Editor's note: Read about Hannah McCollough, who participated in MoFo’s 2024 Summer Associate Program in our Boston office, in this installment of our MoFo Stories series.
Before starting at MoFo this summer, I wasn’t sure what I saw for my future as an attorney. As a first generation law student who went straight from undergrad to law school, I was intimidated to be starting at a global law firm the summer following my 1L year. I was drawn to MoFo by my desire to solve complex legal issues for a wide variety of clients and industries; however, I wasn’t sure how I was going to contribute to a large law firm with limited legal experience under my belt. And like many law students, I felt mystified by what a career in “Big Law” really entailed.
As it turned out, these apprehensions were unfounded. During my first week at MoFo, I was immediately exposed to real, substantive work. On my first day, I was sending emails to partners across different MoFo offices; by the end of my first week, I had attended a client due diligence meeting and worked on matters across three practice groups: M&A, Tax, and Tech Transactions. By my midpoint, I had conducted legal research for revising corporate bylaws, drafted ancillary documents for a loan agreement, and corresponded with a client on a pro bono matter.
The breadth and depth of my assignments reflected not only MoFo’s capabilities as a firm, but the trust placed in its summer associates. We were continuously encouraged to take initiative on matters that interested us and were afforded discretion on both the projects and attorneys we worked with. MoFo attorneys cultivated a dynamic where we could ask questions and make mistakes; yet, seeing our work product get sent directly to clients instilled a sense of importance that emphasized our genuine role at the firm. This balance of oversight and responsibility fostered an ideal environment for prioritizing our development and growth.
At this point in our career trajectory, law students often have more questions than they do answers. The pathway to the legal profession can be a hazy one, especially when tasked with navigating the complexity of legal practice alongside the unfamiliarity of a corporate setting. I am grateful that my experience as a MoFo summer associate has remedied these concerns, equipping me with the mentorship, training, and skills to succeed as an aspiring attorney. Now, nearing the end of the Summer Associate Program, I feel lucky to say that my previous sense of imposter syndrome has grown into a strong sense of confidence, and I am excited to be entering my 2L year with a newfound sense of clarity toward my career.