Magic circle outfit keeps 31 of its 37 NQs
Anglo-German giant Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has posted a solid retention score of 84%.
Of the 37 final seat trainees due to qualify this spring, 31 will be staying on as newly-qualified (NQ) associates. The global outfit — which offers around 80 City-based training contacts annually — confirmed that it had made 31 offers, with all accepting.
According to Legal Cheek’s Most List, the firm’s new recruits will start on a very respectable £85,000 a year.
Freshfields — which scored A*s for secondment opportunities and perks in the Legal Cheek Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey — is now the fourth magic circle firm to reveal its spring score.
On Monday Allen & Overy announced a retention rate of 82%, confirming that 31 of its 38-strong intake had opted to stick around post-qualification. Slaughter and May posted a perfect 100% spring retention score late last year, while Clifford Chance has kept just 67% of its NQs. Of the magic circle, that just leaves Linklaters to announce its result.
Last month Freshfields confirmed it will relocate to a new City HQ in 2021. Ditching its iconic Fleet Street offices, the international firm has put pen to paper on a lease that will see it take over around 300,000 sq ft of office space at 100 Bishopsgate.
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