Slaughter and May, Simmons & Simmons and Eversheds have unveiled the retention rates for their March trainee intakes, with the magic circle firm taking on 90% of its newly qualified (NQ) lawyers.

Twenty-six of Slaughters' 29 NQs are being kept on by the firm, with the healthy retention rate coming after the firm kept on 100% of its 59-strong intake in September last year.

Meanwhile, Eversheds has announced a 100% retention rate for March, with all seven of the firm's trainees being offered jobs. The figures are marginally up on last autumn's retention rate, when 87% of the qualifying intake stayed on at the firm.

An Eversheds spokesperson noted that the firm's autumn qualification round is traditionally larger, with 33 of 38 NQs kept on in September last year.

Elsewhere, Simmons' retention rate for its spring intake has seen a sharp year-on-year decrease, falling to 38% from an equivalent figure of 80% posted in March 2011.

Of the eight trainees qualifying next month, six applied for jobs at the firm, with just three staying on "in their preferred groups", a spokesperson confirmed.

The firms are the last of the UK's top 20 to reveal their spring retention rates, with the majority showing gradual improvement in the number of jobs being offered.

Linklaters kept on 49 of its 57 (86%) March NQs, up from 83% this time last year, with Freshfields and A&O both retaining 89% of their intakes.