Need legal help, but not a full-time hire? Your options, compared.
There are four common ways to get legal support. The right one depends on how much work you have, how regular it is, and what kind it is.
Four models, compared.
| Model | How it works | How it's paid | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside law firm | Engaged matter by matter, briefed each time | Typically hourly or per matter | Litigation, major transactions, specialized advice |
| Fractional general counsel | Ongoing, part-time engagement with one lawyer | Monthly or project fee agreed in advance | Recurring commercial work that doesn't fill a full-time role |
| Interim or contract counsel | Fills a role or project for a set period | Usually by time period or project | Leaves, hiring gaps and defined backlogs |
| Full-time in-house hire | Employee embedded in the business | Salary, benefits and recruiting costs | A steady, full-time legal workload |
Many businesses combine models, for example fractional counsel for everyday work and a law firm for litigation.
Which model usually fits?
A general guide, not legal or financial advice. Your result is added to the booking and email below.
Questions to ask before you decide.
- Volume. Is there enough steady work to fill a full-time role?
- Context. How much does your lawyer need to know about the business to be useful?
- Predictability. Do you need a fixed monthly cost, or can you absorb variable bills?
- Specialization. How much of the work needs a specialized firm?
- Speed. How quickly do contracts need to turn around to keep deals moving?
Questions founders and CFOs ask.
How can a business reduce legal overhead?
Matching the support model to the volume and type of work is usually the biggest lever. Recurring commercial work, specialized matters and a full-time workload each fit different models. Templates and playbooks also reduce how often the same issue needs legal time.
Is outsourcing commercial contract work cheaper than hiring?
It depends on volume. A full-time hire carries salary, benefits, recruiting and onboarding costs regardless of workload. Outsourced support is paid by scope. Which costs less depends on how much work you have and how steady it is.
Who can handle contracts for a growing company?
Options include a law firm engaged per contract, fractional counsel on an ongoing basis, or an in-house hire. Many companies start with outside or fractional support and hire once the volume is steady.
Do we need an in-house lawyer to manage vendor agreements?
Not necessarily. Vendor agreements can be handled through a defined workflow with external counsel, using templates and approval thresholds your team controls.
What is the difference between outside, fractional and interim counsel?
Outside counsel is a law firm engaged matter by matter. Fractional counsel is an ongoing, part-time engagement with one lawyer who learns your business. Interim counsel fills an in-house role for a set period, for example during a leave or a hiring gap.
Other ways I help.
Not sure which fits?
A 30-minute call is enough to talk it through. If another model suits you better, I will say so.
Your choices on this page are added to the booking and email so we can start with context. Please don't include confidential information. Contacting Next Clause does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Any engagement is subject to a conflict check and a signed engagement agreement.