There is no limit on the number of pro bono hours associates are permitted to work.  In 2010, nearly 80% of associates and more than 60% of partners participated in pro bono work, performing an average of 211 and 64 hours, respectively.  An unlimited amount of pro bono hours are counted as billable hours, and all hours are treated equally in bonus consideration.  Munger Tolles is listed in the top 20 firms on the 2009 AmLaw Pro Bono 100 List for its pro bono commitment.  In addition to in-house pro bono work, the firm also sponsors two-year public interest fellowships in conjunction with Equal Justice Works.

Munger Tolles has a one-tier partnership structure.  The firm has no set time for when associates will be considered for partner, but generally considers associates for partnership after anywhere from four to seven years at the firm.  Lateral Link Members praise this refreshingly brief partnership period, saying that partnership is an achievable goal with hard work.  Members also note that as a result of the varying timeline for partnership consideration, the firm has no "up or out" policy but note that homegrown associates are heavily favored over laterals in partnership consideration.  The firm recently promoted its first associate working on a part-time schedule to partner.  In 2010, the firm promoted two associates to partners, both of whom were women.

Benefits at Munger Tolles include a subsidized cafeteria in the Los Angeles office, backup childcare, weekly lunches and happy hours, and reimbursement of client development expenses on a case-by-case basis.  New associates at the firm are provided with a $10,000 to $12,000 bar stipend, as well as relocation benefits including a $5,000 reimbursement, car transport services, and consulting services from professional house or apartment hunters.  In Los Angeles, the firm recently opened an on-site child care center for children of both associates and staff from infancy through pre-kindergarten.  Munger Tolles also contributes 3% to some associates’ 401(k) accounts.

During Munger Tolles' 12-week summer program, summer associates are assigned work in various practice areas by an attorney coordinator, and survey respondents say that summers can "freely turn down assignments" if they would rather work on a different project.  Respondents report that the work during the summer is “high-profile or interesting in some other way” and “[y]our work product is often expected to actually go to the client.”  However, one respondent notes that the assignments can "take a long time," which accounts for the below average number of assignments - about five - that summer associates typically complete over the course of the program.  According to respondents, the firm "rarely" holds formal trainings; instead, summer associates learn on the job.  In fact, some respondents say that “[y]ou get an assignment the first day and you’re on your own from there,” but point out that “attorneys [you work with] take a great amount of time to explain issues, provide feedback, and train.”  Respondents in the summer program say that they are expected to be in the office during normal working hours, but they generally leave by 6:30 p.m. and do not work weekends.  Summer associates are not provided with BlackBerrys, which all respondents are glad about.  Three times a week, Munger Tolles hosts firm lunches, which provide a "great sense of community," according to respondents; mentors arrange for summers to be taken out to lunch the remaining two days.  In addition to weekly firm-sponsored social events, such as partner dinners, surfing lessons, and baseball games, respondents say associates are "great" about setting up "ad hoc events."  In 2011, the firm also hosted a summer associate weekend retreat in Rancho Santa Fe for various social activities.  In addition to its summer program for second-year law students, the firm also offers a program for up to six diverse first-year law students to spend six weeks at the firm and the following four weeks at a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles or San Francisco on the firm’s salary.  In 2009, the firm offered associate positions to 19 of its 22 eligible summer associates, and offered associate positions to 11 of its 14 summer associates in 2010.  In 2011, the firm increased its summer class size to over 20 summer associates.  All Class of 2009 associates started work as scheduled in Fall 2009.