Morrison & Foerster

From California dreaming to global sensation, this MoFo’s taking more than just a byte out of a rapidly evolving tech landscape

About the Firm

“I’ll be frank,” one source chuckled, “the name MoFo did make me laugh.” It’s a striking nickname for San-Francisco-headquartered Morrison Foerster, but there’s nothing laughable about MoFo’s performance in the market. Chambers USA places its teams for artificial intelligence, FCPA, government contracts, impact investing, intellectual property: appellate, privacy & data security, projects: agency financing, and technology all in the top band nationwide. Meanwhile, our sister guide, Chambers Global, rates MoFo as among the worldwide market leaders in agribusiness and artificial intelligence. Clearly, MoFo is a big name (and not just a funny one) in tech-related fields, and given the firm’s origins near Silicon Valley, it won’t surprise you to hear that sources described it as “as bunch of nerdy people doing high-level law.”

“I just got a better vibe from them than from other firms…”

However, let’s not get too serious, because it doesn’t usually take long for new lawyers to realize that there is indeed a lighter side to this powerhouse firm. One associate we spoke to felt that “it wasn’t the legal side that made me choose MoFo – at the end of the day I just got a better vibe from them than from other firms.” Another related that, during screening calls, the interviewers “were more interested in me as a person – they didn’t really talk about school at all, it was about me and my interests! They wanted to know who was going to fit in, which was really promising to me.” Indeed, the more we heard, the more we learned that MoFo has plenty of things beyond its name that might put a smile on your face.

Morrison Foerster is recognized as a Strong Performer for Junior Satisfaction and a Strong Performer for Mid to Senior Satisfaction in our 2026 associate satisfaction survey.

Strategy & Future

All of our interviewees were of the opinion that, when it comes to strategy, they weren’t kept in the dark, and they were quick to identify the linchpin of the firm’s approach: dominance in tech. Vice-chair Jennifer Marines echoed the sentiment, highlighting the firm’s leadership in this space as something MoFo has been “leaning into,” given recent developments in AI and other software. Marines emphasizes that the firm’s strategy is “not just about traditional tech now, because tech runs through every sector of the economy – it’s shaping everything from how our food is produced to how energy is produced with data centers, and we’re advising institutions and investors on all of this.” Outside of tech, particular areas of focus for MoFo include its well-regarded practices in securities and government law, so “firmwide we’re bringing in exceptional talent from the government sector.”

“We’ve been in the space since long before the generative AI boom.”

AI is also playing a part in the firm’s internal strategy. “We’ve been in the space since long before the generative AI boom,” Marines tells us, noting that “we do see tech as continuing to reshape the profession – not by replacing lawyers, but by demanding that we operate at a higher level of expertise and insight.” On this point, the firm has recently onboarded a new chief innovation and information officer, Chris Bowers.

Development of associates has similarly been a focus for MoFo over the last couple of years. The firm is forging ahead with a raft of programs, including MoFo Navigate (for structured onboarding and mentoring), MoFo success profiles (for making upskilling expectations transparent), and MoFo Next (where associates can “start thinking about long-term goals – whether that’s a career here or new opportunities”).

Morrison Foerster is recognized as an Excellent Performer for AI Integration in our 2026 associate satisfaction survey.

The Work

MoFo operates an open market system; “there is no formal work coordinator,” one junior told us, “so you’re on your own to reach out and find work your own way.” All of our interviewees were positive about this setup, but some people prefer more structure when it comes to work allocation, so for those it may not be ideal. As a junior, you typically work in one of the broad transactions or litigation groups up until the end of second year, when you “slot yourself into a specialized group and start to do 50% or more of your work in that department,” though the firm does sometimes hire into specialized departments too.

Morrison Foerster is recognized as a Strong Performer for Work Allocation & Autonomy in our 2026 associate satisfaction survey.

Career Development

Reflecting a sentiment shared by all of our interviewees, one associate told us that “what stands out is that the partners really care about associate development.” That care shines through in both informal and formal experiences of mentorship, feedback and general training. Critically, most of the training happens through the work, leading to one source feeling that “the work here is setting me up to pursue what I want to pursue in the future.” Juniors told us that feedback is a big strength when it comes to development at MoFo; “There’s informal training where I’ve been visited by partners to go over markups, especially if it’s a new concept, or they’ll recap things so you do feel heavily supported.” Beyond this, we heard that the firm’s mentorship program pairing juniors and laterals with an associate and partner mentor is “super helpful at the beginning!” Assigned partner mentors have meetings with associates to overview their progression and ensure they are on the right track.

“You can become a partner if that’s something you seek.”

When it comes to long-term prospects, there was a consensus that “you can become a partner if that’s something you seek.” The firm also recently moved to a two-tier partnership model, so that pathway is now a little shorter. For those whose interests lie more in going into government or in-house, the firm is described as “super supportive.” Its MoFo Next program gives associates a confidential resource within the firm that helps associates tap into their network; it’s like “an independent career adviser for if you want to move on, so there is a path for everyone.”

Morrison Foerster is recognized as a Strong Performer for Career Development in our 2026 associate satisfaction survey.

Culture

Across the board, associates were positive about the culture at MoFo, with one reporting it being far from the “horror stories you hear about BigLaw.” Instead, at MoFo “it feels sort of informal in a good way, because everyone is warm,” something that seems to reflect the firm’s West Coast roots. “It’s very California!” one junior proclaimed, with the firm being seen as pretty relaxed; “my first day I came in in a suit, but everyone else was dressed casually, in jeans!” Another junior in one of the firm’s West Coast offices confirmed the relatively casual dress code, mentioning that “I wear a t-shirt to the office – though it is steamed.”

“There’s ample opportunity for networking.”

Although the general feeling was that the whole firm shares the same chilled-out California vibe, we heard that there are slight differences between the offices. “Conversation topics are different,” one associate told us, as “in New York, for example, they tend to focus more on the work itself, while in San Francisco you’re more likely to talk about what’s going on at the weekend!” Nonetheless, wherever you’re based, there’s plenty going on within the office itself. Associates are expected to be in the office three days a week, which helps to drive attendance at weekly or bi-weekly office socials – “pretty much everyone I know goes to those!” – and more organized annual events like “bring your child to work day where they put Bluey on (fake) trial!” Our sources didn’t confirm whether the cartoon dog will finally face jail time, but all in all, it’s clear that “there’s ample opportunity for networking.”

Hours & Compensation

MoFo sets a target of 1,950 hours, which is pretty typical for BigLaw firms, but our interviewees felt that they were “not just corporate cogs!” For juniors, the aforementioned “relaxed” culture meant that even when hours do heat up, “you’re encouraged to talk about and be open about mental health.” Overall, the firm’s approach is to make the experience “as sustainable as possible.” Associates had mixed feelings about their ability to meet the target on the transactional front because “it’s heavily dependent on the market,” but for the most part they were comfortable with the “push and pull” nature of the work.

On the whole, our interviewees didn’t spend “a ton” of weekends working, and when they did, we’re told that “if you’ve worked a whole weekend and might need a day to rest, you can do that; you just need to ask someone if they can handle X, Y, Z.” The inevitability of a few periods of long hours is also balanced by the firm giving associates unlimited PTO, and we hear that it’s “fantastic at honoring vacation.” An insider confirmed that “if you’re hitting your hours, you can take as much as you want, and nobody is going to bother you on vacation so long as you prepare adequately beforehand.”

“Nobody is going to bother you on vacation.”

Associates have to work a minimum of 1,800 billable hours for clients, with anything (D&I, pro bono, business development, knowledge management etc.) above that counting towards the legal services hours. To be bonus eligible, associates just need to meet the 1,950 hours target. Beyond that milestone, there are additional incentive bonuses relating to higher hours and merit – “and there’s no cap on that – that includes legal services like pitches and substantive legal business development like articles.”

Morrison Foerster is recognized as a Strong Performer for Benefits & Quality of Life in our 2026 associate satisfaction survey.

Pro Bono

There was a shared consensus that MoFo is committed to this work, and we heard there is an expectation for associates to do at least 25 hours per year. “They even run competitions for pro bono hours,” we learned, “and you can take on anything as long as you get a partner on it.” The firm has four pro bono counsels firmwide who help associates to find opportunities, which can include assisting low-income elderly people with end-of-life planning and will prep, as well as a lot of clinics to help people become citizens or file asylum papers.