About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don’t just meet the standard for legal excellence — we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 24 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers’ commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.

What You’ll Do

Are you someone who thrives on creating seamless employee experiences while keeping operations running smoothly behind the scenes? As a Human Resources Assistant, you’ll play a critical role in supporting HR operations across the Washington, DC and Philadelphia offices. Reporting to the Human Resources Manager, this position provides essential administrative and operational support throughout the employee lifecycle; from onboarding to departures, you’ll ensure processes are efficient, compliant, and people focused. This role serves as a trusted resource for employees and leadership, helping foster a positive, organized, and responsive workplace environment.

What You’ll Do

• Employee Support & HR Operations: Serve as the primary point of contact for HR inquiries, managing shared communications and providing clear guidance on policies, procedures, and employee-related matters.
• Documentation & Compliance Management: Prepare employment verifications and bar affidavits while maintaining accurate, confidential personnel records in alignment with retention and compliance standards, including Form I-9 requirements.
• Administrative & Program Coordination: Support HR and firm initiatives through calendar management, travel coordination, invoice processing, and event logistics for HR, Practice Group, and Affinity Group activities.
• Onboarding, Orientation & Integration: Deliver a seamless new hire experience by coordinating pre-start communication, facilitating orientation, preparing materials, and tracking integration touchpoints, including support for associate programs.
• Transitions & Employee Lifecycle Support: Manage offboarding processes, including documentation, payroll actions, and exit interviews, while ensuring smooth internal transfers across teams and offices.
• Process Improvement & Service Excellence: Identify opportunities to streamline workflows through automation and innovation while delivering responsive, high-quality support that enhances the overall employee experience.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least 1 year of professional administrative experience or relevant internship, preferably within a professional services environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of an organization.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accuracy, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive information.
• A proactive mindset with the ability to navigate evolving priorities and continuously improve processes.
• A commitment to delivering exceptional support and fostering a positive workplace experience.

If you’re energized by supporting people, improving processes, and contributing to a high-performing HR function, we’d love to hear from you!

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Washington, DC. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation Range:

Washington, DC: $60,000 - $80,000

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.