Macfarlanes has revealed its autumn 2016 retention, keeping on 18 of its 21 qualifiers despite having a 100 per cent retention rate objective.
The results give Macfarlanes a retention rate of 85 per cent, with the firm offering NQ positions to 20 out of its 21 trainees.
A total of 18 offers have been accepted putting Macfarlanes behind its 100 per cent spring retention rate earlier this year.
“85 per cent retention is a very satisfactory outcome,” said head of graduate recruitment and partner Sean Lavin. “While 100 per cent retention is our objective, it is inevitable that individual expectations and the opportunities available cannot always be matched.”
Macfarlanes upped its associate pay to £71,000 in July, meaning NQ lawyers will be entitled to over £1,000 more than the last financial year.
Last autumn, the firm also hung on to 84 per cent of its trainees, just after announcing plans to increase its intake size.
The firm currently takes on 25 trainees per year, but from 2018 it will be looking to hire up to 30.
