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Trainee Retention Rates High

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Billy Sexton, Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

Last updated 29th January 2025

A survey by the Law Gazette has revealed law firms can boast of impressive retention rates.

Firms such as Fieldfisher and RPC are set to retain 100% of the trainees who qualify in 2014. Fieldfisher will keep on all 11 of their newly qualified trainees, whereas RPC will retain 15 trainees. This is the second time the firm has achieved a 100% retention rate in the past four years.

TLT also retained 100% of their six trainees. Withers, are set to retain 83% of their trainees.

In the magic circle, Slaughter & May offered jobs to 34 trainees, yet one decided to leave the firm. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer offered jobs to 38 of trainees, yielding an 82% retention rate as one trainee did not choose to stay with the firm.

Berwin Leighton Paisner are going to retain 15 of 18 final-seat trainees, with Nabarro retaining 13. Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co will keep 77% of trainees. King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin will retain 73%, which equates to 16 of 22 trainees. CMS Cameron McKenna are going to retain 41 of 61 trainees.

The survey shows that if aspiring lawyers are able to land a training contract and maintain a strong work ethic throughout, they are likely to be retained by the firm. 

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