Mills & Reeve posts 92% autumn retention rate
updated on 15 October 2025
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Mills & Reeve LLP has announced a strong autumn retention rate of 92%, with 23 of its 25 final-seat trainees staying on as newly qualified (NQ) solicitors.
The majority of the new lawyers will join the firm’s corporate and commercial team, while the others will spread across practice areas, including real estate, employment, insurance disputes, regulatory, public and commercial disputes, private client and family law.
According to the Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2026, Mills & Reeve typically recruits around 30 trainees annually. NQs based in London can expect a salary of £84,000, while those in regional offices, such as Cambridge, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Norwich, will earn £63,000.
The retention announcement follows a period of strong financial performance for the firm. Mills & Reeve recently reported a turnover growth of £13 million, resulting in a record high turnover of £181 million for 2024/25. The firm attributed this growth to continued investment in people and technology, alongside expanding its client base across key sectors among other factors.
With this latest announcement, Mills & Reeve joins a number of firms revealing their autumn trainee retention figures. Most recently, White & Case LLP posted an 86% rate, keeping 19 of 22 qualifiers, while Shoosmiths retained 76% of its cohort, with 25 of 33 trainees staying on.
