Candidate Experience

From Applicant to Trainee: The MoFo Candidate Experience

Training

A two-year programme during which you will rotate through our London departments. Trainees have access to a variety of mentors to guide them through new experiences and access to ongoing learning and development opportunities required to underpin their legal skills, including the initial trainee orientation sessions, regular skills-based training, significant daily responsibility and autonomy, and contributions to our future of the firm.

Vacation Scheme

Time spent at our London office with access to a variety of our departments. You will be able to take part in real client work, attend training sessions, and join socials with our attorneys. It’s a great way to get to know the firm and our sole method of selecting our future trainees.

Second-Stage Interview

The interview is comprised of two stages. You will deliver a five-to-ten-minute presentation on a current affairs topic to a panel including a member of the Graduate and Trainee Committee, another partner/of counsel, a member of the recruiting team, and a current trainee. You will complete a legal technical case study, which you will then discuss with two of our attorneys. Non-law students are also able to answer this from a commercial perspective.

First-Stage Interview

A 45–60-minute interview with a member of the recruiting team and two attorneys. This can be completed virtually or in-person at our offices. This interview is comprised of motivational and competency-based questions. We also ask one or two legal technical questions. Don’t worry if you are a non-law student; this is all taken into account with your answers.

Online Application Form

Second-Stage Interview

Vacation Scheme

Training

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 SQE 1 and 2 preparation programmes) for all future MoFo trainees completing the SQE route.

Intentionally chosen for the breadth and depth of teaching proficiency, 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 provides our future trainees with a well-rounded introduction to the practice and business of law. For future trainees being sponsored through the PgDL or SQE by MoFo, full course and exam fees will be covered by the firm, in addition to a maintenance grant to assist with living costs during study.

Legal Study Support

London Trainee Experience

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Asian and Caucasian ethnicity women colleagues met in office hall chatting enjoy friendly warm conversation, multi-ethnic mates having informal talk drink tea or coffee take break distracted from work

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Male manager presenting at informal meeting in a lounge room

Curated Experience

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.

Training Period

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 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.

Support and Mentorship

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.

Our vacation scheme offers a comprehensive introduction to training at MoFo. As a summer associate, you will:

The vacation scheme is your opportunity to showcase your potential. By the end, you will have a clear sense of whether law is the career for you—and whether MoFo is the right firm for you. The vacation scheme is our sole method of selecting our future trainees.

Vacation Scheme

understand the level of responsibility given to trainees

experience what life as a MoFo trainee is like

connect with MoFo partners, associates, business professionals, and peers

complete real client work, conduct legal research, and shadow client meetings

actively participate in firm life, from social events to office-wide training sessions

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First-Stage Interview

Online Application Form

We ask that you upload your CV and fill out our online application form. As part of your application, you will be expected to answer three long-answer questions regarding your motivations for a career in law and at MoFo.