One NQ on fixed term contract
Hogan Lovells has retained 16 of its 24 trainee solicitors qualifying this autumn, including one on a fixed-term contract.
This gives the global law firm a retention rate of either 67% or 63%, depending on how the numbers are interpreted. Twenty-three final seat trainees applied for roles.
HL said 10 newly qualified solicitors will join its corporate and finance team (including the fixed-term hire), while four will qualify into global regulatory and intellectual property. Two will join the litigation, arbitration and employment practice.
The Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2026 shows that HL typically recruits around 50 trainees each year, split across two intakes. Starting salaries are £56,000, rising to £140,000 upon qualification.
Trainee retention rates round-up 🤝
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| Firm | Trainees | Retained | Retention Rate | NQ Destinations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wedlake Bell | 8 | 8 | 100% | 2 to insolvency; 1 each to commercial disputes, construction, corporate, tax, IP/commercial, and private client |
| Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer | 31 | 29 | 94% | Undisclosed |
| Irwin Mitchell | 53 | 48 | 91% | 14 to business services group; 12 to medical negligence; 9 to court of protection & public law & human rights; 8 to private client group; 4 to personal injury; 1 to general counsel |
| RPC | 18 | 16 | 89% | 6 to insurance; 6 to disputes (3 IP/tech, 2 commercial litigation, 1 media); 4 to corporate & commercial |
| Watson Farley & Williams | 18 | 16 | 89% | 5 to asset finance; 4 to project finance; 2 to corporate; 1 to debt capital markets; 2 to disputes and 1 to finance in Dubai; 1 to disputes in Bangkok |
| Mishcon de Reya | 30 | 26 | 87% | Undisclosed |
| Clifford Chance | 57 | 49 | 86% | Undisclosed |
| Macfarlanes | 28 | 24 | 86% | Undisclosed |
| Baker McKenzie | 20 | 17 | 85% | 4 to disputes; 3 to employment; 2 each to corporate M&A and corporate energy & infrastructure; 1 each to corporate finance, corporate private equity, intellectual property, and financial services regulatory; 2 to antitrust & competition |
| Lewis Silkin | 6 | 5 | 83% | 2 to employment; 1 each to IP, corporate, and digital, creative & commerce |
| Linklaters | 40 | 33 | 83% | Undisclosed |
| Bird & Bird | 20 | 15 | 75% | 5 to commercial; 5 to IP; 2 to disputes; 2 to corporate; 1 to employment |
| Pinsent Masons | 71 | 52 | 73% | 19 to finance & projects; 13 to transactional; 10 to property; 10 to risk advisory |
| A&O Shearman | 54 | 37 | 69% | Undisclosed |
| Hogan Lovells | 24 | 16 (1 on FTC) | 67%/63% | 9 (10 including FTC) to corporate & finance; 4 to global regulatory & IP; 2 to litigation, arbitration & employment |
| Withers | 14 | 9 | 65% | Undisclosed |