Hogan Lovells, SJ Berwin and Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) have become the latest UK top 20 firms to confirm their trainee retention figures for spring 2013, with all three posting lower rates than the equivalent intake last year.

Hogan Lovells has posted a 76% retention rate after 26 newly qualified (NQ) lawyers accepted a role at the firm, from an intake of 34 trainees.

The retention rate is slightly up on last autumn, when the firm kept on 27 of its 37 NQs (73%), but down on the same point last year, when 83% of its qualifying trainees were retained.