Magic circle duo Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May have posted marginal drops in trainee retention rates for their spring intakes, posting figures of 85% and 86% respectively.

Freshfields awarded 40 positions to 46 of its February-qualifying lawyers, with all but one of those trainees electing to stay on, while 37 of Slaughters’ 43 spring qualifiers have been offered a position.