Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has become the third magic circle firm to confirm its trainee retention rate for its spring 2014 intake, posting a figure of 80%.

Freshfields offered 36 positions to the 44 lawyers who qualified in February, with all but one of those trainees electing to stay on.

The firm's retention rate is slightly down on last September when roles were offered to 40 of its 48 trainees, with 39 accepting.

It is also a decrease on the same intake period last year when Freshfields posted a retention rate of 85%, with 40 out of 46 newly qualified lawyers offered a job at the firm.

A&O was the first of the magic circle firms to announce its spring retention rate in December. The firm is keeping on 84% of its NQ lawyers after offering roles to 42 of 45 trainees, out of a total intake of 49. Of these, one chose not to accept a position.

Last month Clifford Chance announced it would offer roles to 45 of 48 NQs, with all accepting positions.

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