Retention rates round-up: Olswang, Ashurst and Berwin Leighton Paisner announce latest figures

Three more firms have published their retention rates, confirming how many of their spring 2014 qualifiers have been offered newly qualified (NQ) roles.

As reported by The Lawyer, Olswang LLP can boast a 100% retention rate. Seven of the trainees will work from the London office, with the eighth trainee beginning their NQ role with the real estate team in the Thames Valley. The firm has deliberately reduced its trainee intake this year: it is recruiting 12 trainee solicitors, compared to 34 previously. Katharine Banbury, graduate recruitment and development specialist at Olswang, explained, “It’s been our aim over the last few years to get a better match between the numbers of trainees and the number of NQ places. It’s a long game and one which we are committed to”.

Meanwhile, Ashurst has announced that it will retain 96% of its spring trainees. Only one trainee out of 24 did not apply for a NQ role with the firm. 22 NQs will work at the London office; they will qualify into a number of groups, including ERRI (energy, real estate, resources and infrastructure), finance and dispute resolution.

Finally, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) was the latest firm to publish its retention rates of 89%. Antony Lennox, training principal at BLP, enthused: “I am delighted we have achieved such a high retention rate, which reinforces the fact that the calibre of trainees BLP has is fantastic and shows their commitment to the firm, and ours to them. Our trainees are the future of the firm; they are our future partners.”

Compare trainee retention rates at various law firms over several years using LC.N Insight.