Allen & Overy is to retain 36 out of 42 qualifying trainees this autumn, equating to 86 per cent of its intake. It is the first of the magic circle to release its figures for September.
The firm made 38 offers to the 39 final-seat trainees who applied for a newly-qualified position, with 36 accepting.
Training principal James Partridge said: “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.”
It is A&O’s smallest qualifying cohort in years, down from a high of spring 2010, when the firm had 66 qualifiers.
The firm’s 86 per cent figure this autumn is down on the spring result, but not hugely dissimilar to recent retention rounds.
