An overview of careers at KPMG Law
The KPMG brand is synonymous with prestige. It is a market leader in audit, and a formidable competitor in its areas of tax and advisory expertise. It is also one of the world’s largest employers with nearly 200,000 employees across 146 jurisdictions.
With the rapid evolution of its service offerings, KPMG is now looking to recruit legal professionals. KPMG’s decision to enter the Legal Services market reflects the trend of leading non-law firms expanding into legal services. Notably , the so-called Legal Big Bang occurred in 2007 when the top four "accounting" firms (known as the Big Four) made their first foray into the Legal Services market. After those initial entry points, the Big Four have continued to expand their respective Legal Services practices. With news of KPMG’s growing interest in legal services, the focus has turned to whether further entry point firms will appear, and whether KPMG’s accelerating move towards Legal Services will ignite further activity.
The law positions KPMG is hiring for
KPMG offers a wide range of law-related positions, such as roles in corporate or commercial law. Other areas in which KPMG’s law department provides expertise include tax law, compliance, risk management, and known issues or risks that KPMG may face while completing a position in the internal audit function.
Lawyers with extensive experience in M&A or mergers and acquisitions appear frequently on the KPMG website. These positions often oversee an M&A deal or process from inception through completion. They may also work closely with other teams within the Law department to deliver sound, practical, and commercial advice to clients. In addition, they are responsible for liaising with a variety business teams to develop solutions that maximize value for clients.
Interestingly, when you look at the current open position listings at KPMG, the majority of jobs offered in the Law department embrace the organization’s KPMG Law delivery model which is focused on working collaboratively with our Canadian member firm and selected preferred law firms around the world to deliver customized legal services directly to clients as desired/needed.
Those who are successful in obtaining a law position at KPMG are typically engaged in the following:
At KPMG, the culture resembles that of a mid-sized corporate law firm more than a "big-box" law firm. That is, they are not particularly focused on building a clientele. If you join KPMG Law you are not a billable resource. You will instead have a team to call your own and a portfolio of projects that fit within a legal function.
What KPMG looks for in applicants
In evaluating candidates for KPMG law jobs, the firm seeks a diverse range of skills and qualifications. First and foremost, KPMG looks for candidates who have obtained their Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree from a recognized law school. However, what sets successful candidates apart is not just academic excellence, but also a clear understanding of and commitment to the specific areas of law in which KPMG specializes, such as corporate and commercial law, tax, human resources, and anti-corruption compliance.
KPMG’s candidate profile emphasizes critical thinking, exceptional analytical skills, and superior attention to detail. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are also crucial, as lawyers at KPMG work closely with both their colleagues and clients. Leadership experience, whether through school organizations, previous employment, or volunteer work, is highly valued and can help candidates stand out.
Relevant professional experience, such as prior employment at another law firm, in-house counsel positions, or internships at government bodies or NGOs, is considered an asset. Familiarity with legal research tools and proficiency in additional languages may also be beneficial.
KPMG also values candidates who demonstrate an understanding of the broader context in which corporate law operates, including trends in global business and commerce, technological developments, and evolving regulatory requirements.
Applying for jobs with KPMG Law
As of 2023, KPMG operates in 145 countries and has more than 236,000 employees, and its law department in Canada is not just one of KPMG Canada’s fastest growing lines of business, but it’s also one of the fastest growing overall lines of business, but not many people know how to tap into it. Competitors have no idea what is happening inside that office and KPMG’s competitors in the legal space are not taking it too seriously. It’s a problem of perception – they are seen as an accounting firm with many practices but not a large law department. This is far from the truth – the KPMG Legal Team is growing in leaps and bounds. As of writing this blog post, there are over 50 KPMG lawyers along with the support staff. In terms of size, this puts the KPMG Legal Team in the top 10 largest Canadian law offices by size. They compete and win mandates in areas perceived as niche (Privacy, CyberSecurity, Anti-Trust/Competition, Labour & Employment, Intellectual Property, Tax) but have also moved very aggressively into large scale M&A deals. These deals include some of the largest deals in Canadian history.
KPMG is very unique and their application process is fairly standard, but the key is that KPMG likes to hear experience that is wildly different than other private and public companies. So what’s it like to apply for a Legal position at KPMG? Here’s a typical sequence chart of steps in the process:
- – Candidate applies – Submit a resume and cover letter to the legal careers email address. Some applicants get multiple interviews and are too aggressive about wanting to get in. There is a standard application form that KPMG requires applicants to fill out and it often requires a background check of an applicant that may take a few days.
- – KPMG Team – Candidates are usually interviewed by the KPMG Legal HR team and a regional partner. The firm uses Recruitview to collect and manage resumes and CV’s. If the team gives an email or phone call with a note, or the comment is made in person that the applicant "would be a perfect fit" then how likely are you to hear from the rest of the interviewers?
- – Background – KPMG will do a background check and follow-up from there. If there are any red flags, it’s important that the applicant not bury them in personal jargon or turn off references with a long story of how they ended up where they are now. As a former hiring partner (who has moved to in-house) into national law firms would say: "If it’s a matter of technical trust, you are not getting that offer," and then go on to explain legal obligations to your reference. The bottom line is to be honest about who you are and what you can contribute. From one of the global Oath ceremonies, KPMG asks employees to fulfill their special role as professionals to maintain the highest standards of integrity and trustworthiness.
- – Offer – Most candidates find out fairly quickly if they have been hired or not. Candidate who have gotten offers from the interviews (in major centres like Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary) all had their offers in 48 hours. Those living in Quebec often found that the process took much longer.
- Industry / University Connection – As is true of many other large national firms, KPMG strongly prefers candidates with Top-Tem Universities. The school must be a member of the CULR since they know their values and training is compatible with KPMG.
- – Billing Standards – When it comes to billing and client contact, future associates are going to be expected to deliver great service, and billable hours are the norm. The learning curve is big and so are your targets. The best advice on this is to read their internal training manuals and don’t expect to be rewarded for what you didn’t sell.
Further KPMG Law Job Titles
• Legal Counsel
• Principal, Large M&A Transactions Group
• Senior Manager, Transfer Pricing and Controversy
• Principal, Corporate and Commercial Practice
• Senior Manager, Tax Controversy & Disputes
• Senior Manager (Senior Associate), Employment and Labour
• Senior Manager, Privacy & Integrity
• Senior Director, Privacy & Data Protection
• Partner, Forensic Audit, Forensic Valuation and International Litigation
• Partner, Employment, Labour and Immigration with the Tax and Advisory group
• Partner, Privacy & Integrity, manages a wide variety of offerings
Career development opportunities with KPMG
KPMG is dedicated not just to hiring the best and the brightest but also to investing in their future. It has a comprehensive training and development program for new hires that includes formal sessions and an additional month-long period of on-the-job training working with other experienced staff. There are more than 7,000 such mentors to help new staff members navigate not just the basics of how the firm operates but also the basics of life in an organization of more than 30,000 employees. Professionals who join the tax team at KPMG will look forward to many possibilities for mentoring and professional and personal growth. In addition to pairing young professionals with seasoned veterans from day one, KPMG seeks out opportunities to provide guidance and support through formal programs , including career development sessions and individual coaching.
KPMG invests heavily in developing its young talent, starting with its many training sessions for campus hires that usually start in the first or second week of September. These training sessions are generally run by its most experienced staff members, who work directly in the areas covered during the sessions. A top-notch technologist with a passion for teaching may be assigned to handle training on the best new technologies available to tax professionals, for instance, while a longtime veteran may take the chief role in a session on communication skills. Wherever you are personally in your career development, you will find the people at KPMG to be approachable and helpful.
Work duties as a KPMG lawyer
Since a typical day for a KPMG lawyer is different than the day I usually experience as a criminal defense attorney, I would like to present to you a day in the life of a KPMG lawyer:
An Associate Lawyer KPMG will typically work from 9 AM to 5 PM on Monday to Friday, however depending on the workload and the nature of cases in the pipeline, this may require overtime. A lawyer at KPMG could be asked to stay past 5 PM, take work home and even work on weekends.
Daily Responsibilities
A lawyer at KPMG will draft reports, memos and letters; conducts interviews with clients and non-clients; attend and takes notes for meetings; research subjects related to cases assigned; prepare litigation documents, financial documents (for bankruptcy cases) and other documents; analyze company’s financial records; assist with Bankruptcy Filings and tax matters.
Work Environment
As a KPMG lawyer, we work closely with the Big Four Accounting Firms such as PWC, E&Y, Deloittes and KPMG. We would typically spend time also working with the forensic accounting firms that are working with our clients on their cases.
Client Interaction
As a KPMG lawyer, we would work with clients on foreclosure cases, and resolve disputes with the clients and creditors; work with clients on Bankruptcy Filing, from the filing of the cases to formulate legal strategy with the clients on how to maximize their recovery in the bankruptcy cases.
What KPMG legal employees are saying
Current and former professionals from KPMG Law have shared their experiences and insights on what it is like to work at KPMG. KPMG Law professionals describe the culture at KPMG Law as being dynamic, merit-based, and challenging. Jesus Viola, a lawyer at KPMG Law in Montreal, brings over 20 years of experience providing strategic consulting services to technology companies. "Since joining KPMG Law in 2004, I have had the opportunity to meet professionals who have become dear friends to me. Today, my colleagues are like family. With KPMG Law, I feel my growth and professional development are very much supported. KPMG has become my second home and I cannot imagine myself practicing any other kind of law," says Viola. Rebecca Tidman leads Global Employment Law Services at KPMG Law in Toronto. "We are a team of lawyers who have a passion for working with clients. The work is challenging but very satisfying. We work hard as a team, and we focus on getting the job done. We enjoy what we do, and we laugh a lot!" In closing, Tidman shares her view on the culture at KPMG Law. "KPMG has an informal dress code, encourages a healthy work-life balance, and has a modern office with standing desks, lounge areas, and a telepresence room that allows us to work seamlessly with our colleagues around the world."
Future prospects for KPMG Law
Stepping into the future of KPMG Law reveals a new and different focus. KPMG has begun using artificial intelligence to analyze firms’ contracts—adding a layer of speed and accuracy to the process. Collaborative automation, a hybrid between computer and human ingenuity, will make KPMG Law leading-edge when it comes to legal tech. The firm plans to better tailor its services to the revolutionary technologies encompassing AI-powered contracts, dynamic data analysis, as well as other innovative IT opportunities.
To keep pace with the industry-wide adoption of cloud technologies, KPMG Law focuses on accommodating and expanding its on-demand, legal managed services, such as agility, flexibility, and the use of on-demand legal and legal technology expertise . Cloud technology gives firms the means to use programmatic and data-driven solutions to create legal information that is faster, more versatile, and less expensive than ever before.
In addition to a shift of focus on connected, intelligent, and efficient legal service platforms, the firm will implement a new approach to delivering services. The firm wants to set itself apart in how it operates internally and externally. KPMG Law will strive to offer clients and lawyers real-time access to information about clients’ businesses, and will design and build new services for the future, making changes that align with emerging trends and client needs.
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