From assignment to permanent role: interim work as a career springboard

Short answer: For lawyers and compliance professionals, a contract-to-permanent path can be the most direct route into a company: the employer sees your work for weeks or months instead of judging you after two interviews. A move into the team (temp-to-perm) is possible; the terms are agreed in advance. But a permanent offer is never automatic; it follows from performance, a lasting need and open communication.

This guide is for legal counsel, compliance officers and project lawyers at every level who want to use an interim assignment as a deliberate way into a company. It explains when that is realistic, how to approach it and where the limits are.

When is an interim assignment a career springboard?

An interim assignment works as a springboard when a lasting task sits behind the temporary need. Typical situations:

• Vacancy: a role is open and the search is still running. Whoever covers the function in the meantime is the obvious candidate.
• Growth: a team is expanding, for example after an acquisition or because of new regulation, and wants to see people at work first.
• Project with a follow-on role: a remediation or a contract lifecycle management rollout turns into an ongoing operation that needs a permanent owner.
• Change of sector or role: you are moving from private practice, from another industry or back after a break, and can show on the job what a CV alone cannot prove.

Chances are lower for clearly time-limited cover, such as parental or maternity leave where the post holder returns. Even then you gain contacts and references that help with the next step.

How does a contract-to-permanent move work?

An assignment turns into a permanent legal counsel role when you clarify your interest early, deliver visibly and handle the move through the agreed channels.

1. Before the assignment: tell your Alpinum contact that you are open to a permanent role, so that assignments with a lasting need can be considered.
2. Set goals for the first weeks: agree with your line manager at the company how your work will be measured, for example a reduced contract backlog or completed KYC files.
3. Deliver visibly: reliable deadlines, clear memos and short updates to your managers count for more than overtime.
4. Show integration: get to know stakeholders in the business, finance and HR. Well-connected people are more likely to be seen as part of the team.
5. Raise it at the right time: a mid-point review after a few weeks is a natural opportunity. If the company signals interest, further discussions run through Alpinum.
6. Agree the move: a move into the team (temp-to-perm) is possible; the terms are agreed in advance. Start date, handover and responsibilities in the new role are settled jointly by the company, Alpinum and you.

Interim with prospects or a direct application?

Both routes lead to a permanent role. They differ in how well company and professional know each other beforehand.

Which roles are most likely to become permanent?

A move from interim to permanent is possible at every level, from junior through experienced to senior. Experienced is the most common interim level at Alpinum. Permanent roles most often arise in these areas:

• Legal counsel in contract, corporate or employment law, when volumes have risen for good.
• Compliance officers in KYC, AML and regulatory work, when a remediation project becomes a standing process.
• Legal operations, when a new tool or process needs someone to run it.
• Leadership roles such as interim head of legal, when the company reshapes the function and already knows the person.

Workload in both models ranges from part-time to full-time. If you start part-time on an interim basis, you can renegotiate the workload for the permanent role.

Switzerland and Germany: what differs

The path is the same in both countries; the terms and the contractual set-up during the assignment differ.

For more on employment under staff leasing, see staff leasing from the professional's perspective; on self-employment, see working as a freelance lawyer.

Limits and risks

• No promise: an assignment is not a hidden probation period. Budget, reorganisation or a returning post holder can prevent a permanent offer, even after excellent work.
• Keep expectations open: if you work only towards a permanent role, you risk disappointment. Plan the assignment so that it brings references and experience either way.
• Confidentiality: you see internal information. Discuss a permanent role with the responsible person, not within the team.
• Freelancing: taking a permanent job means giving up other clients. Decide early whether you want that.

Frequently asked questions about contract-to-permanent legal roles

Can a company hire me permanently after an interim assignment?

Yes. A move into the team (temp-to-perm) is possible; the terms are agreed in advance between the company and Alpinum. Start date, handover and future responsibilities are settled jointly by everyone involved, so that the move happens without a gap in the ongoing assignment.

When should I raise the topic of a permanent role?

Ideally twice: before the assignment with Alpinum, so that assignments with a lasting need can be considered, and after a few weeks in a mid-point review with your line manager. By then the company knows your work. If it shows interest, further discussions run through Alpinum so that contract and transition are handled properly.

Do I lose anything if the assignment does not lead to a permanent job?

Usually not. You gain experience in a new sector or role, references and contacts. Many professionals take several interim assignments in a row and decide later whether to join a company permanently. Record the results and responsibilities of each assignment in your CV so that the next step is easier.

Does this route work for junior lawyers too?

Yes. Interim assignments exist at every level, including junior profiles with a few years of experience, for example in contract review, KYC projects or document review. Reliable junior professionals stand out, especially in large projects. That can lead to a permanent role in the legal or compliance team.

Can freelancers move into a permanent role as well?

Yes, freelancers can join the team too. Clarify beforehand whether you want to give up self-employment and how ongoing work for other clients will end. Here, too, the terms for the move are agreed in advance.

Next step

Alpinum Solutions is the leading provider of interim legal & compliance in the DACH region and places professionals in assignments with companies through staff leasing and freelancing, part-time or full-time. If you are open to a permanent role, say so in your profile.

• Careers: legal and compliance jobs as a project lawyer
• From law firm to in-house: interim assignments as a bridge
• Profile and CV for interim assignments
• For candidates: all guides on careers and interim work

Last updated: 10 November 2026.