Legal Secondments vs. Virtual Counsel: Choosing the Right Fit for Your Business

For in-house legal teams managing heavy workloads and diverse responsibilities, finding the right support isn’t just helpful—it's often business critical. Whether it’s filling a temporary gap, handling a surge in demand, or tapping into in specialist expertise, traditional solutions have typically included relying on a seconded lawyer or engaging a law firm on a high hourly rate.

However, a third option is gaining momentum among cost-conscious and savvy legal service consumers: fractional legal services.

Each approach offers unique advantages and potential limitations, making the best choice dependent on your organisation’s specific needs and circumstances. In this article, we break down the pros and cons of secondments vs fractional legal services — such as our very own Virtual Counsel offering — so that you can make an informed decision with confidence.

The Case for Secondments

Legal secondments have long been a go-to solution for businesses needing timely, dedicated, and hands-on legal support. Typically, a secondee is “plugged into” your organisation’s day-to-day operations to ensure seamless integration and support. But while this is a time-tested solution, it comes with its trade-offs.

Pros of Legal Secondments  

• Seamless Integration: Secondments allow your organization to embed an experienced lawyer directly into your team. This full-time presence fosters close collaboration and ensures they get up to speed as quickly as possible.
  

• Dedicated Support: Need a dedicated resource for a particular task, project, or team absence? A secondee provides specific, immediate help where it’s needed most.
  

• Temporary Solution: Secondments work well for short and fixed-term engagements, such as supporting on a specific project or covering employee leave.
  

• Off-Balance Sheet Advantages: The cost of secondees is often treated as an external expense, making it an attractive option from an accounting perspective.
  

• Streamlined Onboarding: Onboarding a secondee is often a quicker and more efficient alternative to navigating complex internal procurement processes. It also provides a practical way to address any headcount restrictions that may apply.

Cons of Legal Secondments  

However, like any solution, secondments come with notable considerations.

• High Cost: Particularly for senior lawyers, the cost of secondments can be substantial, as the financial calculation needs to includes not only their base salary but also a margin for the applicable law firm or facilitator.
  

• Limited Flexibility: Secondments are usually fixed-term and subject to set hours. If workloads change or priorities shift mid-secondment, you may lack the flexibility to adapt accordingly.
  

• Narrow Skill Set: If the secondee’s expertise doesn’t match your evolving pipeline, their value can quickly diminish.
  

• Knowledge Gaps Remain: While a secondee may develop familiarity with your business over time, the institutional knowledge they gain often leaves when their secondment ends—leaving you to start fresh with the next hire.
  

When Secondments Work Best  

Secondments are ideal for businesses looking for a full-time, temporary resource to address a specific gap. Whether it’s handling a particular project, filling in for parental leave, or providing short-term expertise, they integrate seamlessly into existing operations.

Why Businesses are Turning to Virtual Counsel

Introducing Virtual Counsel by Support Legal. This on-demand, pre-paid retainer model offers an innovative alternative to traditional secondments. Rather than relying on one secondee, Virtual Counsel gives you access to an entire roster of experienced lawyers working flexibly around your needs.

The offering reflects the evolution of legal services, blending flexibility, affordability, and deep expertise into one seamless solution.

Pros of Virtual Counsel  

• Ultimate Flexibility: Virtual Counsel lets you scale up or down effortlessly. Whether your workload suddenly spikes or tapers off, you’re only paying for what you actually need. It’s legal support without the rigidity of fixed terms or office hours.
  

• Wide-Ranging Expertise: Rather than depending on the narrowly focused skill set of one secondee, Virtual Counsel connects you with a team of senior lawyers spanning all major corporate and commercial disciplines. From complex contracts to regulatory queries, the right expert is always just a call away.
  

• Cost-Effective: Eliminate onboarding hassles and unexpected expenses with Virtual Counsel. Access high-quality legal expertise without the high fixed costs of an in-house hire or traditional law firm hourly fees.
  

• Around-the-Clock Availability: Unlike fixed office hours, Virtual Counsel adapts to your schedule. Need urgent support at 7 PM? No problem.
  

• Tailored and Continuity-Focused Support: Each client works closely with a dedicated contact at Support Legal who develops a nuanced understanding of your business over time. This knowledge is retained and shared within the Support Legal team, ensuring seamless, high-quality service without starting from scratch or going through a painful engagement process each time.
  

Cons of Virtual Counsel  

While Virtual Counsel minimises many of the common drawbacks faced with other solutions, it might not replicate the hands-on integration you get with a fully embedded secondee. For tasks requiring constant, in-office collaboration, a virtual service may not be the right fit. However, the abundance of flexibility and scope often compensates for this limitation.

When Virtual Counsel Works Best  

If your legal needs are fast-changing, wide-ranging, or require expertise across multiple disciplines, Virtual Counsel is an excellent solution. It works particularly well for businesses that value flexibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness over an in-office, fixed-term presence.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business  

When deciding between legal secondments and Virtual Counsel, it boils down to understanding the unique demands of your operation.

• Opt for secondments if you need a hands-on, in-office resource dedicated to a specific task or team gap on a temporary basis. Secondments excel when integration, constant collaboration and the resources of a large international law firm are must-haves.
  

• Choose Virtual Counsel if flexibility, broad expertise, and cost efficiency are your priorities. For businesses experiencing fluctuating needs or requiring access to a diverse legal skillset, Virtual Counsel provides reliable support that scales with your growth.
  

It’s also worth reevaluating your organisation’s approach to legal resourcing. The legal landscape is evolving, and modern solutions like Virtual Counsel are leading the way in making high-caliber expertise accessible for businesses of all sizes.

Curious to Learn More?  

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all conversation. That’s why at Support Legal, we’re here to help you find the best path forward. Whether you need legal secondments, Virtual Counsel, or a mix of both, we’re ready to provide tailored solutions to elevate your business.

Reach out to us today to explore how Virtual Counsel can transform your legal operations. The possibilities are endless—why not start the conversation now?

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This material is provided for general information only. It should not be relied upon for the provision of or as a substitute for legal or other professional advice.