Morrison & Foerster

by Joann Chang

If you value quality of life and a diverse workplace environment above all else in your job search, look no further than San Francisco's Morrison & Foerster. Established in 1883, the firm has undergone over a dozen name changes in its lifetime, but most attorneys now affectionately refer to the firm by its nickname, "MoFo." Cute nicknames aside, the law firm, which boasts 1,000 attorneys and 19 worldwide offices, not only manages to maintain one of the best workplace environments in the legal industry, but gets a lot of impressive work done as well. In 2002, the firm cleared almost $500 million in gross revenue. MoFo has proven that is it possible for a law firm to be both laid back and incredibly profitable.

The dotcom boom in the late 1990s led to considerable growth for MoFo, as it became deeply involved in both Silicon Valley and New York-based internet companies. With that work all but gone after the bust, the firm has tended to focus on finance and intellectual property law and is historically known for its work on intellectual property litigation and corporate finance matters.

Although associates at MoFo put in long hours of hard work typical of any large firm, they also experience unparalleled courtesy and friendliness in the office. Associates describe a prevailing atmosphere of mutual respect and professionalism. Associates also note that the informal training opportunities are great.

The firm receives numerous awards for its exemplary workplace atmosphere, including being ranked #1 for Diversity and #2 for the "Best Firm to Work For" in the 2004 surveys conducted by Vault.com. Women report that the firm provides part-time opportunities as well as generous maternity leaves. The firm also maintains a progressive stance on gay and lesbian issues, offering domestic partner benefits. With an overall ranking of 5th in the nation by Minority Law Journal in terms of ethnic minority percentage, MoFo demonstrates a serious attitude when it comes to diversity issues.

MoFo also gets recognition both inside and outside the firm for their commitment to pro bono cases. The firm's stellar pro bono program allows many attorneys to bill over 200 hours of pro bono work, with the firm considering pro bono cases equal in importance to paying ones. MoFo has received numerous awards for its pro bono program, including the 2002 Pro Bono Publico award by the American Bar Association.

MoFo lawyers seem to have the best of both worlds, earning top compensation and enjoying a laid-back workplace. The firm pays out an average salary of $157,500 and employs a three-tier bonus system. The bonus system allows different financial incentives at three separate levels of total billable hours, 1,950, 2,100, and 2,200. Associates know that they can expect financial rewards even if they do not work the killer 2,400 hours required at some firms. And with the firm throwing other perks at them, such as Blackberrys and individual offices for associates, there really doesn't seem to be much to complain about at Morrison.

Unfortunately for those not already in the firm, the reputation for happy people and interesting work has made MoFo one of the most difficult places to get hired. At a minimum, first year associates are expected to have graduated from a top law school as well as maintained top academic records. Firm insiders have noted that being liberal and having diverse backgrounds are also valued by recruiters. In comparison, making partner seems to be an easier task at this firm. Although the road to partner can take up to 10 years at MoFo, most associates describe it as being a reasonable expectation.