It was only last week that law students at Harvard Law School organized a campaign urging fellow students interested in a career in Biglaw to #DumpKirkland. The boycott was designed to protest Kirkland & Ellis’s use of mandatory arbitration agreements in employment contracts, which were designed to force employees out of courthouses whether they’d experienced discrimination, sexual harassment, or any other issue.
Today, the firm has announced they are doing away with mandatory arbitration agreements for associates and summer associates. While the firm’s announcement is couched in terms of a periodic review of Kirkland’s practices, the timing sure doesn’t feel like a coincidence. As soon as they began receiving pressure, they caved.
As Vail Kohnert-Yount, one of the students behind the protest, tweeted out this morning, it’s a nice little capper on the upcoming holiday celebration:
How MyCase’s Smart Spend Can Help Increase Your Profits
This tweak to your financial management seems like a no-brainer.
This year, I’m thankful for law firms that know what they’re up against!!
Read the firm’s announcement below:
[pdfjs-viewer url=”https://abovethelaw.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/11/kirkland-arbit-memo.pdf”]
Take Control Of Your Firm’s Finances With Tools Built For Success
Position your firm for long-term growth with better financial visibility and control. Learn how to track performance, manage spending, and plan strategically—download the full e-book now.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).