Allen & Overy has reported that it will be keeping on 36 of its qualifying trainees from a total pool of 42, translating into a sturdy 86 per cent retention rate. A total of 39 trainees applied for associate positions at the firm, with all but one applicant receiving an offer from A&O but two eventually declining their offers. The retention result is a dip below the 91 per cent reported by A&O in the spring, but the firm is still pleased: ‘The retention rate for September 2016 is pleasing and in line with what we would expect. It demonstrates our long term commitment to recruiting and retaining our talented young lawyers,’ said partner James Partridge to Legal Cheek. A&O is the first Magic Circle firm to release its retention figures for the autumn round.

Sources: Legal Week; Legal Cheek