KNOWLEDGE · COSTS & PROCUREMENT

Costs and procurement: budgeting and buying interim legal and compliance support

What do interim lawyers and compliance professionals cost, and how do you choose the right provider? These guides explain hourly and day rates by seniority and market, provider types, the business case and a question set for comparing providers. They are written for general counsel, heads of compliance, HR and procurement in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

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All guides on costs and procurement

Interim legal costs: what does an interim lawyer cost?

What an interim lawyer costs: hourly and day rates in EUR and CHF, cost drivers, a worked example and a comparison of engagement models.

Interim lawyer, law firm or permanent hire? A comparison for legal departments

How interim legal counsel, law firms and permanent hires differ – role, direction, cost and limits, with a checklist for the decision.

Comparing interim legal providers: 12 RFP questions

Twelve questions with good answer, red flag and evidence – plus licence checks for Switzerland and Germany and a scoring model.

Why it is hard to find good interim legal counsel – and how to get it right

Why good interim lawyers are hard to find – and how to select well with five steps, interview questions and reference checks.

Outsourced legal department or additional legal counsel? Comparing the options

Four ways to organise legal work compared, from an outsourced legal department to an interim legal counsel.

Types of interim legal and compliance providers – and which fits your need

Five types of interim legal and compliance providers compared, and how to tell which one fits your need.

Junior, experienced or senior? Choosing the right seniority for interim assignments

Which level of experience your task needs, what it costs and how mixed teams reduce the budget.

Building the business case for interim legal or compliance support

How to justify budget for interim legal or compliance support: cost of inaction, worked example, objections and a one-page template.

Matching services

General Legal & Inhouse Counsel

Interim in-house counsel for the broad day-to-day work of your legal department, from junior to senior legal counsel.

General Compliance & Compliance Management

Interim Head of Legal

Fractional General Counsel

Key questions on costs and procurement

What does an interim lawyer cost?

Alpinum publishes ranges excluding VAT (as of 18 October 2026). In Switzerland, day rates range from CHF 600–800 (junior) to CHF 1'200–1'800+ (senior). In Germany and Austria, staff leasing ranges from EUR 480–720 to EUR 960–1'440+ and freelancing from EUR 720–960 to EUR 1'360–2'000+. Details in the guide interim lawyer costs.

Which level do I need?

It depends on the task: junior (0–2 years), experienced (3–6 years) or senior (7+ years). Experienced is the most common interim level. The guide choosing seniority for an interim assignment helps you decide.

How do I compare providers?

With one consistent set of questions on profiles, vetting, engagement models, direction, confidentiality and cost. The 12-question RFP checklist can go straight into a tender.

Interim professional, law firm or permanent hire?

The three routes solve different problems. What matters is the kind of work to be done and who directs it. The comparison interim lawyer, law firm or permanent hire shows when each route fits.

How many profiles will I receive?

Usually two to four profiles per search. A review follows after two to four weeks on assignment.

Align budget and profile?

We estimate level, workload and cost with you: staff leasing or freelancing, part-time or full-time, an individual or a team.

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