Eversheds posts 87 per cent NQ retention rate

The firm has confirmed that it is retaining 33 out of its 38 September 2011 qualifiers. Though last September’s retention rate was slightly lower at 83 per Eversheds actually retained 72 NQs.

The size of the 2011 NQ cohort is significantly smaller because like many of its rival firms Eversheds offered 31 its September 2009 trainee solicitor intake £5,000 to defer entry or be employed as a paid paralegal for one year.The firm also cancelled its graduate recruitment programme that year but this was relaunched in 2010 (read more).

Compared to the other top 20 law firms that have confirmed their September 2011 retention rates Eversheds’ is towards the lower end with Ashurst, Berwin Leighton Paisner, DLA Piper, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Nabarro and Slaughter and May reporting figures of 93, 95, 90, 96, 95 and 100 per cent respectively.