Kirkland & Ellis Interview Preparation
The world's largest law firm by revenue — PE powerhouse with unmatched deal flow
~6,000+
Applications
~5-7%
Offer rate
£52,000 (TC)
Graduate salary
Free for 3 days · Cancel anytime
Kirkland & Ellis — HireVue Practice
Your question
""
Application process
How to get into Kirkland & Ellis — step by step
Online Application
Vac scheme: Oct-Jan.Kirkland is #1 by revenue globally. Show you understand their PE-centric model.
Interviews
November-February2-3 interviews. Very commercial. Know Kirkland's PE clients and recent deals.
Offer
1-2 weeksTop NQ salary — ~£150K+. Matching Latham.
Interview questions
Kirkland & Ellis interview questions by round
Questions change at every stage. Know what to expect.
- 1Why Kirkland?
- 2What interests you about PE work?
- 3Tell me about a deal in the news.
- 4Why a US firm?
- 5Describe a time you demonstrated drive.
What they value
What Kirkland & Ellis looks for in candidates
PE interest
Kirkland is the world's leading PE law firm. Genuine PE interest is essential.
Drive
US firm intensity. 60-75 hours/week. They want people who thrive on high volume.
Commercial judgement
Advising PE sponsors requires understanding deal economics, not just law.
Attention to detail
Complex PE transactions demand precision.
Resilience
High deal volume means sustained intensity.
Team orientation
Large deal teams working across time zones.
Compensation
Kirkland & Ellis salary & benefits
Graduate
£52,000 (first year TC)
Intern
~£500/week
Bonus
NQ salary ~£150,000+
Perks & benefits
Culture & work style
What it's actually like to work at Kirkland & Ellis
Insider tips
How to stand out at Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland is #1 by revenue globally. Know this.
Their PE practice is unmatched. Know major PE sponsors they advise.
US firm culture is intense but rewarding. Show you understand the trade-off.
Smaller London office = more responsibility early.
Know the difference between Kirkland and Latham — Kirkland is more PE-specialist.
Compare
Kirkland & Ellis vs competitors
| Firm | Salary | Hours | Culture | Exit opps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkland & Ellis | £52,000 (first year TC) | 60-75/week | World's largest law firm by revenue... | — |
| Latham & Watkins | £52K TC / ~£150K+ NQ | 55-70/week | Broader US firm | Similar |
| White & Case | £52K TC / ~£130K NQ | 55-65/week | Strong arbitration | Similar |
| Clifford Chance | £52K TC / ~£125K NQ | 50-65/week | MC, broader | Similar |
| A&O Shearman | £52K TC / ~£125K NQ | 50-65/week | MC+US | Similar |
FAQ
Kirkland & Ellis FAQs
~6,000+ people are applying.
Be the one who prepared.
Free HireVue practice with Kirkland & Ellis questions. Scored report with competency breakdown. No signup required.
Practise for Kirkland & Ellis freeFree for 3 days · Cancel anytime