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Mayer Brown reveals 55% autumn newly qualified lawyer retention rate

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By Thomas Connelly on

Global giant will keep six of its 11 September qualifying cohort, with a further lawyer remaining on temporary contract

Mayer Brown has revealed that six newly qualified (NQ) lawyers will remain at the City-based law firm from a September qualifying cohort of 11, resulting in an autumn retention figure of 55%.

The firm — which offers around 15 training contracts annually — will keep an additional NQ on a short-term contract. Ten Mayer Brown NQs were offered full time positions, with six accepting.

The international firm — it has 21 offices in 10 countries — confirmed last summer that it was reducing trainee numbers over a two-year period as part of phased reduction of its annual graduate recruitment programme.

All seven of this autumn’s NQs remaining at the firm will be based at Mayer Brown’s London office and spread across departments, including commercial dispute resolution, real estate, insurance, financial services regulatory and enforcement.

Earlier this month, Mayer Brown revealed a tie-up with the University of Law that introduced an alternative to the standard training contract.

The six year scheme involves earn-while-you-learn training at the practice, which is viewed by the regulator as “a period of recognised training”, and is completed in conjunction with studies at the university. Students on the scheme initially receive £18,000 salaries, rising to the full £45,000 Mayer Brown trainee salary.

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