52 out of 71

Pinsent Masons has kept on 52 of its 71 qualifying trainees this autumn, giving the firm a retention score of 73%.

Nineteen of the newly qualified (NQ) solicitors join the firm’s finance and projects team, with 13 heading to transactional departments, 10 to property, and another 10 to risk advisory services.

Elsewhere, Bird & Bird revealed a 75% retention rate, keeping 15 of its 20 qualifiers. The group includes five in commercial, five in IP, two in disputes, two in corporate, and one in employment.

Elsewhere, Lewis Silkin confirmed it will retain five of its six final-seat trainees. Two join the firm’s employment practice, while the remaining three qualify into IP, corporate, and the digital, creative and commerce team.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2026 shows that NQs at Pinsents start on £105,000 in London, while their counterparts at Bird & Bird earn £102,000. At Lewis Silkin, NQ salaries sit at £85,000.

Trainee retention rates: the story so far…

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Firm	Trainees	Retained	Retention Rate	NQ Destinations
Wedlake Bell	8	8	100%	2 to insolvency; 1 each to commercial disputes, construction, corporate, tax, IP/commercial, and private client
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer	31	29	94%	Undisclosed
Irwin Mitchell	53	48	91%	14 to Business Services Group; 12 to Medical Negligence; 9 to Court of Protection & Public Law & Human Rights; 8 to Private Client Group; 4 to Personal Injury; 1 to General Counsel
RPC	18	16	89%	6 to insurance; 6 to disputes (3 IP/tech, 2 commercial litigation, 1 media); 4 to corporate & commercial
Watson Farley & Williams	18	16	89%	5 to asset finance; 4 to project finance; 2 to corporate; 1 to debt capital markets; 2 to disputes and 1 to finance in Dubai; 1 to disputes in Bangkok
Clifford Chance	57	49	86%	Undisclosed
Macfarlanes	28	24	86%	Undisclosed
Lewis Silkin	6	5	83%	2 to employment; 1 each to IP, corporate, and digital, creative & commerce
Linklaters	40	33	83%	Undisclosed
Bird & Bird	20	15	75%	5 to commercial; 5 to IP; 2 to disputes; 2 to corporate; 1 to employment
Pinsent Masons	71	52	73%	19 to finance & projects; 13 to transactional; 10 to property; 10 to risk advisory
A&O Shearman	54	37	69%	Undisclosed
Withers	14	9	65%	Undisclosed

48 out of 53

National law firm Irwin Mitchell has announced a 91% retention rate, with 48 of its 53 trainees qualifying as solicitors this year.

The latest cohort of 36 trainees completed their training contracts this summer, joining 12 others who qualified earlier in the year to take up permanent roles across the firm’s UK offices.

The fresh batch of newly qualified (NQ) solicitors will spread across a range of practice areas, including 14 in the business services group, 12 in medical negligence, nine in court of protection and public law & human rights, eight in the private client group, four in personal injury, and one in the general counsel team.

Amy Scott, head of talent at Irwin Mitchell, said:

“A massive congratulations to our newly qualified solicitors. Qualifying as a solicitor is not just a milestone, but an exciting and significant achievement in their career. It highlights the hard work, commitment, and tenacity that each of them has shown over the last two years.”

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows that NQs in London start on salaries between £59,500 and £78,000, depending on their practice area, while those in regional offices earn between £45,000 and £57,000 upon qualification.

Trainee retention rates: the story so far…

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Firm	Trainees	Retained	Retention Rate	NQ Destinations
Wedlake Bell	8	8	100%	2 to insolvency; 1 each to commercial disputes, construction, corporate, tax, IP/commercial, and private client
Irwin Mitchell	53	48	91%	14 to Business Services Group; 12 to Medical Negligence; 9 to Court of Protection & Public Law & Human Rights; 8 to Private Client Group; 4 to Personal Injury; 1 to General Counsel
RPC	18	16	89%	6 to insurance; 6 to disputes (3 IP/tech, 2 commercial litigation, 1 media); 4 to corporate & commercial
Watson Farley & Williams	18	16	89%	5 to asset finance; 4 to project finance; 2 to corporate; 1 to debt capital markets; 2 to disputes and 1 to finance in Dubai; 1 to disputes in Bangkok
Clifford Chance	57	49	86%	Undisclosed
Macfarlanes	28	24	86%	Undisclosed
Linklaters	40	33	83%	Undisclosed
A&O Shearman	54	37	69%	Undisclosed
Withers	14	9	65%	Undisclosed

24 out of 28

Macfarlanes has announced a trainee retention rate of 86%.

The firm confirmed this week that 24 of its 28 final-seat trainees will be staying on when they qualify next month.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows those remaining will begin life as newly qualified (NQ) solicitors on a salary of £140,000.

Previously, Macfarlanes split its trainee intake between spring and autumn, but it has since moved to a single annual intake.

Summer trainee retention rates: the story so far…

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Firm	Trainees	Retained	Retention Rate	NQ Destinations
Wedlake Bell	8	8	100%	2 to insolvency; 1 each to commercial disputes, construction, corporate, tax, IP/commercial, and private client
RPC	18	16	89%	6 to insurance; 6 to disputes (3 IP/tech, 2 commercial litigation, 1 media); 4 to corporate & commercial
Watson Farley & Williams	18	16	89%	5 to asset finance; 4 to project finance; 2 to corporate; 1 to debt capital markets; 2 to disputes and 1 to finance in Dubai; 1 to disputes in Bangkok
Clifford Chance	57	49	86%	Undisclosed
Macfarlanes	28	24	86%	Undisclosed
Linklaters	40	33	83%	Undisclosed
A&O Shearman	54	37	69%	Undisclosed
Withers	14	9	65%	Undisclosed

86%

Magic Circle law firm Clifford Chance has reported an autumn retention rate of 86%, with 49 of its 57 final-seat trainees staying on as newly qualified (NQ) solicitors this September.

The firm confirmed it received 56 applications for NQ roles and made 49 offers — all of which were accepted. As in previous years, CC did not disclose which departments the new associates would be joining.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows CC recruits up to 100 trainees each year, offering a starting salary of £56,000. Upon qualification, this leaps significantly to £150,000.

Clifford Chance is the third Magic Circle firm to announce its autumn retention results. Linklaters retained 33 out of 40 qualifying trainees (83%), while A&O Shearman posted a retention rate of 69%, with 37 of 54 trainees staying on.

Summer trainee retention rates: the story so far…

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Firm	Trainees	Retained	Retention Rate	NQ Destinations
Wedlake Bell	8	8	100%	2 to insolvency; 1 each to commercial disputes, construction, corporate, tax, IP/commercial, and private client
RPC	18	16	89%	6 to insurance; 6 to disputes (3 IP/tech, 2 commercial litigation, 1 media); 4 to corporate & commercial
Watson Farley & Williams	18	16	89%	5 to asset finance; 4 to project finance; 2 to corporate; 1 to debt capital markets; 2 to disputes and 1 to finance in Dubai; 1 to disputes in Bangkok
Clifford Chance	57	49	86%	Undisclosed
Linklaters	40	33	83%	Undisclosed
A&O Shearman	54	37	69%	Undisclosed
Withers	14	9	65%	Undisclosed

83%

Magic Circle law firm Linklaters has confirmed it will retain 33 of its 40 London-based trainees qualifying this autumn.

The firm made 34 offers, with 33 accepted, resulting in a retention rate of 83%. All offers were for permanent roles.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2025 shows Links is one of the largest trainee recruiters in the City, offering around 100 TCs every year. First-year trainees currently earn £56,000, rising to £61,000 in year two. Newly qualified (NQ) associates earn £150,000.

Three trainees based in Hong Kong SAR and one from Singapore also received and accepted offers for NQ roles in London.

Chris Stevenson, trainee development partner at Linklaters, commented:

“Congratulations to our new junior lawyers as they embark on this next stage of their careers at Linklaters. They have all shown outstanding potential and ambition. Benefiting from the opportunities across our global platform, and supported by our culture of teamwork and high performance, they are well positioned to grow and thrive. We look forward to seeing — and celebrating — their successes in the years ahead.”

Links is only the second Magic Circle law firm to reveal autumn retention score, with A&O Shearman posting a score of 69% (37 of 54) last month.

Summer trainee retention rates: the story so far…

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Firm	Trainees	Retained	Retention Rate	NQ Destinations
Wedlake Bell	8	8	100%	2 to insolvency; 1 each to commercial disputes, construction, corporate, tax, IP/commercial, and private client
RPC	18	16	89%	6 to insurance; 6 to disputes (3 IP/tech, 2 commercial litigation, 1 media); 4 to corporate & commercial
Watson Farley & Williams	18	16	89%	5 to asset finance; 4 to project finance; 2 to corporate; 1 to debt capital markets; 2 to disputes and 1 to finance in Dubai; 1 to disputes in Bangkok
Linklaters	40	33	83%	Undisclosed
A&O Shearman	54	37	69%	Undisclosed
Withers	14	9	65%	Undisclosed