Morgan Lewis

Despite its varied offering, the quality and intensity of the work at Morgan Lewis is as you would expect in any US firm and, true to form, trainees describe being hands-on from the get-go. As one described it: ““you get very real responsibility from day one and are expected to contribute in deals.” Lean deal teams mean you’re “working directly with partners” and “as such, the work is very stimulating because you play a genuine role in getting deals across the line”. As one of only six trainees each year, you can also expect to be “involved with real work and client or counsel facing work” pretty early on, which our sources tell us also means “you don’t do many basic or process heavy tasks” — result! Another rookie describes the work on offer at Morgan Lewis as “very global, interesting and always varied” adding that “at times it can be challenging but it is good to be pushed out of your comfort zone as a trainee as it makes the transition to NQ easier.”

This is also how the vast majority of training is done at Morgan Lewis. Though our insiders did speak of some “limited formal training” to supplement the all-American approach to “learn on the job” this is not a place for hand-holding. In the words of one current recruit, “it’s more about hitting the ground running.” Echoing this sentiment, another spy told LC, “you have to quickly learn to adapt and learn from any mistakes so that you don’t make them again. I have found associates and partners are always extremely willing to answer any questions I might have and I feel that is how I have received the majority of my training.”

Supportive and “highly approachable” partners are the norm at Morgan Lewis, and “responsive and helpful supervisors” are always on hand for questions or support. One trainee tells us, “there is a genuine open door policy even with the most senior partners. Even when given a discrete task, associates and partners take the time to explain the background and context which can make the mundane tasks more interesting.” Another adds: “My supervisors have been incredibly helpful and there have been times where I have been working directly with partners and have never felt as though I was unable to ask them a question. In fact, I have found that partners would rather I ask them questions than try and struggle through a task on my own.”

This positive feedback continues through to trainee level, as rookies report finding their peers “extremely supportive” — even if “it can sometimes be “difficult to all get together when we are all busy,” they admit. In the words of another new recruit: “the trainee cohorts are all very close and supportive. You are given a lot of responsibility and client contact as a trainee which can sometimes be daunting so it helps that you can speak to other trainees about managing this.” All this lends itself to a fairly decent social life in the London office, with an annual trainee budget funding trips to London Shuffle Club and the occasional dinner or drinks, though some thirsty newbies are pining for a few more “impromptu trips to the pub.”

Luckily, you’re not just restricted to gallivanting with your fellow trainees at Morgan Lewis, as teams are said to be “supportive if you have evening plans and let them know in advance (e.g., theatre or a concert)”. That being said, our sources do note that “sometimes this means you may have to work late the next day or a couple hours on the weekend”. This is a fairly apt description of the work-life balance on offer at this firm — “quite up and down”, in the words of another rookie, “particularly at the crescendo of a particular case or deal.” In general, however, “associates and partners are very aware that you are still a trainee” and at least one insider reports that more senior members “have encouraged me to take time off when possible”. We’re also told that there’s no culture of presenteeism here, so “no expectation to stay in the office if you don’t have work”. The general consensus is that “working weekends is rare but possible where you have a big deal or an upcoming hearing”, though on the whole our insiders informed Legal Cheek that “the balance is much better than I had anticipated it would be.”

For those recruits who are burning the midnight oil, some great views of St Paul’s Cathedral are on offer as the London office is situated in Condor House directly opposite it — one trainee even reports being able to see the clock towers from their desk! Trainees share an office with their supervisor and, whilst there are some grumbles that the office “itself is quite outdated”, most are happy with their current digs (which has as much to do with the great lunch options nearby as it does St Paul’s). Luckily, for the unhappy few, we’ve heard rumours that a move 10 minutes up the road to Peterborough Court on Fleet Street is on the cards, with the firm agreeing to move into Goldman Sachs’ former European HQ in Peterborough Court to accommodate its expanding headcount.

Morgan Lewis has eighteen shops across the States, two in the Middle East, a smattering of European hubs and locales in Japan, Singapore, China and Kazakhstan — luckily for new recruits the firm is now offering trainees an international secondment in either Singapore or the UAE. The firm has taken the decision to shutter operations in Shenzhen this year, following the footsteps of many US firms contracting operations in China. Fortunately, trainees can spend two days a week from home and the firm is said to provide a “generous work from home allowance every six months” to accommodate all your home-working needs.

Inside the office, tech is said to be okay. Morgan Lewis’s team in the States is noted as being “very useful” but much of the innovation on offer that side of the pond hasn’t quite made its way across yet. Other perks include “a good Deliveroo allowance and taxis home after 9pm”, “lawyer academies” in the States for new joiners, as well as the more standard package of private medical and dental, a cycle to work scheme, discounted shopping and season ticket loans. However the £57,500 starting salary is “great and probably the main perk” for at least one trainee. This figure rises to £62,500 in year two and £173,000 upon qualification.

Morgan Lewis has a history of pre-eminent pro bono work. In 1968 it led labour contract negotiations for a brand new Walt Disney project ‘Disney World’ and in 2015, the firm filed a historic amicus brief on behalf of 379 companies in the US Supreme Court making a business case for legalising same sex marriage. The London office has its own charity and community committee which organises an annual office vote to decide on two charities to support through various fundraising events. Past events have included bake-offs, dress-down friday, sporting competitions and a winter fair. The office also has an ongoing initiative with a school in Hackney, where staff volunteer to help vulnerable children who need support with their schoolwork.