Macfarlanes posts 86% trainee retention score

But it is in a way – if you’re not retained or are not offered the role you wanted, the market for other NQ positions is glacial, if not completely nonexistent.

It is commendable that firms are trying to hold on to as many of their trainees qualifying into NQs but the real question is how many of those 24 candidates that accepted roles with their firm did so because they wanted to rather than because they knew the alternative was a potentially long spell without a job (which is lethal for anyone starting out in London).

Anecdotally even strong candidates with a few years’ PQE are really struggling to bag a job if they found themselves laid off. My recommendation to anyone in City law right now is to sit tight, don’t take any risks and hold on to your choad until the market recovers. Now is definitely not the time to be left out in the cold wilderness as you could be there for a long while.