Clifford Chance (CC) is keeping on three quarters of its September qualifiers – marking a decrease on the equivalent trainee retention rate last year.

The firm has offered positions to 42 of its 53 qualifying trainees, with 40 accepting the job, representing a take-up rate of 95% but an overall retention rate of 75% when looking at the total intake joining in autumn 2012.

The result is down on last year when the firm logged a retention rate of 80%, after 51 of its 60 qualifiers were offered roles, with 48 accepting.

Last week it emerged that magic circle peer Slaughter and May will keep on 33 of its 34-strong autumn intake after offering all of them roles, with one declining, to result in a retention rate of 97%.

At the same point last year Slaughters retained 88% of its September qualifiers. Of a 51-strong round, 46 were offered a role at the firm, with one turning down an offer.

Among the rest of the magic circle, Freshfields revealed an autumn retention rate of 82% last week, while Linklaters posted an equivalent figure of 93%.

The news comes as Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is set to retain 87% of its total trainee intake. Of 47 trainees qualifying this September, 46 applied for a job at the firm. It made 41 offers, with all accepting.

Other firms unveiling their retention rates include Nabarro, which is holding on to 13 new trainees (81%) after offering roles to 14 of its 16-strong intake for September, and Fieldfisher, which handed jobs to 100% of its 2014 qualifying trainees.