Linklaters retains 78 per cent of NQs

The magic circle firm is retaining 51 of its 65-strong trainee cohort, after making 53 offers to the 60 trainees that chose to apply for NQ roles.

The result shows a significant drop from its qualification round in autumn 2011, when the firm held onto 53 out of 57 trainees, giving it a 93 per cent NQ retention rate.

Linklaters is the third magic circle firm to reveal its autumn 2012 NQ retention rate, after Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer retained 77 per cent and 89 per cent respectively (3 August 2012).

Elsewhere, Watson Farley & Williams revealed it was keeping 83 per cent of its qualifying trainee cohort, after 10 out of 12 accepted NQ roles with the firm.

Memery Crystal also posted its NQ retention rate, keeping 60 per cent after three out of five trainees accepted positions.