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 18 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 organizations – whether established for decades or just an entrepreneur’s idea – as they grow, innovate, disrupt, and develop into leading industry players and household names.

Located in the heart of London’s financial district, our UK and US-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 US 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.

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 2026, MoFo will be running two, two-week summer vacation schemes from 15 June to 26 June and from 29 June to 10 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 & 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 and get a good understanding of both our transactional and 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. 

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 training period 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 A 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 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 are a constant source of resources, guidance and support.

Morrison Foerster is partnered with The University of Law to deliver the SQE preparation programmes.

We will sponsor future MoFo trainees who are completing non-law subjects through the PgDL with the University of Law and offer the SQE+ programme (in addition to SQE1 and 2 preparation programmes) for all future MoFo trainees completing the SQE route.

Intentionally chosen for the breadth and depth of teaching expertise, understanding of our key practice areas and wider industry and sector developments, the collaboration ensures that all future trainees have the essential knowledge and commercial awareness for the next steps of their legal career with the firm and provide our future trainees with a well-rounded introduction to the practice and business of law.

Inclusive to the core

Morrison Foerster is a place where you can be your personal and professional best. Belonging and inclusion is 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, speaking with our attorneys or reaching out to our European Associate Director of Attorney Learning & Development, Usha Puri-Dewage.

Every voice is heard

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

Globally, MoFo has over 35 affinity groups that provide support networks and programming for various employee groups. 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 their 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 and 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.

For future trainees being sponsored through the PgDL or SQE by MoFo, full course and exam fees will be covered by the firm as well as a £15,000 maintenance grant for the PgDL and £17,000 maintenance grant for SQE to assist with living costs during study.

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