Julie LaEace is Pro Bono Counsel and Director of Pro Bono at Kirkland & Ellis. She joined the firm in 2007. Prior to joining Kirkland, Julie practiced employment law and employee benefits at two Chicago firms before transitioning to law firm management. In her pro bono role, LaEace is responsible for leading and overseeing the firm’s global pro bono practice, including project development, recognition programming, marketing, risk management, and other administration. Since LaEace became the first pro bono professional at the firm, attorney participation in pro bono has grown by 133% and the firm’s pro bono hours have increased by more than 60%.
LaEace is a 1998 magna cum laude graduate of Notre Dame Law School and received a B.S. degree in Business Economics from Indiana University in 1995. She has served in volunteer advisory and leadership roles for various nonprofit organizations.