RollOnFriday understands that Scottish firm Shepherd & Wedderburn is only retaining 50% of its qualifying trainees this Spring.

The firm refused to respond to multiple enquiries, much like Gide (0%). However sources within the firm were more forthcoming, describing how the firm has only eight jobs for sixteen qualifying trainees. Four of them are apparently "unpopular" property positions, while three are going into the "not particularly popular" pensions, private client and constructions departments. The last will practice corporate finance, but in Aberdeen, where no-one trained because Shepperd & Wedderburn doesn't have trainees there.

Did you do it, Shepherd? Did you?

Meanwhile, Stephenson Harwood is retaining four out of seven of its final seat trainees. One did not apply for a job at the firm. The small size of SH's intake means the three departures have an oversized impact on its retention rate, which is 57%. That's poorer than last September when it retained seven of nine (77%) and last Spring when it kept six of seven (86%). Neil Noble, partner and trainee principal, said the firm's approach to recruiting NQs "is rigorous," and that it was "committed to offering our exceptional young lawyers the very best start to their careers".  Good-o.



Are your firm's stats missing from the table? If so, don RollOnFriday's orange cloak of gossip.