Morrison & Foerster is a leading global firm, with over 1,000 lawyers in key technology and finance centres in the US, Europe and Asia. MoFo transforms complexity into advantage. With our collective intelligence, we shape powerful legal strategies that move businesses forward while living shared values.

In Europe we have a team of more than 135 lawyers in our strategic hubs of London, Berlin and Brussels. We work alongside our colleagues in the US and Asia, drawing on cultural, jurisdictional and market knowledge to deliver the best advice and client service.

Dynamic technology and life sciences companies, some of the largest financial investors and financial institutions, leading consumer product companies, and other market leaders come to MoFo for our expertise, knowledge, advice, and individually tailored client service. We handle some of the world’s largest cross-border transactions and resolve some of the biggest disputes across multiple jurisdictions.

Our firm was built on, and continues to succeed, because of the talent of our lawyers and their innovative approach in the practice of law. We practice in a collegial environment where we value teamwork, diverse perspectives and employee wellbeing. As our nickname MoFo suggests, we take our work seriously but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

We are looking for dynamic and driven individuals who can display a genuine enthusiasm for a career in law and interest in our core London practices. At MoFo, we couldn’t write our own success story without yours. We collaborate as one firm, across borders, practice areas, and business functions and value fresh ideas and innovation over conformity and competition. We value diversity, have a strong commitment to pro bono and want our future trainees to share this philosophy.

In 2023, we will be running two, two-week summer vacation schemes from 12 June to 23 June and from 26 June to 7 July. Our vacation schemes provide insight into life at MoFo and offer the opportunity to consider whether we are the right firm for you. Summer associates will gain a good picture of how much responsibility our trainees are given; it’s also a chance to meet and learn more about our London-based attorneys and staff. The vacation scheme is our sole method of recruiting future trainees.

Trainees are given the support, training and development opportunities required to excel and thrive in their work; from trainee induction sessions, regular training via our MoFo Academy and relevant associations, significant daily responsibility and contributions to our culture. This combination enables our trainees to develop the necessary skills to deliver exceptional client service on complex global matters and understand the business of law. The training period consists of four six-month seats, with the potential of seats in our Singapore and Brussels offices. There is an active mentorship programme, a formal review process four times annually and career development workshops to provide continuous support and development. 

Morrison and Foerster are pleased to confirm that we are partnering with The University of Law to deliver the SQE programme for those who need to complete it. We will offer non-law students the opportunity to complete the PGDL with The University of Law and include the SQE+ programme for all SQE students to offer a complete and well-rounded introduction to the practice and business of law for our future trainees. Intentionally chosen for the breadth and depth of teaching expertise, understanding of our key practice areas and wider industry and sector developments, the collaboration between Morrison and Foerster and The University of Law ensures that all future trainees are prepared for their exciting legal journey ahead. Full course and exam fees will be covered for future MoFo trainees sitting the LPC or SQE as well as a maintenance grant to assist with living costs.

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, a core value of our culture and our ethos. We are a truly international firm with a global Diversity + Inclusion strategy with specific focusses in each region, reflective of our people and the communities we serve.

Find out more by clicking on our Diversity page link, speaking with our attorneys or reaching out to our European Director of Attorney Learning & Development, Usha Puri-Dewage.

Diversity in action

For over 40 years, MoFo has been committed to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment where everyone’s contributions are valued. It is essential to who we are as a firm. By each bringing our diverse experiences 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 diversity within the legal profession and take pride in our diverse workplace. We believe that lawyers with different backgrounds, interests and experiences working together arrive at better answers and offer fresher perspectives. We continuously work to attract, develop and retain talented lawyers from diverse backgrounds. Our London attorneys Brian Bates and Trevor James sit on the firmwide Diversity Strategy Committee, founded in 2003, the primary mission of which is to recommend major diversity goals and objectives to our board of directors. We also have a number of active London affinity groups.

Affinty 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 LGBTQ+ members of the office, for women, and MoFo Together, which focuses on raising awareness and addressing some of the barriers facing ethnic minorities in the legal profession and beyond.

Our senior women lawyers in London also play a role in the firm’s global Women’s Strategy Committee, which works closely with firm leadership, including the firm’s chair, firmwide managing partners and board of directors, to ensure that the advancement of women is a constant strategic priority.

MoFo London’s active LGBTQ+ affinity group, MoFo Proud, brings together members of that community as well as its supporters. 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.

We pay full LPC course fees at The University of Law. We also offer up to £12,500 maintenance grant during the LPC; if students have already completed the course prior to securing a training contract with us, we offer 100% reimbursement of fees.

• Bankruptcy & restructuring
• Capital markets
• Competition/ antitrust & national security
• Corporate/M&A
• Data privacy
• Employment
• Equity derivatives
• Financial services regulation
• Financial transactions
• High-yield
• Investigations
• Disputes
• Arbitration
• Private equity real estate
• Real estate finance
• Outsourcing
• Tax
• Technology transactions

• Corporate & Commercial

• Austin
• Beijing
• Berlin
• Boston
• Brussels
• Denver
• Hong Kong
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• New York
• Palo Alto
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Shanghai
• Singapore
• Tokyo
• Washington DC

• A4ID
• Asylum Aid UK
• Human Rights First
• LawWorks
• PILnet (Public Interest Law)
• Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre
• TrustLaw Connect
• UK collaborative pro bono plan
• UnLtd
• Zacchaeus 2000 Trust

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership
• University of Warwick Multicultural Scholars programme