Wragge & Co and Stephenson Harwood have announced the retention rates for their 2011 newly-qualified (NQ) intakes.

Wragges has become one of the first national firms to announce its March rates, with five out of seven (72%) qualifying trainees offered a permanent position with the firm.

Of the five trainees to be offered an NQ role, all accepted the firm's offer. One of the seven qualifying trainees decided not to apply for a permanent position, opting instead to pursue a career outside of the law.

The Birmingham-based firm's most recent retention figure is slightly lower than the figure announced at the same time last year, when 86% of qualifying trainees (six out of seven) were offered and accepted a position.

In September 2010, the offer rate was even higher, with 22 out of 24 qualifying trainees offered a place (92%) and 21 remaining at the firm (88%).

Elsewhere, Stephenson Harwood has announced a March retention rate of 100%, with five out of five qualifying trainees offered a position and all accepting. All five candidates were offered a permanent role in their first choice of department.

The news comes after a number of firms announced their March retention rates last week, including Allen & Overy (A&O) which offered 56 out of 64 (88%) qualifying trainees a permanent position. Of the 56 trainees to be offered a NQ role, 54 accepted the offer (84%).

Meanwhile, Simmons & Simmons reported an 80% retention rate, with the firm retaining 12 out of 15 NQs, after all that were offered a position accepted a job with the firm.