Practice Assistant Supervisor

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 23 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.

Are you a hands‑on leader who thrives on building strong teams, streamlining support operations, and ensuring attorneys have the resources they need to succeed? As a Practice Assistant Supervisor
, you’ll partner closely with the Associate Director of Practice Services to oversee the daily operations of the Practice Assistant Services department in our Chicago office. In this role, you’ll lead departmental resources, manage workflow distribution including overflow and special projects as well as coordinate staffing for overtime requests and out‑of‑town trial teams. You’ll maintain a visible presence across the office, building relationships with practice assistants, identifying morale or performance concerns, and serving as a trusted resource on firm policies and procedures.

You’ll also play a key role in onboarding and professional development, overseeing orientation for newly hired practice assistants and recommending training initiatives that support core competencies. In addition, you’ll maintain organizational documentation and reporting, while monitoring and approving work schedules and attendance. This position exercises a moderate to high degree of discretion and independent judgment.

• Department Leadership & Service Excellence: Provide day‑to‑day leadership to the Practice Assistant Services department, ensuring support consistently meets the needs of attorneys and clients while advancing annual departmental goals and serving as a trusted resource on firm policies and procedures.
• Team Supervision & Talent Management: Foster a high‑performing, collaborative environment that promotes productivity and morale. Support recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and disciplinary processes, ensuring policies are applied fairly and consistently.
• Workflow & Staffing Coordination: Oversee practice assistant assignments and backup coverage, manage overflow work and special projects, and coordinate staffing for overtime and trial teams to ensure seamless operational support.
• Scheduling, Attendance & Reporting: Monitor attendance, review and approve schedules, and maintain accurate departmental records and organizational reports.
• Professional Development & Training: Lead orientation for new team members and develop in‑house training and continuing education programs. Partner with Technology Services to facilitate relevant technology training initiatives.
• Continuous Improvement & Industry Engagement: Stay current on management best practices and market trends through professional associations and continuing education, bringing forward ideas that strengthen team effectiveness and service delivery.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience, preferably within a professional services or legal environment; prior legal administrative experience in a medium to large law firm strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success supervising administrative or legal support personnel, with the ability to motivate teams and manage performance effectively.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a commitment to delivering responsive, professional service to attorneys, colleagues, and clients.
• Proven ability to exercise discretion, handle confidential information, resolve issues thoughtfully, and remain composed under pressure.
• Flexible…