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A&O retention rates plummet to 72 per cent

The truth of the matter is that often, if the trainees are good enough they will be kept on. When I was a trainee it was not a surprise who was not kept on. If you take 50+ per intake, chances are approx 25% will be of a Mickey Mouse standard. In fact 25% is not a big deal. Graduate Recruitment will be pretty happy with that I imagine. If you go on their website there are loads of positions available (e.g. in Australia) so if the trainees were not kept on, it is likely they were naff and more likely not wanted. You have to remember that in law the road to success has many cut off points and this is one of the biggest ones. Of the ones they did keep on, another 25% won't make past 2 years PQE and so on until maybe 1 of them makes partner. But I wouldn't pity the ones that didn't make the cut – they will get NQ positions elsewhere (often US firms) and can trade off being a trainee at A&O for at least 2 years before the US firms realise why they weren't good enough for A&O. Let's face it, A&O is a pretty special firm and all it means not to be retained by them is that you are not good enough for the top level. Not everyone can play for Barcelona and Manchester United – some people can still make a good living in the Championship – it's called survival of the fittest.

5-Jul-2011

3:11 pm