A Day In The Life Of An Associate At Morrison And Foerster LLP
A corporate associate's day-to-day work at a large law firm like Morrison & Foerster LLP is highly variable, swinging between "weeks of 60, 70 hours and then weeks of 30 hours," depending on deal flow. Typical tasks include "diligence, both review of contracts or different agreements, drafting, diligence memorandums," and client communication, with intense periods near deal closings punctuated by slower times focused on document processing and general corporate matters.
Transactional Work, Diligence Review, Contract Drafting, Document Management, Deal Closing
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michael Santos
Associate
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Santa Clara University
Georgetown University - JD
Business Management & Admin
Law
Legal
Took Out Loans, Transfer Student, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Varied workload: The daily tasks and intensity fluctuate greatly depending on the deal's stage, ranging from 30 to 70+ hour weeks.
2. Transactional focus: A corporate associate's work is centered on transactions, encompassing tasks such as due diligence, contract review, document drafting, and client communication.
3. Deal lifecycle involvement: Associates participate in all phases of a deal, from initial diligence to the final, often hectic, closing process.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a corporate associate look like?
One thing I found working at a big law firm is that transactional work can be very volatile. You're obviously working a lot, but there can be weeks of 60 to 70 hours followed by weeks of only 30 hours.
Your day-to-day can vary depending on the stage of a deal or how many deals you're on. As a more junior associate, depending on the deal stage, you're probably working on diligence, reviewing contracts or agreements, and drafting diligence memorandums. You might also be conducting management calls with company counsel and representatives.
If you're near the closing of a deal, it's typically more hectic. Everyone is sprinting to get something done, and you're finalizing documents and coordinating with various parties. However, this isn't an everyday situation, as you're typically closing a couple of deals a month.
There are periods where everything is moving at 100% speed, and then other times you're just processing documents or working on general corporate matters for deals that have already closed. It can definitely vary with the tasks and the intensity and speed of your work.