City firms have started responding to
Denton Wilde Sapte has already made offers to all of its 32 trainees for September 2007, with many having accepted positions, while CMS Cameron McKenna expects to offer permanent places to all of its 29 trainees shortly.
The moves will be watched closely by rivals as firms usually wait until July to offer places. The firms hope the move will stop trainees from being poached or choosing to leave in search of other opportunities.
Dentons normally offers places at the end of June, but has decided to do so earlier from now on, conceding it is part of a drive to retain people. A spokesman for Dentons said the firm had been pre-empted by rivals in the past.
Dentons offers jobs in two rounds, with trainees putting forward their first choice of departments to qualify into. Of a total of 32 trainees, 24 were offered positions in the first round, with 23 accepting. In the second round a further eight positions were offered and the firm is waiting to hear whether the jobs will be accepted.
Camerons is also hoping to recruit some newly-qualified lawyers from other firms as it has around 40 positions to fill.
Commenting on the move, Linklaters trainee recruitment partner Simon Firth said: “
He added: “At this stage trainees are still in their final seat. They need to be given sufficient chance to prove themselves and decide what practice is for them, so the qualification timetable cannot be moved too far forward.”
The move forms the latest evidence that City firms are keeping a tight grip on their best talent, with retention rates for the March 2007 intake exceeding 90% for many firms.
Additional reporting by Caroline Grimshaw.
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