Northern megafirm Hill Dickinson retains all six of its spring qualifiers

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By Thomas Connelly on

Liverpool-based outfit strikes perfect 100% trainee retention score

Kead1

Corporate all-rounder Hill Dickinson has announced that all of its trainees due to qualify this spring will remain at the firm.

From a relatively small trainee cohort of just six, the Liverpool-based outfit — which has a substantial international presence — made six offers, all of which were duly accepted.

According to Hill Dickinson, which offers around 14 training contracts annually, two newly qualified (NQ) solicitors will be heading to the firm’s aviation and commodities team with a further pair to be based within its health business group. Insurance and insolvency will each receive one new associate.

Despite having eight offices across six different countries, Hill Dickinson confirmed that all NQs will be based in the UK. Two will operate out of the firm’s headquarters in Liverpool. Two will work at the firm’s London office, while the remaining duo head to Manchester.

Hill Dick’s London NQs earn £58,000 a year, while those based outside the capital take home around £36,000.

Late last week King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) and Eversheds unveiled contrasting spring performances. While international giant KWM could only muster 70% — keeping just 14 out of its 20 qualifying trainees — mid-tier firm Eversheds revealed a perfect spring score, retaining all eight trainees due to qualify this month.

Finally — in what has become something of a mini-spring retention rate scandal — City outfit Simmons & Simmons has been accused of manipulating its latest retention figure. Claiming that it achieved a so-so yet respectable 78%, with a trainee cohort nine, it has since been suggested that Simmons actually started with 13 rookies. This would give the firm a retention rate of just 54%.