London law firms manipulate retention figures

March 14, 2013 London law firms have been manipulating their retention rates by offering short-term contracts to trainees, according to a report by The Lawyer.

Short term contracts have been offered to some trainees at Travers Smith, Mayer Brown and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, and recruiters said the trend is likely to continue.

A Mayer Brown spokesperson said it was the first year that the firm had offered shorter contracts, adding: “It isn’t an approach we normally take.”