Slaughter and May has given jobs 95% of its March-qualifying trainees, marking an increase on last year's retention rate.

Of Slaughters' 40-strong intake, 38 trainees accepted a position at the firm to become newly qualified (NQ) lawyers. Two further did not apply for qualification, giving the firm an acceptance rate of 100%.

Financing partner Robert Byk, one of the firm's graduate recruitment partners, said: "These retention figures are similar to previous years and remain consistent with our focus on recruitment for the long term and career development."

The result is up on last year's rate, when Slaughters kept on 37 of its 43-strong spring intake, marking an 86% retention rate. 

The figure is also up on its September 2013 round, when it retained 88% of its qualifiers. Of a 51-strong round, 46 were offered a role at the firm, with one turning down an offer.

Slaughters has posted the highest spring retention percentage rates among the magic circle so far. Allen & Overy retained 84% of its newly-qualified (NQ) lawyers. It offered roles to 42 of 45 trainees that applied to qualify, out of a total intake of 49, marking a 93% offer rate. Of these, one chose not to accept a position.

Clifford Chance held on to 94% of its March 2014 intake after offering roles to 45 of 48 potential NQs, with all of them accepting positions.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer posted a figure of 80% after it offered 36 positions to the 44 lawyers who qualified in February, with all but one of those trainees electing to stay on.