A fractional general counsel is a senior lawyer who provides ongoing legal leadership to an organisation for an agreed portion of their time, rather than working full-time. They help executives manage legal risk, make informed decisions and coordinate legal work. The arrangement can provide experienced general counsel support without a full-time appointment.
How does fractional general counsel work?
“Fractional” describes how much of the lawyer’s time you engage. For example, a business might arrange two days a week or an agreed monthly allocation. The Association of Corporate Counsel describes the model as access to legal leadership without a full-time commitment. [1]
The lawyer builds an ongoing understanding of the business, attends relevant meetings and helps prioritise legal matters. However, fees, availability and responsibilities depend on the agreement.
The title does not determine the employment model: support may be delivered through part-time employment, a secondment or an external legal practice.
What does a fractional general counsel do?
Depending on the brief, responsibilities may include:
- Advising the CEO and leadership team on legal risks and commercial decisions.
- Reviewing and negotiating important contracts.
- Supporting governance, compliance and internal policies.
- Coordinating disputes and instructing external specialists.
- Developing templates and processes that help colleagues handle routine matters.
Australian regulatory guidance identifies contracts, employment, governance, transactions and regulatory compliance among the issues corporate lawyers may handle. [2] For instance, a growing business might need someone to organise its contract processes, advise on expansion and identify when specialist advice is necessary. In addition, the lawyer can identify when specialist advice is necessary, providing continuing oversight within an agreed scope.
How does it differ from other legal support?
Model
Main distinction
Fractional general counsel
Ongoing senior legal leadership for part of the working week or month.
Full-time general counsel
A dedicated role with greater day-to-day availability.
Interim general counsel
Temporary leadership cover; may work full-time or part-time.
External legal adviser
Advice on agreed matters; may also offer an ongoing fractional GC service.
These arrangements can overlap. A secondment describes how a lawyer joins the team; fractional describes their time commitment.
When is fractional general counsel a good fit?
Consider it when you need regular senior legal judgement but the workload does not justify a full-time role. Before you begin, agree priorities, response times, urgent-matter cover and access to specialist advice before starting.
Senior in-house lawyers also need appropriate access to the CEO and board, alongside professional independence. Importantly, reduced hours do not remove professional obligations. [3]
In Australia, also confirm that the practising certificate and insurance arrangements suit the engagement. Victorian guidance specifically addresses certificate requirements for lawyers supplied through labour hire. [4]
At Aclaria, our secondment model offers flexible access to experienced lawyers, selected for commercial understanding and their ability to work within your team. [5]
Considering part-time legal leadership?
Explore Aclaria’s lawyer secondments or talk with us about the experience, availability and scope your business needs, so we can assess whether a suitable secondment could help.
References
1. Association of Corporate Counsel. Strategic Legal Partnerships: Understanding the Fractional GC Model. 8 July 2025. International professional-body overview; used for the model’s definition, not Australian regulatory requirements. View source. onlineed.acc.com
2. Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner. A Guide for Prospective Corporate Lawyers. Undated webpage. View guidance. VLSB+C
3. Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner. Corporate Lawyers: A Guide for Employers. 2026 guidance. View guidance. VLSB+C
4. Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner. Labour hire arrangements. Undated webpage. View guidance. VLSB+C5.
5. Aclaria. Find a Lawyer. Current service information; undated. View page. Aclaria
