Morrison Foerster

Morrison Foerster (MoFo) is a destination law firm for talented, ambitious individuals who value collaboration, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence. We are known around the world not only for delivering innovative yet practical client service but also for serving as an incubator for our top-notch talent.

MoFo is driven by excellence, collaboration, and innovation, offering unparalleled opportunities to thrive professionally while working on cutting-edge matters with exceptional colleagues. Our values of inclusion, career development, and service set us apart, making MoFo not just a firm to join but a community where you’ll build a future that is uniquely yours.

With 1,000+ lawyers across 19 offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia, MoFo is a globally recognized global law firm dedicated to fully developing our talent and serving our clients, which include the largest financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies, and leading technology and life sciences companies. We represent organisations – whether established for decades or just an entrepreneur’s idea – as they grow, innovate, disrupt, and develop into leading industry players and household names.

Working in the heart of London’s financial hub, our UK- and U.S.-qualified lawyers handle complex, cross-border transactions and major disputes, helping clients grow their businesses and manage risk. We have roots in the tech sector and provide strategic advice to dynamic technology companies on matters shaping the future of the industry.

Collaborating with colleagues in the U.S. and Asia, we offer culturally and jurisdictionally tailored advice with a global approach. Our lawyers are recognised as leading authorities in their fields, regularly featured in prestigious rankings such as Chambers, The Legal 500, and Best Lawyers.

Vacation Scheme

A vacation scheme at Morrison Foerster is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the firm and for the firm to learn more about you. Morrison Foerster recruits all London trainees from our vacation schemes, so it’s vital that you apply for one if you’re interested in a training contract.

In 2027, MoFo will be running two two-week summer vacation schemes, from 14 June to 25 June and from 28 June to 9 July. Our vacation schemes are an opportunity for you to showcase your potential. Summer associates will gain a good picture of how much responsibility trainees are given; it’s also a chance to meet and learn more about London-based lawyers and staff. You’ll have the chance to complete live client work for your supervisors, conduct legal research and attend client meetings. The firm’s partners, associates, trainees, and our Graduate and Trainee Committee will be on hand to provide support, and you’ll be able to ask them any questions you might have. You’ll also have the chance to attend social events, allowing you to get to know everyone in a more relaxed setting.

 Typically, you will sit in two departments during your time with us to get a good understanding of both our transactional and our contentious work. We ask our vacation scheme associates to complete assessed tasks and so you should expect to learn a lot about the role of a trainee at MoFo and what is expected of you.

We are looking for talented, ambitious individuals who value collaboration, teamwork, a commitment to excellence, and display a genuine enthusiasm for a career in law and interest in our core London practices. At MoFo, we collaborate as one firm across borders, practice areas, and business functions and value fresh ideas and innovation over conformity and competition.

We ask that you be on track for, or to have already achieved, a minimum of a 2(i) degree (or the equivalent if you are studying/have studied outside the UK) and a minimum of AAB (or equivalent) at A Level. There is the option to add mitigating circumstances to your application. We are also pleased to confirm that we use Rare’s Contextual Recruiting System (CRS), which allows us to understand your grades within the context they were achieved. The firm encourages applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds.

If you are currently a law student, you should apply from the penultimate year of your degree. Non-law students should apply from the final year of your degree. If you have already gained industry experience and are considering training as a lawyer, you should decide which year you wish to start your training contract and apply before the relevant deadline.

The Training Contract

Our approach to learning and development at Morrison Foerster enables trainees to start strong in their legal careers, with an induction that is carefully curated to enhance professional and practical skills developed during formal education. This equips trainees with the essential tools to meet the needs of our colleagues and clients across the firm, both locally and globally. Trainees have access to a variety of mentors to guide them through new experiences and ongoing learning and development opportunities required to underpin their legal skills, from the initial trainee orientation sessions to regular skills-based training, significant daily responsibility, autonomy, and opportunity to contribute to our culture and future of the firm. This combined approach stretches trainees to develop core skills and team behaviours while understanding how the business of law delivers exceptional client service on complex global matters.

The Qualifying Work Experience undertaken during the training contract consists of four six-month seats, with the potential to complete overseas secondments in some of our international offices or with our clients. Seat options are subject to business and client needs at the time of the rotations; however, trainees are invited to identify particular areas of interest or skills gaps during seat allocation discussions.

During your training contract, you’ll have the opportunity to work in at least three distinct areas of law. The Transactions and Litigation teams are two of our core areas of practice in London, but there’s also a wide range of specialised practice areas to get involved in. Trainees have numerous opportunities to work with colleagues across the firm on practice-related or client matters, along with pro bono projects.

Partners and associates at the firm are committed to supporting trainees to succeed, so you will receive plenty of formal and informal support, including a trainee buddy (a second-year trainee), trainee supervisor (for each of the four seats), and trainee liaison. Your liaison will be a senior associate, who will act as your mentor throughout the training contract, helping you to identify strengths, areas for development and stretch opportunities, and offering personalised career guidance. There is an active mentoring programme, a formal evaluation and a feedback process every quarter and business/career development workshops tailored to individual needs and interests.

Trainees also have access to our health and wellbeing resources, such as a free subscription to the Calm app and a wealth of online information on our portal. In addition to the above, the Graduate and Trainee Committee is a constant source of resources, guidance and support.

Inclusive to the Core

Morrison Foerster is a place where you can be your personal and professional best. Belonging and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do, core values of our culture and our ethos. We are an international firm with a global inclusivity strategy that is tailored to regional and local needs, while maintaining a one-firm approach, reflective of our people and the communities we serve.

 Find out more by visiting our website, to learn more about our inclusive initiatives.

Every Voice is Heard

For over 40 years, MoFo has been committed to creating a work environment that respects and celebrates differences, while fostering an inclusive community where everyone’s contributions are valued. It is essential to who we are as a firm. By each bringing our diverse experiences and perspectives to work, we strengthen the quality of the service that we provide to our clients, the legal profession and our communities.

 We’ve been a long-time champion for inclusivity within the legal profession and take pride in the diverse perspectives that our people bring to the workplace. We believe that lawyers with different backgrounds, interests, and experiences work together to create better solutions and offer innovative perspectives for our clients. We continuously work to attract, develop, and retain talented lawyers from all backgrounds.

Affinity Groups

MoFo’s Affinity Programme is made up of 12 cross-office, partner-led networks, and has over 30+ affinity groups that host in-office social gatherings, community impact initiatives, and programming for culturally significant events. All attorneys and business professionals are invited to join our Affinity Programme regardless of background or identity. In the London office specifically, we have affinity groups for members and allies of a range of communities, but all are open to everyone.

MoFo London’s active LGBTQ+ affinity group, MoFo Proud, brings together members of this community and its allies. The LGBTQ+ affinity group provides a forum to discuss issues of concern to the LGBTQ+ community and works to advance networking opportunities within the London office and the broader firm, with clients and across the broader London business community. We’re proud that our chair emeritus was the first openly gay managing partner of an international law firm.

MoFo Together aims to address barriers to equal opportunity by raising awareness and providing dedicated support to help every individual at Morrison Foerster live their potential. Valuing, respecting, and celebrating cultural differences are fundamental to growing and sustaining an inclusive workforce as well as to improving the experience of underrepresented groups. MoFo Together seeks to do this, and more, by spearheading initiatives to create a great place to work.

MoFo Women holds events addressing global topics and regional ones, with a packed agenda of programmes for women and allies. The group offers a forum to explore and openly discuss topics that women face in the profession now and in the future. Our senior women lawyers in London also work closely with firm leadership, including the firm’s chair, firmwide managing partners, and board of directors, to ensure that equal opportunity is a constant strategic priority.

MoFo Access’s mission is to address barriers and accessibility challenges into the legal profession. Both internally and externally, MoFo Access supports the social mobility agenda while ensuring the firm extends this support beyond the workplace.