Ashurst and Berwin Leighton Paisner have announced their trainee retention rates for the first intake of 2014, with both firms keeping on more than 80% of qualifying lawyers.

Ashurst claimed a 100% retention rate after it gave roles to all 23 of the 24 , newly-qualified lawyers (NQs) who put themselves forward. This is significantly higher than its September intake when the firm kept on 24 out of 30 trainees, giving a retention rate of 80%.

BLP's March retention rate is slightly higher than the 86% the firm posted in September when it offered roles to 18 of 21 NQs. The firm is keeping on 89% of its March qualifiers, with 17 out of 18 – including one in Singapore – offered jobs.

Anthony Lennox, Training Principal at BLP said: "Such a high retention rate reinforces the fact that the calibre of trainees BLP has is fantastic and shows their commitment to the firm, and ours to them. The strong growth in several areas of the business, both in the UK and internationally, is reflected in our desire to seek and recruit the best people."

The news comes after Nabarro, Olswang and Osborne Clarke also recently confirmed their March intake with Nabarro taking on just eight NQs, compared to 17 in September. The firm's overall retention for the period between September 2013 and January 2014 is 96%.

Olswang also offered positions to eight NQs, with two in commercial litigation, two in media, communications and technology and one each in IP, corporate, tax and real estate.

Meanwhile Osborne Clarke has retained 100% of its March qualifiers, keeping on six trainees, four of which have come via the firm's vacation scheme. The retention rate is well up from the same period last year when only 56% of qualifiers were kept on.