What is the difference between Head of Legal and General Counsel

The Head of Legal is typically less senior than GC and may report to them in larger organizations.

How much does a fractional Head of Legal cost

Fractional Heads of Legal typically charge 800-1400 GBP per day.

What is the difference between Head of Legal and General Counsel

The Head of Legal is typically less senior than GC and may report to them in larger organizations.

How much does a fractional Head of Legal cost

Fractional Heads of Legal typically charge 800-1400 GBP per day.

Legal

What is a Fractional Head of Legal?

Head of Legal role and when to hire fractional legal leadership

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

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Key Takeaways

1Fractional CFOs work 1-3 days per week, providing senior expertise without full-time costs
2UK day rates range from £800 to £1500, depending on experience and sector
3Typical engagements save 50-70% compared to full-time executive hires
4Ideal for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs needing strategic leadership
5No employment overhead: no pension, NI, benefits, or notice periods

Latest Fractional Jobs

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Head of Legal Definition

Quick Definition

A Head of Legal is the senior attorney in an in-house legal department responsible for overseeing all legal matters impacting the company. They manage the legal team and report to the CEO or General Counsel.

What Does a Head of Legal Do

According to Streamline AI the Head of Legal provides strategic guidance on legal issues manages compliance and risk mitigation reviews contracts and handles other legal duties to protect company interests. They lead the legal team supervising junior lawyers in all corporate legal affairs.

Legal Leadership Hierarchy

Role	Scope	Reports To
Chief Legal Officer	C-suite strategic	CEO
General Counsel	Senior legal executive	CEO or CLO
Head of Legal	Team leadership	GC or CLO

When to Hire a Fractional Head of Legal

A fractional Head of Legal is ideal for growing companies needing legal leadership without full-time overhead. SMEs with increasing legal complexity benefit from experienced guidance. Companies without in-house counsel can accelerate with fractional expertise.

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Cost Comparison

Fractional vs Full-Time Executive

Full-Time Executive£286k/year

Salary + Benefits + Overhead

Fractional Executive£106k/year

1-2 days/week average

Your Potential Savings

£180k+

63%

saved

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Time Allocation

How fractional executives spend their time

Strategy30%

Operations25%

Leadership20%

Governance15%

Technology10%

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What is a Fractional Head of Legal?

A fractional Head of Legal provides senior legal leadership on a part-time basis, typically 1-3 days per week. They bring in-house counsel experience to businesses that have outgrown reliance on external law firms but cannot justify a full-time legal director.

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Who Benefits

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Scale-ups with increasing legal complexity

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SMEs needing strategic legal oversight

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Businesses preparing for funding rounds or exits

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Companies facing regulatory changes

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[Day Rates](/fractional-executive-day-rates "Fractional Executive Day Rates"): £800-£1,800/day

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UK Fractional Executive Day Rates

Compare day rates across C-suite roles

CFOThis Role£800 - £1500/day

£1100

CTO£900 - £1600/day

£1200

CMO£750 - £1400/day

£1000

COO£800 - £1400/day

£1050

CDO£900 - £1450/day

£1150

CISO£900 - £1550/day

£1200

Rate Range

Average

Source: UK Market Data 2025

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Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time

Choose the right engagement model

Aspect	Fractional	Interim	Full-Time
Time Commitment	1-3 days/week	4-5 days/week	5 days/week
Duration	Ongoing/flexible	3-12 months	Permanent
Annual Cost	£50-150k	£150-300k	£200-400k+
Best For	SMEs, startups, scale-ups	Crisis, transitions	Large enterprises
Flexibility	★★★ High	★★☆ Medium	★☆☆ Low

Costs are indicative UK market rates. Actual costs vary by role, experience, and sector.

Calculate Your Day Rate

Fractional CFO Earnings

Calculate Your Potential Income

Your Day Rate

£1,000

£750Avg: £1000£1500

Days Per Client/Week

2.5 days

1 day5 days

Number of Clients

2 clients

Weekly

£5,000

Monthly

£21,650

Annual

£240,000

Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CFO UK average day rate: £1000.

BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.

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