Our Survey Says
VAULT'S VERDICT:
Munger Tolles associates might just have it all—early substantive work, great coworkers, rapport with partners, high compensation, bona fide partnership prospects, and much more. Most associates arrive with top grades from elite law schools, journal experience, and clerkship history. Office settings are tight-knit, collaborative, and professional, and people understand the importance of life away from work. Lean staffing means associate/partner relations are robust and based on mutual trust and respect. Partners embrace open-door policies and opportunities for providing guidance, mentorship, and feedback to associates, and experiential training and learning-by-doing are emphasized—and appreciated—at Munger Tolles. Lateral hires, mostly from clerkships, feel that the onboarding process is efficiently managed. Lean teams translate to many meaningful projects and client contact, and the abundance of work is evenly distributed. There is no formal billable hour requirement—only a general expectation of 2,000 hours—and salaries match the market rate. Above-market bonuses are possible for exceeding the hours standard. Firm technology is largely average, and better resources and support are needed. Some wellness programs are offered but not enough to be helpful or impactful. In contrast, pro bono is exceptional, with strong backing from the firm and unlimited hours that count toward the billable expectation. Associates appreciate the firm’s parental leave policies; other diversity efforts include all-gender restrooms at all offices. There’s a sense that associates are hired with the expectation of making partner, though they must earn it with hard work and long hours. Those who pursue other careers rarely leave for other firms, preferring government or in-house positions.
350 South Grand Ave.
50th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone: (213) 683-9100
Chair: Brad Brian
Hiring Attorneys: Wesley Burrell, Bryan Heckenlively
Managing Partners: Hailyn Chen and Malcolm Heinicke
Total No. Attorneys (2024):
150 - 250
No. of Partners Named 2024:
2
Base Salary (2024)
1st year: $225,000
2nd year: $235,000
3rd year: $260,000
4th year: $310,000
5th year: $365,000
6th year: $390,000
7th year: $420,000
8th year: $435,000
Summer Associate: $4,327 weekly
Kara Sommers
Director of Legal Recruiting
(213) 452-5595
Kara.Sommers@mto.com
General Recruiting Email:
mtorecruiting@mto.com
No. of U.S. Offices: 3
No. of International Offices: 0
Los Angeles, CA (HQ)
San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC
Appellate
Antirust
Copyright & Trademark
Corporate
Financial Restructuring
Labor & Employment
Mass Torts & Crisis Litigation
Patent
Privacy & Data Security
Professional Liability
Regulatory
Securities
Trade Secret & Employee Mobility
White Collar & Investigations
*See firm website for complete list of practice areas and industries.