Learning & Development Intern

Kirkland & Ellis; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 29,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

Kirkland & Ellis is seeking a Learning & Development Intern in Chicago to support attorney and professional staff learning initiatives. This role offers hands-on coordination, program execution, and exposure to world-class professional services within a collaborative team.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and eager to learn about HR and L&D operations. The position is year-round in-office, with at least 15 hours per week during the school year and more during summer.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a college or university local to Chicago.
• Pursuing a degree in Business, Human Resources, Education, Communications, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Minimum GPA of 3.2.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the end-to-end execution of attorney learning initiatives and programs.
• Assist with scheduling, participant/instructor communications, materials and invoicing.
• Support data collection and reporting on learning program participation, feedback, and outcomes.
• Provide admin and coordination support to the L&D team, manage calendars and repositories.
• Identify opportunities to automate or improve processes using AI and automation tools.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Time management

Communication skills

Independent work

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Discretion

Education

College student local to Chicago

Pursuing degree in Business, HR, Education, Communications, IS, or related field

Minimum GPA of 3.2

Tools

Microsoft 365 Suite

LMS familiarity

Microsoft Teams

Power BI

Power Automate

SharePoint

Copilot

Job description

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

The Learning & Development team designs and delivers high-impact learning initiatives that support the growth and development of Kirkland attorneys and professional staff. We coordinate attorney training programs, manage learning platforms and resources, and partner across the Talent organization to ensure our people have the tools and knowledge they need to excel.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a talented and motivated Learning & Development Intern to provide hands‑on coordination and project support for attorney and professional staff learning initiatives. This role is ideal for a highly organized, curious, and tech‑forward individual interested in learning how Learning & Development operates behind the scenes within a world‑class professional services organization.

The successful candidate will possess strong attention to detail, a proactive mindset, exceptional time management skills, and strong communication abilities, with the capacity to work collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment. Whether you have prior experience or are eager to begin your career in Human Resources, Learning & Development, or professional services, this role offers valuable opportunities for growth and development.

This position is designed to be a year‑round, in‑office role, with part‑time hours during the academic year and the potential for additional hours during summer breaks. The intern is expected to work at least 15 hours per week during the school year, with scheduling flexibility to accommodate academic commitments.

Program Assistance & Execution

• Support the end‑to‑end execution of attorney learning initiatives, including Kirkland University, Kirkland Litigation University, attorney orientation programs, leadership training, inclusion events, and the Kirkland Summer Program.
• Assist with scheduling, participant and instructor communications, materials distribution, program evaluations, and invoicing.
• Support data collection and reporting related to learning program participation, feedback, and outcomes.

Operations & Administrative Support

• Provide administrative and coordination support to the Learning & Development team, including but not limited to maintaining distribution lists, shared calendars, internal knowledge repositories, and learning platform access.
• Respond to learning‑related inquiries while maintaining a high level of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Assist with special projects, research, and additional team initiatives as needed.

Process Improvement, Automation & Technology

• Identify opportunities to automate, streamline, or improve Learning & Development processes, including through the use of AI and automation tools.
• Research emerging learning technologies and support implementation of new tools and processes. ‘=
• Help improve how work gets done by developing innovative, scalable solutions that increase efficiency and effectiveness.

What You’ll Bring

Education

• Currently enrolled in a college or university local to the Chicago area.
• Pursuing a degree in Business, Human Resources, Education, Communications, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Minimum GPA of 3.2.

Skills & Experience

• Prior work experience preferred.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to producing high‑quality work.
• Strong organizational, project management, and time management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable working independently.
• Team‑oriented with strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), collaboration platforms, and CLE requirements is a plus.
• Experience with Microsoft Teams, Copilot, Power Automate, Power BI, SharePoint, or other workflow and automation tools is strongly preferred.

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Chicago. 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:

Chicago: $25 an hour

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. #LI-Hybrid #LI-MK1