More firms confirm retention rates for Spring qualifiers
updated on 27 February 2014
A number of firms, including Baker & McKenzie, Pinsent Masons and Mayer Brown, have confirmed how many Spring 2014 qualifiers have secured newly qualified (NQ) positions.
Pinsent Masons announced that it will keep 14 of 17 trainees, after 16 trainees applied for roles at the firm. Its retention rate of 82% is consistent with last year’s rate of 81%. Also reporting a high retention rate of 86% was Berrymans Lace Mawer; the top 50 firm will keep six of its seven trainees on as NQs.
Mayer Brown confirmed that it would retain only two of its five qualifying trainees, with a third placed on a fixed term six-month contract. As reported by Lawyer2B, the firm commented in a statement: “Four of our five trainees applied; however the reality is that we are recruiting four years ahead of demand and haven’t been able to offer all our trainees a position in the departments they chose. We have secured positions for three of our qualifiers.”
Elsewhere, King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin retained 12 of 17 qualifying trainees (71%), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer kept on 35 of 44 trainees (80%) and, finally, Baker & McKenzie announced that it will keep 15 of 17 final-seat trainees (88%).
