Magic circle duo Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May have posted marginal drops in trainee retention rates for their spring intakes, posting figures of 85% and 86% respectively.

Freshfields awarded 40 positions to 46 of its February-qualifying lawyers, with all but one of those trainees electing to stay on, while 37 of Slaughters' 43 spring qualifiers have been offered a position.

Slaughters said 41 of the 43 trainees qualifying at the firm applied for positions, with 37 of those successful, adding that two others chose to pursue other careers.

While Slaughters' intake is down in percentage terms on last spring's intake, when 26 of the firm's 29 NQs were kept on by the firm, it has has taken on notably more lawyers in their round. The retention rate is just marginally down on Slaughters' September 2012 qualifying round, when the firm retained 42 of its 48-strong intake, resulting in an 87.5% retention rate. Two of the trainees also chose not to apply at the time.

Freshfields' retention rate is also slightly down on last September's intake, when 89% of its qualifiers were kept on. At the time, positions were offered to 43 of its 46 of its NQs, with 41 accepting.

That percentage was marginally down on the previous autumn's intake, when the firm kept on 48 out of 50 trainees.

Despite the slight drop, both Freshfields and Slaughters have posted two of the highest retention rates at top City firms in this round.

This week magic circle peer Allen & Overy said it had offered 38 of its 53 newly-qualified (NQ) lawyers a role, with 37 of these accepting, representing a retention rate of 70%, and a drop from 89% this time last year, when 51 of its 57 NQs were retained.

CMS Cameron McKenna posted a retention rate of 68%, with the firm keeping on 19 of its 28 qualifiers – its lowest result since autumn 2010. The figure compares with 81% in spring 2012 and 84% in autumn last year.

White & Case meanwhile offered 13 of its 14 qualifying trainees a job at the firm, 12 of whom accepted, resulting in an 86% rate. Other firms announcing their retention rates include Ashurst, which has posted a figure of 70% after keeping on 19 out of 27 NQs, and Weil Gotshal & Manges' City arm which is keeping on both of its newly-qualified lawyers. Elsewhere Nabarro posted a rate of 78%, keeping on seven of nine trainees offered a position at the firm.