Only 14 out of 20 NQs will continue to look out over Old Father Thames as the firm trots out line about keeping only “the very best”
Berwin Leighton Paisner has taken the lead in the dubious race to be the City law firm keeping the fewest of its newly-qualifying solicitors in the current round.
The London Bridge-based firm announced today that it had waved good-bye to six of its 20 NQs, a retention rate of 70%. The firm offered roles to 15 of its 20 final-seat trainees but one declined the offer.
The firm has seen a recent decline in its retention rate. Last autumn the figure stood at 83% down from 89% in spring 2014.
Training principal Anthony Lennox justified the high rejection rate, telling Lawyer2B magazine the firm is “rigorous in only recruiting the very best”.
While the plunge in retention at BLP is dramatic, it is technically not the lowest of the low so far this year. Earlier in the week, Addleshaw Goddard announced it was retaining only 50% of its NQs — but that translated to only two out of four lawyers.
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