Burges Salmon, A&O Shearman and BCLP reveal trainee retention rates
updated on 10 July 2024
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Burges Salmon LLP is “thrilled to report” that all of the firm’s 24 qualifying trainees have accepted roles at the firm; A&O Shearman offered permanent positions to 39 of its 48 trainees, with 37 offers accepted; and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has announced that 11 of its 19 trainees will continue at the firm after qualifying in September.
Burges Salmon’s latest cohort, made up of trainees and apprentices, is due to qualify across the law firm’s practice areas, including banking and finance, dispute resolution and real estate. The firm’s managing partner Roger Bull commented on the 100% retention rate, highlighting the firm’s market-leading training programme. Bull added: “The quality and high profile work we offer, combined with our commitment to being an exceptional place to work, are key differentiators for our firm.” The newly qualified solicitors can except a salary of up to £68,000.
Following the mega merger earlier this year, A&O Shearman combined the trainee intakes of the merged firms, with Allen & Overy offering 80 training contracts each year and Shearman & Sterling LLP offering just 12. As a result of the combined intake, the newly merged firm had an unusually large qualifying cohort, with a retention score of 66%. James Partridge, the firm’s early careers partner and training principal in London, congratulated the firm’s “first combined intake of qualifying solicitors” and confirmed the firm’s commitment to “investing and developing our people”. The firm’s new joiners will receive an annual salary of £150,000.
Meanwhile, BCLP’s 58% retention rate, announced earlier this week, is a jump up from the figure recorded in the spring (29%), according to Legal Cheek. The firm said it’s committed “to making further progress with our retention efforts”, recognising that there is “still more work to do here”. A spokesperson for the firm also confirmed that one of the qualifying solicitors is the first to qualify through the apprenticeship route at BCLP. The spokesperson added: “We are actively supporting our remaining trainees to find alternative roles, with many in the final stages of that process.” On qualifying in September, the salary for the firm’s new recruits will increase to £67,000 in Manchester and £105,000 in London.
