CMS Cameron McKenna has taken the unusual step of offering trainees temporary contracts upon qualification.

Camerons retained an above-average 79% of its 29 trainees qualifying in March, but it has since emerged that two of the group were offered contracts of just one year and six months respectively.

One newly-qualified solicitor will spend six months on secondment followed by six months in Camerons' energy department, with the contract expiring in February 2011.

The other associate is set to go on secondment to a client of the banking department on a six-month contract, which will come to an end this August.

Camerons said that the two contract roles did not reflect a change in the firm's recruitment policy but that the move was a one-off incident, which reflected the current financial climate.

Camerons training partner Simon Pilcher said: "This is not a new firm policy, but a direct result of listening and responding to client needs.

"Having said that, I would still say that offering a job for six months is better than not being able to offer a job at all."

Camerons had reported an 80% retention rate for its March intake but one trainee has since had a client secondment prolonged and will now be considered as part of the firm's September intake.