Linklaters and Slaughter and May are both keeping on more than 85% of their September-qualifying trainees, with the magic circle pair increasing their retention rates on last year.

Linklaters has retained 87% of its newly qualified (NQ) lawyers after offering 47 trainees a job out of a 54-strong cohort. Two NQs chose not to apply. The figure is up on a retention rate of 78% this time last year.