Newly Qualified Associate (former Kirkland Trainee)

First seat: Debt Finance Second seat: Restructuring
Third seat: Corporate Final seat: Investment Funds

As my first professional role, I was initially daunted by the prospect of being thrown in at the deep end without fully knowing what to expect. But from the very start, people were genuinely willing to invest in me – taking time out of their day to answer my questions, offer guidance and help me find my feet.

The Kirkland culture lives up to the descriptions you see in the graduate materials. If you show initiative, deliver high-quality work and proactively seek out opportunities, the level of responsibility you are given is remarkable. In my first seat – Debt Finance – I was entrusted with preparing a first draft of a long-form finance document. That moment made it clear to me that there are no artificial limitations on trainee involvement, provided you demonstrate the entrepreneurial mindset, self-motivation and collaborative approach that Kirkland looks for during the application process.

I was one of the trainees who took a bit longer to decide where I wanted to qualify, having genuinely enjoyed all my other seats – Corporate, Restructuring and Investment Funds. Ultimately, I chose to qualify into the Debt Finance team. While it is one of the Firm’s largest practice groups, it remains close-knit enough that you get to know everyone. The work is naturally collaborative and often intersects with other practice areas, which really appealed to me.

Working with private equity clients throughout my training contract has been a particular highlight. These clients bring significant transactional experience to the table, which means that they expect more than just advice on legal mechanics they want commercially informed strategic input which supports their broader deal objectives. Being exposed to that expectation early on, even as a trainee, has pushed me to think beyond the legal documentation and really engage with the commercial drivers behind each deal. It’s an aspect of the work I’ve really enjoyed, and one that I know will continue to challenge and excite me going forward.

The pace and complexity of the transactions we work on can be intense, but this is also what makes the experience rewarding. You’re constantly learning and you’re surrounded by people who want you to succeed.