Fractional Counsel

Flexible in-house legal support — without the full-time hire

Fractional counsel gives your business access to experienced, senior in-house lawyers on a part-time, flexible basis. It’s a straightforward idea: you get the legal support you need, when you need it — without committing to a permanent hire or relying solely on external law firms.

At Interim Lawyers, we supply high-calibre fractional in-house lawyers who integrate quickly, understand commercial pressures, and get on with the job. We have over 600 fractional counsel registered with us and over 1,500 locum & interim lawyers. Our company is one of the largest and best known specialist interim legal services providers in the UK.

Clear. Practical. No fuss.

What is a Fractional Counsel?

Fractional counsel (often called fractional general counsel) refers to experienced lawyers working with organisations on a part-time, retained, or project basis. They operate much like an in-house lawyer, but with flexibility built in.

Instead of hiring a full-time legal team, you can bring in senior legal support for:

• A few days a week
• A fixed number of hours each month
• Specific projects or ongoing advisory work

The result is consistent, embedded legal support — without the overhead.

When does fractional counsel make sense?

Most organisations don’t have a constant need for a full-time general counsel. But they still need reliable legal oversight.

Fractional counsel is typically used when:

• You’re growing and legal work is increasing, but not enough for a full-time hire
• Your in-house team needs senior support or additional capacity
• You want continuity, not just one-off external advice
• Budgets are tight, but risks still need managing properly

It’s particularly effective for SMEs, scale-ups, and in-house teams under pressure — offering access to senior expertise without long-term commitment.

Fractional vs interim legal support

Both models solve staffing gaps — but they’re used differently.

Fractional counsel:

• Ongoing, part-time support
• Strategic and operational input
• Flexible and scalable over time

Locum lawyers:

• Full-time or part-time cover
• Fixed duration (e.g. maternity leave & sickness)

In simple terms:

• Interim = cover a gap
• Fractional = build ongoing relationships & capability

What our fractional lawyers do

Our lawyers don’t just advise — they operate as part of your team.

Typical work includes:

• Commercial contracts and negotiations
• Corporate transactional work
• M&A
• Employment support
• Regulatory and compliance advice
• Data protection and risk management
• Board-level and strategic input
• Managing external law firm suppliers

They bring the mindset of experienced in-house counsel — practical, commercial, and focused on outcomes.

Why use a specialist locum agency?

You could try to find someone yourself. Most clients have — and found it slow, uncertain, and time-consuming.

We do things differently.

With over 25 years in legal recruitment, we:

• Understand in-house legal teams and how they operate
• Maintain a large network of experienced fractional counsel as well as interim locum & consultant lawyers
• Match based on experience and cultural fit
• Move quickly — without cutting corners
• Competitive pricing

The benefits of fractional counsel

Cost control

Access senior legal expertise without the salary, benefits, and long-term commitment of a full-time hire.

Flexibility

Scale support up or down depending on workload, projects, or business changes.

Continuity

Unlike ad hoc external advice, fractional lawyers build knowledge of your business over time.

Senior experience

Most fractional counsel are former general counsel or senior in-house lawyers — commercially aware and able to work independently.

How our service works

We keep things simple:

1. Tell us what you need
   A quick call or online brief — no lengthy process.
2. We shortlist suitable lawyers
   Carefully selected based on experience and fit.
3. You choose who works best
   No pressure, no obligation.
4. They get started quickly
   Remote, hybrid, or on-site — whatever suits your team.

Who we work with

We support:

• In-house legal teams across the UK
• SMEs and growing businesses
• PLCs and large organisations
• Legal departments facing short-term or ongoing pressure

Whether you need one day a week or ongoing support, we’ll find a solution that works.

Why clients come back to us

Because we understand the reality of running a legal team.

You don’t need jargon.
You don’t need sales talk.
You need someone who can step in and make things easier.

That’s what we provide.

Speak to us about fractional counsel

If you’re considering fractional counsel — or just want to understand your options — get in touch.

We’ll give you a clear, honest view of what will work (and what won’t).

No pressure. No spin. Just sensible advice.

Contact Interim Lawyers today.