Shoosmiths, Jones Day and DAC Beachcroft have revealed their trainee retention figures for this autumn.
Shoosmiths recorded a retention rate of 57 per cent, with just 12 out of 21 qualifiers staying on at the firm. A spokesperson said there were 23 vacancies but the firm was unable to match a number of trainees to their desired locations or specialisms.
DAC Beachcroft fared better, holding on to 10 out of 13 (77 per cent).
Four trainees took up positions in London, with three in Bristol, two in Leeds and one in Manchester. The corporate and commercial teams took two qualifiers each with the remaining six joining profin; professional and commercial risk; clinical risk; the claims solutions group; real estate; and employment and pensions.
Meanwhile, Lawyer 2B understands that Jones Day’s retention was 76 per cent, with the firm holding on to 16 of 21 trainees.
With results known at all the largest law firms, it is now clear that overall, retention is down on previous years. Across 58 firms, a total of 1,156 trainees out of 1,454 – or 79.5 per cent – stayed on at the firm that trained them, with 302 leaving.
In the seven previous retention rounds since spring 2014, overall retention had not dropped below 82 per cent.
Burges Salmon was the best-performing firm of autumn 2017 round, keeping all 28 of its qualifiers.
