Legal Business

Trainee retention rates: Herbert Smith, Weil and Trowers release figures

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), Weil, Gotshal & Manges, and Trowers & Hamlins are the latest firms to publish their trainee retention rates, with HSF recording its third straight score over 90%.

Of a total intake of 35, 33 trainees at HSF received offers, all of which were accepted. This achieves a total retention rate of 94%.

This time last year, the firm retained 39 of 42 trainees, which was a rate of 93%. Meanwhile, 92% of its autumn qualifiers were kept on at the firm, with 34 out of 37 accepting offers.

Elsewhere in the City, Weil Gotshal has announced a perfect 100% retention rate, with its smaller intake of three trainees to remain at the firm. This is the American firm’s second perfect score in a row after it retained all nine of its autumn 2015 qualifiers.

Trowers is retaining 88% of its qualifiers in this round. This includes seven of the eight trainees qualifying this spring, plus former trainee Jack Frier who qualified ahead of schedule as his previous work experience made him applicable for a shorter training contract.

This month’s announcement is encouraging for Trowers, as 12 months ago the firm reported an 82% retention figure when it kept on nine of 11 qualifiers. This was followed by an even more disappointing autumn 2015, when five out of seven trainees or 71% accepted NQ positions.

daniel.coyne@legalease.co.uk

This post originated from our sister website Lex 100, which is continually updating its trainee retention table as results arrive.