizations, diverse bar associations and our active alumni network.

The Firm’s Diverse Partners’ Retreat has included events such as small group dinners with Executive Committee members, an interactive "design thinking" session led by the Stanford Legal Design Lab, a Path to Success panel featuring diverse senior partners, a workshop with clients on organizational change led by Frances Frei, Uber's former senior vice president of leadership and strategy and Harvard Business School professor, and a client networking reception.

Kirkland sponsors the Kirkland Connection Series (KCS), a series of informal events where diverse attorneys connect socially with senior partners in their practice group or office.

Kirkland has participated in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows program since its inception in 2011, selecting high-potential diverse partners to participate in a learning program to set them on the path to leadership at the Firm.

Kirkland also participates in the LCLD Pathfinders program, geared towards diverse, high-potential, early career associates. The program provides Pathfinders with practical tools for developing and leveraging internal professional networks, relationship building skills, foundational leadership skills and career development strategies.

Kirkland sends groups of attorneys to various external conferences throughout the year, including the Charting Your Own Course, Corporate Counsel Women of Color, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and Hispanic National Bar Association conferences. These solidify both internal and external relationships for our diverse attorneys.

Kirkland’s ALLSA initiative reflects our mission to reach out to “all” racial, ethnic, women’s and LGBT student groups at law schools across the country. Kirkland attorney liaisons have formed relationships with more than 125 law student groups at 21 law schools across the nation.

Our unique and highly selective annual 1L Diversity Scholars Program features interactive panels, group discussions and unprecedented networking opportunities with Kirkland attorneys and clients. This opportunity provides law students with invaluable information about big law and clients.

1L Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) scholar students split their summer with Kirkland and one of our clients, allowing an early view into working in-house and as outside counsel at a major law firm. Participants also attend a broader program sponsored LCLD. Kirkland attorneys have served as City Lead in Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Palo Alto for LCLD’s mentoring program for diverse first year law students, who are matched with law firm or corporate legal department mentors. Kirkland attorneys across our U.S. offices actively mentor diverse law students through the program.

Our 2L Diversity Fellowship Program offers $25,000 stipends to second-year law students who hold offers to join our summer associate program and have demonstrated how they will promote diversity at Kirkland and in the broader legal profession. Since 2004, Kirkland has awarded 239 fellowships totaling nearly $5 million.

In July 2019, Kirkland hosted its Diversity Summer Networking Program in the Chicago office, which was attended by more than 100 diverse summer associates, more than 60 attorneys and 11 clients. The day included client panels and discussions on diversity in Big Law led by members of the Firm’s Asian, Black, Unidos and Kirkland Pride Affinity Groups. Attendees also gathered for networking breakout sessions and group dinners.