7 Ways a Fractional GC Can Save Your Company Time, Money, and Risk

Executive Summary: A fractional general counsel helps companies reduce legal risk, control costs, and stay focused on what matters by providing consistent, scalable legal support.

Business owners and in-house teams are often pulled in a dozen directions at once. Legal work is important, but it can fall behind when there isn't a dedicated person managing contracts, compliance, or internal policies. That's where a fractional general counsel (GC) comes in. Instead of hiring a full-time attorney or relying on reactive outside help, you get consistent legal support from someone who already knows your business without overcommitting your budget.

Here are seven ways a fractional GC can reduce risk, save money, and give you back valuable time.

1. Handles Legal Work Before It Becomes Legal Trouble

Most legal issues don't appear out of nowhere. They start as unanswered questions, loose processes, or assumptions. A fractional GC keeps an eye on those early-stage issues, cleaning up contract language, ensuring internal policies are clear, and documenting governance steps before they cause problems. That means fewer surprises later, especially during audits, M&A, financing, or employment disputes.

2. Avoids the Stop-and-Start of Hourly Billing

When you're charged by the hour, it's easy to avoid reaching out until a problem escalates. But by then, it's often more expensive and more complicated to fix. Fractional GCs are typically brought in under monthly subscriptions or flat-fee arrangements, which means you can ask questions in real time without worrying about the clock. This early communication reduces risk and allows your team to move faster.

3. Keeps Deals from Falling Apart During Diligence

Whether you're raising capital or preparing for a sale, legal cleanup slows down deals. A fractional GC makes sure contracts, minutes, and ownership documents are buttoned up along the way, not patched together at the last minute. This puts you in a stronger position when investors, lenders, or buyers come in with diligence requests.

4. Aligns Legal with Business Priorities

A fractional GC isn't just checking boxes. They become an integral part of your leadership team, advising on business decisions with a legal perspective. Instead of hiring a different attorney for each project, a fractional GC provides continuity. They know how your business operates, what your goals are, and how to build legal systems that support your growth, not slow it down.

5. Brings Cost Certainty With Flat Fees

Temple Law offers fractional GC services on a flat-fee or subscription model, which provides the kind of cost certainty growing businesses need. Using tools like AltFee to scope services and Clio to manage billing, we deliver predictable pricing for:

• Day-to-day legal questions

• Document review and drafting

• Employment and contractor matters

• Internal governance and policies

• Transaction prep and support

With this model, clients know what they're getting and what they're paying with no hidden fees, and no surprise invoices.

6. Provides Scalable Support as You Grow

Need 5 hours this month and 30 next month? A fractional GC can scale with your business. You can start small and increase your level of support as things get more complex. This is especially useful for early-stage companies that want ongoing guidance without committing to a full-time hire before they're ready.

7. Gives You Peace of Mind

When legal work is scattered or reactive, it becomes a source of stress. A fractional GC gives your business consistency. Someone who understands the stakes, can respond quickly, and helps create systems that support your growth. For companies in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, it's one of the simplest ways to get reliable legal support without bloating your overhead.

Legal support should make your company stronger, not more stressed. A fractional GC gives you a steady legal partner, aligned with your goals and your budget, ready to help when it counts. It's legal help that fits how business is actually done today. Reach out to us to see how we can work together.