Editors’ Note: Read about Victor Lopez, a New York associate in the firm’s Litigation Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.
My legal career began through a fluke. I started undergrad fully convinced I was going to study psychology. Nobody could tell me otherwise. They were wrong; I was right. (In hindsight, perhaps my stubborn conviction that I was right was the first red flag indicating that I was destined for a career in law. After all, what lawyer doesn’t think they’re always right?) One small problem: I hated my first psych class (cognitive psychology). I didn’t enjoy—and actually somewhat loathed—the readings, lectures, and class discussions. So much so, that I failed my first exam (oops!). Needless to say, my psychology career was short-lived.
That same semester, I was taking a political science course, but merely to fulfill a degree requirement (i.e., not because I wanted to). In stark contrast, I found this class engaging, the readings profoundly interesting, and the class discussions (more like heated debates) exciting. This was especially true for the unit on the judiciary. I was hooked. The next opportunity I had, I signed up for a constitutional law course. Through this course I was able to explore legal writing, oral arguments, the use of precedent, and more fundamentally, the law. I found my calling!
It also helped that I had an excellent professor. Funnily enough, before this professor made the leap into academia, he was an associate at a law firm . . . Morrison & Foerster. Like I said, fluke.
Today, I have the good fortune of working at MoFo, representing some of the biggest companies in complex disputes. In my time at MoFo, I’ve had the opportunity to present before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, conduct an opening statement before a federal jury in the Eastern District of New York, travel to Mexico and Switzerland, and best of all, work alongside my ridiculously talented colleagues who make this job enjoyable.
Since my first day as a summer associate, everyone at the firm (from the partners, associates, paralegals, e-discovery managers, assistants, recruiting specialists, docket team members, legal document services folks, business development managers, IT support, the printing and mailing department, and many more) has taken me under their wing, offering indispensable guidance and support. From answering my dumb questions (“What are talking points?”), to covering for and fixing my mistakes (without letting the partners know), and helping me sort through existential career decisions, the folks at MoFo have stepped in and offered their wisdom.
Fortunately, we do not do our work alone; everything that we do on behalf of our clients, we do as a team. Because my entire legal career has been at MoFo, I only know what it’s like to work alongside a MoFo team. However, I can confidently say that I have no interest in finding out how other teams operate. I have a great team.
Looking back, I’m glad my first psych class was a disaster. If I had enjoyed it, I don’t know that I would have discovered or pursued my interest in the law, or gotten the opportunity to live in New York City, which has been a dream. Outside of the law, I enjoy exploring the city, trying new restaurants, going to local drag shows, catching new productions at the Metropolitan Opera, listening to the New York Philharmonic, and spending quality time in my apartment. It all worked out in the end. The journey thus far has been thrilling. I’m excited for what’s to come.