One magic circle outfit and a trio of US-headquartered firms have revealed how many of their qualifying trainees are being retained as newly qualified solicitors this autumn. 

Magic circle rates held especially strong with 94% of newly qualified (NQ) solicitors at Linklaters (47 out of 50) accepting roles, while Allen & Overy revealed that 92% (34 of 37) of trainees are staying on post qualification.

A group of City law firms have launched an initiative to give opportunities to less-privileged students and shake off their elitist reputation.

A group of six City law firms have partnered with BPP University Law School to develop a new course that will prepare future trainees for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

Two leading City firms have delayed partner promotions due to pandemic pressures.

Ashurst has delayed partner promotions until later this year due to “continuing market uncertainty”. 

The government has dubbed two of the City’s biggest law firms, Baker & McKenzie and Linklaters, “social mobility champions”.

City firm Herbert Smith Freehills has elected 26 partners worldwide – its biggest partner promotions round since 2012 and four more than 2019 – despite coronavirus concerns.

City firms Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith Freehills, Slaughter and May, and Travers Smith have teamed up with 34 recruitment agencies to launch the ‘Recruitment Agency Race Fairness Commitment’ in an effort to improve racial diversity in the legal profession.

Top City firms Linklaters, Weil Gotshal & Manges and Mills & Reeve have all taken advisory roles in the leading Chinese food company Bright Food's acquisition of a 60% stake in the famous breakfast cereal brand, Weetabix.

The City Consortium, which includes Freshfields and Linklaters, will provide ‘top-up courses’ for future trainees taking the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) to ensure candidates are prepared to commence training contracts within a City practice.  

On 9 December, a unique legal careers event for disabled students is being run. It aims to connect recruiters from top firms with talented, disabled students.