Denton Wilde Sapte is to retain just one of the seven trainees due to qualify at the firm in March.

Two trainees withdrew from the qualification process, but of the five remaining, Dentons chose to offer a position to only one. The decision means the firm's retention rate stands at just 20% of those applying and 14% of the total intake.

In contrast, 63% of those applying in September 2009 were retained, while 78.5% of those applying for positions in March 2009 were kept on.