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Herbert Smith Freehills has posted an excellent retention score of 97%.

The Silver Circle firm offered 28 roles to its cohort of 29 qualifying trainees, with all offers accepted.  

“We are delighted to have achieved another very high retention rate this round," said the firm's training principal David Rosen. "This reflects the high calibre of our trainees and our firm commitment to investing in our people. It also underlines our ambition and desire to recruit and retain the best junior lawyers in the sector."

It follows a strong retention rate earlier this year, when HSF kept on 93% of its qualifying trainees in the spring. Things were looking less positive for juniors last autumn, when the firm posted a lower trainee retention score of 69%, which dropped to 66% once fixed term contracts were discounted. At the time, the firm blamed the "unprecedented uncertainty“ created by the pandemic.

But it has turned out to be a bumper year for Herbies. This week, the firm announced its financial results for the year up to 30 April 2021, with revenues surpassing £1 billion for the first time. And profit was up 30% at £366.9 million compared with the previous financial year. 

Macfarlanes has also posted a solid retention score of 88%, retaining 22 of its 25 trainees qualifying this September. The firm posted a Covid-proof 100% retention score in spring this year, and retained 88% of its qualifying trainees in Autumn 2020.

"This has been an uncertain period for many but we have continued to invest in our trainees, knowing that an investment in our trainees is an investment in the firm’s future,” said Jat Bains, graduate recruitment partner.