Three Pinsent trainees opted out, leaving seven applications. Of these, six were offered a place at the firm and five accepted positions. Another applicant chose to join the firm's flexible working service Vario. This spring’s retention rate at Pinsent represents a steep fall from last year, when the firm secured 15 of its original group of 19 for an overall rate of 79 per cent.

Meanwhile, from an original group of 19, Ashurst offered positions to 17 trainees. Fifteen chose to stay on with the firm, for a retention rate of 79 per cent.

Norton Rose managed to outdo its City rival, keeping an impressive 96 per cent of its 23-strong cohort. Of the 22 offers made, all accepted newly-qualified positions within the firm. The figure represents an increase on last spring, when 21 from a group of 26 accepted positions for a retention rate of 81 per cent.

Source: Legal Business