Explore the role of the legal interim. Discover the benefits, skills employers look for and how to find your next interim legal job ...
For some experienced lawyers, career progression does not always mean pursuing the next permanent position. Interim legal roles can offer another route … one that combines challenging legal work with greater variety, flexibility and the opportunity to bring specialist expertise to organisations when they need it most.
Interim lawyers are wanted for many reasons. A business may need experienced legal support during a period of change, to cover an unexpected vacancy or parental leave, manage a major transaction or regulatory project, or provide specialist expertise that is not required permanently. Depending on the assignment, opportunities can range from Interim Legal Counsel and Senior Legal Counsel positions through to Head of Legal and Interim General Counsel roles.
For senior legal professionals, this can create an attractive alternative to the conventional permanent career path. But it’s important to recognise that interim work is different from simply changing permanent jobs. Here, we look at how interim legal roles work, why employers recruit interim lawyers, the advantages and potential drawbacks, and what to consider before making the move.
What are interim legal roles?
Interim legal roles are time-limited appointments where an experienced legal professional joins an organisation to provide additional capacity, specialist expertise or senior legal leadership for a defined period or purpose.
Unlike a permanent role, an interim lawyer is usually recruited because a business has an immediate requirement. This could involve covering a vacant position, supporting a major transaction, managing a regulatory or compliance project, helping a business through a period of transformation or providing specialist expertise while a permanent hire is recruited.
Interim assignments can vary considerably in seniority and duration. An organisation might appoint an Interim Legal Counsel to support an overstretched in-house team, for example, while another may require an experienced Interim General Counsel or Head of Legal to provide leadership during a period of significant change.
For experienced lawyers, this means interim work should not necessarily be viewed as a step down from permanent employment. The right assignment can involve considerable responsibility and provide exposure to complex legal, commercial and organisational challenges.
Why do organisations hire interim legal professionals?
The attraction of interim legal appointments is not limited to lawyers. For employers, they can offer quick access to legal expertise without committing to a permanent appointment.
An organisation might recruit an interim lawyer to:
- provide maternity, parental leave or long-term absence cover
- fill a position while recruiting a permanent lawyer
- manage increased workloads or periods of rapid growth
- support a merger, acquisition, disposal or restructuring
- lead a regulatory or compliance project
- provide specialist expertise for a particular matter
- support legal transformation or technology implementation
- help establish or restructure an in-house legal function
- provide experienced leadership during a period of organisational change
This creates an interesting dynamic for senior lawyers. Employers recruiting interims may be less concerned with long-term career progression within the organisation and more interested in one immediate question … can this person come in and solve the problem we have now?
That can favour experienced lawyers who combine strong technical knowledge with sound commercial judgement, adaptability and the confidence to become productive quickly.
Types of interim legal roles
| Interim Role | Typical Requirement |
|---|---|
| Interim General Counsel | Senior leadership, governance and strategic legal oversight |
|
Interim Head of Legal |
Managing an in-house legal team or function |
Interim Legal Counsel |
Additional commercial or general legal support |
Interim Senior Legal Counsel |
Experienced support for complex or high-value matters |
Interim Commercial Lawyer |
Contracts, negotiations and commercial agreements |
Interim Compliance/Regulatory Lawyer |
Contracts, negotiations and commercial agreements |
Interim Employment Lawyer |
Restructuring, employee relations and employment projects |
Interim Corporate Lawyer |
Transactions, restructuring and corporate projects |
Interim Data/Privacy Lawyer |
Data protection, privacy and technology-related requirements |
Interim Legal Project/Transformation Lawyer |
Legal operations, technology and change programmes |
The job title often matters less than the requirement behind the appointment. Interim lawyers are often recruited to address a defined business problem, so responsibilities can differ significantly between assignments.
Greater working flexibility as an interim lawyer
Working in a long-term senior role can feel like a tie. While seniority can provide you with some flexibility, along with a range of perks in addition to salary, it often doesn’t match what you can achieve in interim roles.
For example, an interim position that isn’t as senior may allow for more homeworking. If you have a home office, you may find that having no commute means you can still put in the hours but be ready to immediately switch to your home life once you finish work.
This may not be possible in a senior and ongoing legal role. Indeed, you may be required to stay late and work extra hours quite often, with no way to change things. That’s something you can likely say goodbye to in an interim role.
Interims get opportunities to work on a wider variety of projects
Variety is commonly the main draw for legal professionals considering the switch from a permanent role to something temporary.
You may have grown tired of the area of law you’re currently involved with. You might simply want to widen your interests and expand your CV by switching to different areas to see which topic areas you prefer.
Access legal opportunities beyond your usual location
This probably won’t appeal if you have a family, but if you’re single and have few ties to your local area, you can use interim legal roles to help you explore different parts of the country.
It provides you with many more job openings and possibilities, since you can search available roles here from around the country. If you’re keen to move to a different area, an interim role gives you the chance to do so, and perhaps to find somewhere you’d like to settle down.
Opportunities to gain further experience as a lawyer
This is about widening your experience. You may feel as if you have gained as much experience as possible from your current role, even though you’re in a senior position.
By regularly taking on interim legal work, you can look for positions that give you the chance to further your overall experience. You can test different legal sectors and work with different clients. You can also expect to take on a wider range of cases.
Opportunities to build your legal network of contacts
Consider this … let’s assume you spend the next five years taking on a series of six-to-12-month contracts at different legal firms. Over that time, you’ll build a series of contacts and business acquaintances at each firm.
That could mean five to 10 sets of contacts, depending on how many contracts you take on and how long they last for. It’s one of the best ways to expand your network, no matter which area of law you’re working in.
Opportunities to develop a more rounded legal CV
If you’re thinking of switching to a different company in future in a more permanent role, moving into interim legal jobs for the short term can be an excellent stepping stone (or series of them) to help you get there.
Every new role you take on will bring you fresh skills and experience in different areas of law. You’ll meet more people, working on different cases and diversifying your experience overall. All of which look promising when added to a CV. It also shows that you’re able to adapt to different law firms, situations, and roles.
A solid platform for building your own legal business
Not all senior legal professionals want to set up their own firms. However, if you’re thinking of becoming your own boss at some point in the future, you’ll benefit from working in a variety of interim legal roles to help you build experience first.
It also allows you to figure out which area of law you’d like to specialise in. It’s one thing to work in someone else’s firm each day, but quite another to set up your own business. Taking on a series of short-term contracts for a few years allows you to consider which area of law you prefer to work in.
A better work-life balance for legal professionals?
We’ve listed this last, but it is one of the most important considerations to bear in mind if you’re looking at interim legal roles. It’s easy to get caught up in the push to work your way up the legal ladder, only to realise once you’re there that you’ve forgotten about everything outside of work.
You may decide to move from one interim role to the next with no break each time. Alternatively, you may line up your next role a few weeks after the current one ends, giving you freedom between roles to enjoy some downtime and plan your next move. This also gives you time to travel, take on some voluntary work, or spend time with your family.
Interim work doesn’t automatically mean fewer hours or less pressure. Some contracts arise because a business is facing a demanding project, transaction, regulatory issue or period of change. The difference is that interims may have greater control over which assignments they accept and, importantly, what they do between them.
What skills do employers look for in interim lawyers?
Technical legal expertise remains top of the list, but successful interim lawyers often need something more. Employers are usually recruiting because they have an immediate requirement, which means there may be considerably less time for a lengthy induction or gradual learning curve.
Strong interim candidates typically demonstrate:
Adaptability
You need to understand a new organisation, its people, priorities and working practices quickly.
Commercial judgement
Particularly in senior in-house assignments, employers need lawyers who can balance legal risk against commercial objectives rather than simply identify legal problems.
Independence
Interim lawyers may be expected to take responsibility for matters relatively quickly and work effectively without extensive supervision.
Communication skills
You may need to build credibility with senior management, external advisers and colleagues who have never worked with you.
Specialist expertise
Some appointments are advertised because an organisation needs knowledge or experience it does not currently have.
Delivery focus
An interim assignment usually have specific deliverables and deadlines.
For senior lawyers considering interim work, your CV should not only show what positions you have held, but the problems you have solved, projects you have delivered and measurable impact you have made.
Could an interim legal role be your next career move?
Moving into interim legal work does not have to mean stepping away from an ambitious legal career. For the right person, it can simply be a different way of building one.
Interim assignments can provide exposure to new organisations, sectors and legal challenges while allowing experienced lawyers to apply their expertise where it’s needed most. They can also provide more control over the types of projects you accept and when and where you work.
There are trade-offs however. Uncertainty and the need to adapt quickly will not appeal to everyone. But if you have strong legal experience, enjoy variety and are comfortable joining an organisation with a clear brief to deliver, interim work can offer a compelling alternative to a permanent role.
If you’re considering your next move, explore the latest interim legal roles on LegalJobs.co.uk and see where your experience could take you next.
Is interim legal work right for you?
Interim legal work could suit you if you …
- enjoy entering new organisations and learning quickly
- prefer variety to following one long-term corporate career path
- have expertise that organisations need for particular projects
- are comfortable with some uncertainty between assignments
- want better control over when and where you work
- enjoy solving problems and delivering on defined outcomes
- already have substantial legal or commercial experience
A permanent position may be more appropriate if job security, long-term benefits, progression within one organisation or building and leading a team over several years are among your main priorities.
Frequently asked questions about interim legal roles
What is an interim legal role?
An interim legal role is a temporary or fixed term appointment where an experienced legal professional joins a business for a set period of time or for a specific purpose. This could be to cover an absence or vacancy, provide additional capacity, manage a specific project or supply specialist legal expertise.
How long do interim legal roles usually last?
There is no standard length. An interim assignment might last a few months or continue for a year or longer, depending on the organisation’s requirements, the project involved and whether the role is providing temporary cover.
Why do organisations hire interim lawyers?
Organisations hire interim lawyers to cover vacancies or absences, manage increased workloads, support transactions or regulatory projects, provide specialist expertise or strengthen an in-house legal team during a period of change.
What types of interim legal roles are available?
Interim opportunities can range from Legal Counsel and Senior Legal Counsel to Head of Legal and General Counsel positions. There are also specialist roles covering areas such as commercial contracts, employment, corporate law, compliance, data privacy and regulatory matters.
What skills do you need to be an interim lawyer?
Employers typically value strong legal expertise, adaptability, commercial awareness, communication skills and the ability to work independently. Interim lawyers also need to understand new organisations quickly and start contributing with minimal lead-in time.
What’s the difference between an interim lawyer and a locum solicitor?
The terms can overlap, but locum solicitors are commonly recruited to provide temporary cover for an absent lawyer or vacant position. Interim lawyers may have a broader remit, such as delivering a specific project, providing specialist expertise or taking on temporary legal leadership.
Are interim legal roles only suitable for senior lawyers?
No. Interim and contract opportunities exist at different levels of seniority. However, substantial previous experience can be particularly valuable because employers often need interim lawyers who can become productive quickly and operate with limited supervision.
Can an interim legal role lead to a permanent job?
Yes. Some interim assignments can lead to permanent opportunities, although this should not be assumed. An interim role has other career focussed benefits … it can help you build experience, develop your professional network and demonstrate your abilities to future employers.
How to search for interim legal roles
If you’re currently in a senior legal role and you’re considering switching to interim positions, you’re in the right place to search for available openings near you.
These roles are becoming more common as they allow firms to take on the necessary people when required, rather than having them on board permanently. They also allow firms to seek specific expertise when required for a short period.
Use our search facility to look for suitable interim legal positions in your area. You can also check our guides and latest news and insight into many different roles in the profession.
