How much does a full-time Head of Legal earn in the UK

Full-time Head of Legal earns 111750-127500 GBP according to Robert Half 2026 with PE sector at 350000 GBP plus.

What qualifications do Heads of Legal need

Qualified solicitor with 10 plus years PQE plus in-house or private practice experience at senior level.

Which sectors pay Heads of Legal the most

Private equity financial services and technology pay highest rates for in-house legal leadership.

What is the difference between Head of Legal and General Counsel

General Counsel is typically the most senior legal role reporting to CEO while Head of Legal may report to GC in larger organizations.

How much does a full-time Head of Legal earn in the UK

Full-time Head of Legal earns 111750-127500 GBP according to Robert Half 2026 with PE sector at 350000 GBP plus.

What qualifications do Heads of Legal need

Qualified solicitor with 10 plus years PQE plus in-house or private practice experience at senior level.

Which sectors pay Heads of Legal the most

Private equity financial services and technology pay highest rates for in-house legal leadership.

What is the difference between Head of Legal and General Counsel

General Counsel is typically the most senior legal role reporting to CEO while Head of Legal may report to GC in larger organizations.

Salary

Fractional Head of Legal Salary UK

Head of Legal and General Counsel compensation benchmarks from Robert Half and Taylor Root 2026

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

↓

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Days per week

Monthly Cost£8,000

vs Full-Time£22,000

You Save£14,000 (64%)

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📖1 min read

📅Updated 1 Feb 2026

📝167 words

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£800-1500

Day Rate

📅

1-3

Days/Week

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50-70%

Cost Savings

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500+

UK Placements

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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

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What is a Head of Legal

Quick Definition

A Head of Legal or General Counsel leads in-house legal function managing contracts compliance litigation and corporate governance. Fractional legal leaders provide senior legal expertise without full-time overhead.

Head of Legal Salary Overview 2026

According to Robert Half 2026 Head of Legal earns 111750-127500 GBP with median 119000 GBP. General Counsel earns 127000-173250 GBP with median 145500 GBP. Taylor Root reports PE sector Head of Legal at 350000 GBP plus with day rates 1800 plus. Technology and financial services pay highest rates.

Legal Leadership Day Rates by Sector

Sector	Day Rate	Annual FTE
Private Equity	1400-2000 GBP	250000-400000 GBP
Financial Services	1100-1600 GBP	180000-280000 GBP
Technology	1000-1400 GBP	150000-220000 GBP
General Commercial	850-1200 GBP	110000-160000 GBP

Legal Roles Comparison

Role	FTE Salary	Day Rate
General Counsel	145500 GBP	1000-1800 GBP
Head of Legal	119000 GBP	850-1400 GBP
Senior Legal Counsel	97250 GBP	650-950 GBP

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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%

Fractional Head of Legal Salary Guide UK

Fractional Heads of Legal are increasingly sought by growing companies that need senior legal leadership but cannot justify a full-time General Counsel. Rates vary by sector and complexity of legal work.

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Head of Legal [Day Rates](/fractional-executive-day-rates "Fractional Executive Day Rates") by Sector

Sector	Day Rate	Annual Equivalent
Financial Services	£1,000-£1,400/day	£200-280k
Enterprise	£900-£1,300/day	£180-260k
Tech/Scale-Up	£850-£1,200/day	£170-240k

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Factors Affecting Head of Legal Rates

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Law firm pedigree: Magic Circle or Silver Circle background adds 15-25%

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M&A experience: Transaction management and due diligence expertise

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Regulatory depth: FCA↗, CMA, or sector-specific regulatory knowledge

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Commercial breadth: Enterprise contract negotiation experience

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International: Multi-jurisdiction legal management capability

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Fractional General Counsel Jobs UK

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Interim Head of Legal Jobs

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Part-Time Head of Legal Jobs

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CLO Salary Guide

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UK Fractional Jobs

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Fractional Recruitment Agency

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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