Building a strong legal foundation is essential to an attorney’s success. That is why MoFo developed MoFoundations, a tailored learning and development path that provides first-year associates with professional and practice skills, practical knowledge, and opportunities to integrate and engage with the MoFo community. MoFo Boot Camp, a virtual program that is part of the MoFoundations curriculum, took place a week after the latest group of first-year associates arrived at the firm.
MoFo Boot Camp was designed by MoFo’s Attorney Learning & Development team and provided first-year associates with an introduction to the skills needed to become effective members of a team. The program, which included sessions for litigation, patent, and transactions associates, integrated three modes of learning: lecture-based presentations, experiential learning, and collaborative team exercises.
“Starting as a first-year transactional associate, it’s all too easy to feel like a cog in the machine, where it’s not at all clear why what you’re doing matters, and what matters when it comes to what you’re doing,” explains partner—and MoFo Boot Camp presenter—Fredo Silva. “Boot Camp is about empowering junior associates not necessarily to understand the deals they’re doing, but to ask the questions that will get them to that understanding, so they can grow their skill set while delivering excellent client service.”
All first-year associates attended the five-day Boot Camp, which was presented by more than 50 senior associates, of counsel, and partners. During the program, the first-year associates had the opportunity to attend a wide array of practice-specific training sessions. The skills and practice knowledge sessions included mock oral arguments, fact-finding tips and resources, and strategies for compelling legal writing for Litigation associates; an overview of patent concepts, principles, and practices for Patent associates, patent agents, and scientific analysts; and contract drafting, review techniques, and due diligence for Transactions associates.
“Presenting at MoFo’s Boot Camp provides an extremely important opportunity to help usher in our next generation of lawyers,” says partner Katie Viggiani. “My goal is to help provide our first years with a broad overview of the types of cases they might work on, as well as a strong understanding that teamwork, collaboration, and mentorship are part of the fabric of the firm.”
Supporting attorneys throughout every stage of their careers is a top priority at MoFo, and this attitude is exemplified through the programming developed for MoFo Boot Camp. As senior associate Rose Lee says, “I remember how daunting it was to start at the firm. What helped me the most was knowing there were more experienced attorneys willing to serve as resources to me.”
To learn more about the MoFo Boot Camp, please contact Christie Mizer, Associate Director of Attorney Coaching & Career Development.