Linklaters has upped the retention rate for its September-qualifying trainees this year to 93%, an improvement on 2013′s figure of 87%.

Of the 57-strong trainee cohort, 54 received job offers from the firm. All but one of the newly qualified (NQ) lawyers accepted, a take-up rate of 98%.

The firm is the first of the magic circle to release its NQ retention rate for this autumn.

The total trainee group was three larger than last year's autumn intake. In 2013, 47 of Linklaters' 54 September trainees were offered a job with the firm. Two NQs chose not to apply, resulting in an acceptance rate of 87%, compared with a spring retention rate of 83% the same year.

In 2012, Linklaters retained only 78% of its September-qualifying trainees.

Travers Smith has also announced its autumn retention rate. The firm retained 94% of trainees after 16 of their 17 strong cohort were given offers, all of which were accepted. For the same intake last year, Travers held on to 95% of its NQs.