Burges Salmon: 93% NQ Retention Rate Outshines Russell-Cooke

• Burges Salmon retained 93% of its trainees, with only four NQs leaving the firm.
• Russell-Cooke retained 75% of its trainees, with two NQs leaving the firm.
• The disclosed NQ salaries for Burges Salmon range from £76,000 in Bristol to £72,000 in Edinburgh.
• Russell-Cooke's current graduate recruitment information does not mention a Solicitor Apprenticeship Scheme.

Watching talented people develop and take the next step in their careers is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

Law firm Burges Salmon has made a strong statement with its latest retention rates, retaining an impressive 93% of its trainees. Out of 27 trainees, only four will be leaving the firm after qualifying as newly qualified (NQ) solicitors. The remaining 23 NQs will join various teams across the firm's offices in Bristol and Edinburgh. Notably, most of these NQs will qualify into the firm's Bristol headquarters, with a smaller number heading to the Edinburgh office.

The breakdown by department is also noteworthy, with five NQs set to join the pensions team, four each joining corporate, projects, and real estate teams, and two each joining construction & engineering and employment teams. The remaining NQs will start in various other departments, including banking & finance, dispute resolution, planning, and private client.

In contrast to its rival firm Burges Salmon, Russell-Cooke has retained only 75% of its trainees. Out of eight qualifiers, two will be leaving the firm after qualifying as NQ solicitors. The six retained NQs will join different teams across the firm, including corporate and commercial, education, immigration, employment, and private client. One NQ will also join the PI and medical negligence team.

Jemma Pollock, Russell-Cooke's graduate recruitment partner, expressed pride in this year's qualifiers and emphasized the importance of opening up access to the legal profession. She highlighted the firm's commitment to developing and supporting its people through various training contracts and pathways.

The disclosed NQ salaries for Burges Salmon, which range from £76,000 in Bristol to £72,000 in Edinburgh, may have implications for clients' compensation packages. Given the firm's high retention rate, lawyers and compliance officers should take note of these figures when advising their clients on compensation matters.

Russell-Cooke's website and recent graduate recruitment information do not currently feature a Solicitor Apprenticeship Scheme, focusing instead on their training contract and vacation scheme pathways into the legal profession.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note that the disclosed NQ salaries for Burges Salmon may have implications for their clients' compensation packages, particularly in light of the firm's high retention rate.

Source: Original reporting via The Legal Cheek