Clifford Chance (CC) has announced that it is to retain only 70% of trainees from its September intake, marking a 10% drop on the proportion taken on in March.

The magic circle firm informed trainees yesterday and today that it intended to offer fewer jobs to trainees due to qualify this September.

Of the 70 qualifying trainees, the firm has only offered 49 positions within the firm – a proportional decrease on the previous intake, when the firm offered 80% of trainees a job at the firm.

This retention rate puts CC in line with rivals Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith and Allen & Overy (A&O), which have all recently announced reduced trainee intakes.

Last month it emerged that Freshfields was to retain 70% of its qualifying September trainees, with a no-strings cash payment to those not being kept on.

The magic circle firm took on 86% of trainees in March 2009 and 91% in September last year.

Herbert Smith told trainees this week (18 June) that it was to retain 74% of trainees due to qualify in September, offering jobs to 48 out of 65.

Meanwhile, A&O announced to trainees in March that it only expected to retain 70% of trainees qualifying this September and next March, and that it was aiming to decrease the number of trainees it takes on from 120 to 105.