RPC posts solid 82% autumn retention result

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By Thomas Connelly on

NQs will be based in London, Bristol and Hong Kong

RPC has unveiled an autumn 2017 retention score of 82%.

The international law firm, best known for its high-end insurance work, has confirmed that 14 of its 17 trainees due to qualify this September have put pen to paper on permanent deals.

According to RPC, 12 of its newbies will be based in its London office, while one will be based in Bristol. The final newly qualified (NQ) lawyer will be jumping on a flight to RPC’s Hong Kong office in January on a permanent basis.

RPC has confirmed three NQs will join its insurance practice (two in professional and financial risks and one in property and casualty), three will be heading to its commercial disputes arm, while commercial contracts, IP and technology, and the corporate group will receive two lawyers each. Media will gain one new associate, as will construction and projects.

RPC is one of the few firms which does not disclose what it pays its lawyers post-qualification. Legal Cheek’s Most List shows its new associates will receive a “merit-based” salary.

Simon Hart, RPC partner and training principal, said: “Like all law firms, our trainees work very hard to secure their training contracts and then throw themselves into two years of training. It is incredibly satisfying for the firm to see our junior talent mature and to see such a high number ultimately qualifying into roles across the departments this year, including our first London based NQ moving to our office in Hong Kong.”

Continuing, he said:

Whilst we were unable to accommodate a small number of our qualifying trainees due to certain departments being heavily over-subscribed with applicants, every single one of our trainees has made a positive contribution to life at RPC over the last two years.

RPC was a star performer in Legal Cheekā€™s 2016 Trainee & Junior Lawyer Survey. The firm scored an A* for partner approachability and As for, among other things, training, perks and work/life balance. RPC went on to scoop the gong for ‘Best Commercial Awareness Blog 2017’ at Legal Cheek’s glitzy awards ceremony earlier this year.

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