Law firms across the country have been disclosing how many individuals from their September 2016 trainee cohort will be taking up associate-level positions with them.
US heavyweight Kirkland & Ellis has reported a perfect retention score of 100% as all 10 of its qualifying cohort will remain at the firm. Travers Smith likewise reported a retention score of 100% as it plans to keep all 21 of its new qualifiers (NQs). Magic Circle outfit Clifford Chance – who recently upped the number of training contact places it will offer – will keep 36 of its 47 NQs giving them a retention result of 77%. Hogan Lovells will keep 27 of its 28 soon-to-be qualified solicitors, giving them a retention figure of 96%. 26 of the 27 newly-qualified solicitors at Bristol-based Burges Salmon will take up associate level roles at the firm, while 8 out of the 10 qualifiers at Mayer Brown accepted NQ job offers from the firm. Sherman & Sterling and Slaughter and May reported near-identical retention scores, with the former retaining 11 of its 13 qualifiers (85%) and the latter keeping hold of 32 trainees from its 37-person cohort (86%). 21 of the 23 offers of newly-qualified solicitor roles were accepted by trainees at Taylor Wessing, giving the firm a retention score of 91%.