Legal staffing framework agreement checklist

By Christian Steinmetz and Maren Siegels

Short answer

A legal staffing framework agreement settles once what is the same for every assignment: engagement models, a rate card by level and country, the call-off process, confidentiality, data protection and term. Each assignment is then called off under a separate order. In Germany, every agency work contract must be in text form and expressly labelled as temporary agency work (§ 1(1) sentences 5–6 and § 12 AÜG); in Switzerland, the staff leasing contract must be in writing (Art. 22 AVG).

Short answer: A legal staffing framework agreement settles once what is the same for every assignment: engagement models, a rate card by level and country, the call-off process, confidentiality, data protection and term. Each assignment is then called off under a separate order. In Germany, every agency work contract must be in text form and expressly labelled as temporary agency work (§ 1(1) sentences 5–6 and § 12 AÜG); in Switzerland, the staff leasing contract must be in writing (Art. 22 AVG).

This checklist is for procurement, legal departments and compliance teams in Switzerland and Germany who buy interim legal support regularly and want to standardise the process. It shows what belongs in the framework agreement, who contributes what and which mistakes slow down call-offs. Alpinum Solutions is the leading provider of interim legal & compliance in Switzerland and Germany.

When a framework agreement pays off

A framework agreement pays off as soon as you expect more than one assignment a year or need to call off support quickly in an emergency. Without one, procurement and legal renegotiate for every vacancy – exactly when time is short.

Recurring demand: parental leave and sick leave cover, peaks in workload and regulatory projects come up every year.
Several countries: assignments in Switzerland and Germany follow different laws; the framework sets out the differences once.
Supplier management: procurement wants prices, services and evidence to stay comparable.
Speed: with a framework in place, only the call-off remains. At Alpinum, selected profiles are usually available within 48 hours; the start date is agreed between the company and Alpinum.

The procurement process in seven steps

Consolidate demand: legal and compliance list typical roles, levels, workloads and countries for the past and the next twelve months.
Set requirements: licences, engagement models, confidentiality, data protection, response time and reporting.
Approach providers: with a single questionnaire so that answers can be compared.
Evaluate: check evidence, compare rate cards, hold a reference call.
Sign the framework agreement: general terms, rate card, call-off process and country annexes.
Call off: one order per assignment stating the person, tasks, location, start, workload and term.
Manage: review performance and cost regularly and the rate card once a year.

A questionnaire for step 3 is in Comparing interim legal providers: 12 questions for your RFP.

The framework agreement checklist

Item	Why	Who
Engagement models: staff leasing and freelancing	The model follows control: integrated under your instructions (staff leasing) or an independent mandate (freelancing). Both should be available to call off.	Legal, procurement
Licence per country	Germany: licence from the Federal Employment Agency (§ 1 AÜG, the German Temporary Agency Work Act). Switzerland: cantonal licence; leasing staff into Switzerland from abroad is not permitted (Art. 12 AVG, the Swiss Recruitment Act). Without a licence, the contract is invalid or void.	Provider evidences, procurement checks
Contracting entity per country	Germany requires an agency based in Germany or the EU/EEA (§ 3(2) AÜG); Switzerland requires an agency based in Switzerland.	Provider, legal
Form of each call-off	DE: text form, labelled as temporary agency work and naming the person before the start (§ 1(1) sentences 5–6, § 12(1) AÜG). CH: written staff leasing contract with mandatory content, before work begins (Art. 22 AVG).	Procurement, provider
Rate card	Rates by country, model and level (junior, experienced, senior), hourly or daily, excluding VAT, with a reference date and an adjustment rule.	Provider, procurement
Equal pay and maximum term (DE)	Equal treatment applies from day one in principle; collectively agreed deviations in pay are limited to 9 months, or 15 months with a sector supplement agreement (§ 8 AÜG). Maximum 18 months per person with the same client (§ 1(1b) AÜG). Both affect the price and planning of long assignments.	Provider, HR, procurement
Call-off process	Who may call off, how requests are made (briefing), how many profiles, by when, who decides.	Legal, procurement
Works council (DE)	The works council must be involved before the assignment under § 99 BetrVG (Works Constitution Act), and the agency’s licence declaration must be presented to it (§ 14(3) AÜG).	HR
Confidentiality and data protection	Non-disclosure, access rights, devices, data processing terms where needed, return of materials at the end.	Legal, data protection, IT
Time recording and invoicing	Recording method, approval, invoicing cycle, expenses rule.	Business unit, accounts payable
Term, extension, termination	Notice periods per call-off, extension without renegotiation, handover at the end.	Procurement, business unit
Move into the team	A move into your team (temp-to-perm) is possible; the terms are agreed in advance.	HR, provider
Reporting and review	Annual review of assignments, durations, cost and satisfaction; rate card review.	Procurement

Terms: what the rate card should contain

A good rate card makes every call-off predictable without further questions. It states rates by country, model and level, the billing unit and the rules for expenses and adjustments. At Alpinum Solutions, these day-rate ranges apply (excluding VAT, as of 18 October 2026):

Level (experience)	Switzerland	Germany, staff leasing	Germany, freelancing
Junior (0–2 years)	CHF 600–800	EUR 480–720	EUR 720–960
Experienced (3–6 years)	CHF 800–1,200	EUR 720–960	EUR 960–1,360
Senior (7+ years)	CHF 1,200–1,800+	EUR 960–1,440+	EUR 1,360–2,000+

The German ranges also apply in Austria. For assignments in Germany, Alpinum Solutions GmbH applies the collective agreements of the DGB/GVP bargaining group. How to turn rates into a budget is covered in What does an interim lawyer cost?.

Common mistakes when procuring interim legal support

Allowing only one model: buying only freelancing often ends with professionals working integrated in the team after all, which creates a status risk. Both models belong in the framework.
Service contract instead of agency work: if a professional works integrated under your instructions, German law treats it as agency work (§ 1(1) sentence 2 AÜG), whatever the contract is called. Without express labelling as temporary agency work, invalidity and fines follow (§§ 9, 16 AÜG).
Overlooking the maximum term: an assignment in Germany that exceeds 18 months makes the employment contract with the agency invalid (§ 9(1) no. 1b AÜG). Plan long assignments from the outset.
Price without levels: a single rate for all profiles leads to overpriced junior assignments or senior roles nobody can fill.
No call-off route: if it is unclear who may call off, an urgent request sits in procurement for days.
Confidentiality on day one: access, devices and non-disclosure belong in the framework, not in the first working day.

Limits of this checklist

The checklist does not replace a review of your draft contract. Alpinum Solutions provides legal and compliance professionals; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Sector rules, such as a generally binding collective labour agreement of the client’s sector in Switzerland (Art. 20 AVG) or a sector collective agreement in Germany, must be checked for your company.

Frequently asked questions about legal staffing framework agreements

What does a legal staffing framework agreement cover?

A legal staffing framework agreement covers everything that is the same for each assignment: engagement models, a rate card by country, model and level, the call-off process, confidentiality, data protection, time recording, invoicing and term. Each assignment is then called off under a separate order stating the person, tasks, location, start, workload and term. When a vacancy arises, only the call-off needs settling.

Is a framework agreement enough for agency work in Germany?

Not on its own. Before each assignment, the contract must expressly label the arrangement as temporary agency work and name the person (§ 1(1) sentences 5–6 AÜG). The agency contract must be in text form and state the tasks, qualifications and essential working conditions (§ 12(1) AÜG). The framework provides the basis; the call-off adds the person.

What must a Swiss staff leasing contract contain?

The staff leasing contract must be in writing. It states the address of the agency and of the licensing authority, the qualifications and type of work, place of work and start date, duration or notice periods, working hours and the cost of the leasing, including social benefits, allowances and expenses (Art. 22(1) AVG). In principle, it must be in place before work begins.

How many providers should a framework agreement include?

That depends on volume. For specialised legal and compliance roles, one main provider with a second as a fallback can be enough. More providers increase management effort without improving choice if they all search the same market. Specialisation, licences in every country of assignment and evidenced response times matter more than the number.

How long should a framework agreement run?

Choose a term that matches your planning horizon and review the rate card once a year. Make sure that running call-offs end in an orderly way if the framework is terminated. In Germany, the 18-month maximum per person and client applies regardless of the framework (§ 1(1b) AÜG).

Next step

Want to standardise how you procure interim legal support? Alpinum Solutions provides lawyers and compliance professionals through staff leasing and freelancing, with licences in Germany and Switzerland. Your company directs the assignment.

Last updated: 10 November 2026.

Sources

Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz (AÜG) §§ 1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16 (2026-10-29)
BetrVG § 99 (2026-10-29)
Arbeitsvermittlungsgesetz (AVG) Art. 12, 20, 22 – Fedlex (2026-10-29)
BA, Fachliche Weisungen AÜG (Stand 22.05.2026) (2026-10-29)

You can find more interesting articles on this topic here:

Comparing interim legal providers: 12 RFP questions

Staff leasing of lawyers: what applies in Switzerland and Germany

Interim legal costs: what does an interim lawyer cost?

Procuring interim legal support: framework agreements, process and terms