Clifford Chance (CC) is keeping on 96% of its trainees in September topping the rates announced so far this year by the magic circle.

The firm confirmed today (21 August) that it had made offers to 45 of the 47-strong cohort, will all accepting the offer to stay with the firm as newly-qualified solicitors.

The offer rate for its September qualifiers is up on its spring intake which saw 91% of trainees being retained by the firm – 41 of the 45 strong cohort.

It also marks a sharp increase on year when the firm retained 75% of the autumn cohort, offering 42 of its 53 qualifying trainees jobs, with 40 accepting.

Confirmation of CC's retention rate comes after Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer announced this week (17 August) that it has has retained 83% of its autumn qualifying trainees. It offered places to 43 (90%) trainees, with two of these turning down the offer.

Meanwhile, in July, Slaughter and May announced it was keeping on 89% of its cohort of trainees in September.

The firm confirmed that two trainees, out of the total 37, withdrew from the process before the qualification offers were made. It made offers to all of the remaining 35 and two opted to decline a role at the firm.