Slaughter and May boasts 95pc trainee retention rate

Of the 40 Slaughter and May trainees qualifying this round, an impressive 38 were offered and then accepted newly qualified (NQ) lawyer positions with the firm. With a retention rate of 95 per cent, the firm is currently ranked second on the Lex 100 live trainee retention league table, which is being regularly updated as firms release their Spring retention data. Herbert Smith Freehills is also a star performer, retaining 33 of its 35 trainee qualifiers in NQ positions and posting an overall retention rate of 94 per cent. This marks the third consecutive round that HSF has delivered NQ positions to over 90 per cent of its trainee pool, keeping on 92 percent of its most recent autumn qualifiers and 93 per cent of spring qualifiers this time last year. American firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges is currently sitting atop the Spring rankings with a 100 per cent retention rate, but from a far smaller pool of qualifiers. The firm has confirmed that all three of its qualifying trainees will be staying on as NQ lawyers. Sources: Legal Business; Lex100