CMS Cameron McKenna is set to take on only 63% of its trainees due to qualify in March 2011.

The firm has 19 vacancies across its UK offices but has a 30-strong intake due to qualify as solicitors in its City headquarters.

Sixteen of the positions are in London, with the remainder split between Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Bristol respectively.

The application period is due to close on Monday (29 November) with final retention rates not expected until January, with a spokesperson stating that it is standard practice to offer London trainees the option to apply for positions in the firm's wider UK network.

The news comes after Camerons posted above-average retention rates at the last two intakes, with 82% retained in September and 79% in March this year.

Camerons initially reported 80% retention for March, but it later emerged that two lawyers in the group were offered contracts of just one year and six months respectively.

One newly-qualified solicitor was offered a contract to spend six months on secondment followed by six months in Camerons' energy department, with the contract expiring in February 2011, while another associate was set to go on secondment to a client of the banking department on a six-month contract.

Camerons said that at the moment there are no plans for additional temporary contracts for the March NQs but that it would keep an open mind if further job opportunities arise.