---
title: Skip the Secondee. Try a Contract Attorney Instead.
description: The benefits of hiring a consulting attorney with prior in-house experience through a firm like Major, Lindsey & Africa is an alternative to using secondees from law firms for in-house legal teams. Contract attorneys are a great alternative to traditional secondment.
image: https://info.mlaglobal.com/hubfs/Skip-the-Secondee.-Hire-a-Consulting-Attorney-social%20(1).jpg
---

[Skip to content](https://info.mlaglobal.com/skip-the-secondee-try-a-contract-attorney-instead#main-content)

<https://info.mlaglobal.com/www.mlaglobal.com>

[![MLA logo hex_rgb](https://info.mlaglobal.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Example%20Signature%20Folder/MLA%20logo%20hex_rgb.png?width=300&height=28&name=MLA%20logo%20hex_rgb.png "MLA logo hex_rgb")](http://www.mlaglobal.com)

[![hatch-inverted-logo](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/2333817/GiantFocal_Marketplace/Hatch/logos/hatch-inverted-logo.svg "hatch-inverted-logo")](http://www.mlaglobal.com)

# Skip the Secondee.

#### Hire a Consulting Attorney.

While law firm secondees can be a valuable asset for in-house legal teams, engaging a consulting attorney with prior in-house experience through Major, Lindsey & Africa provides an alternate solution for practice area expertise and bandwidth needs without having to train and up-skill an associate.

![secondee](https://info.mlaglobal.com/hubfs/secondee.png)

![experience icon](https://info.mlaglobal.com/hubfs/experience%20icon.png)

#### SECONDEES:

- Associates in their 3rd–5th year
- Work under the close supervision of partners and senior associates
- Handle limited assignments
- Require a significant amount of training to get up to speed on a client’s project

#### CONSULTING ATTORNEYS:

- Tenured, most have 10–15+ years of experience
- Many have worked in-house previously, some as general counsel or some have run their own practices, and understand the nuances of working within an organization and with a C-suite
- Work independently on a wide array of matters from beginning to close
- Can come in and hit-the-ground running

![inhouse expertise](https://info.mlaglobal.com/hubfs/inhouse%20expertise.png)

#### SECONDEES:

- Only have law firm experience
- Need to learn a new skillset (and mindset) when going in-house
- Need to be taught the ins and outs of working in-house
- Need substantive training

#### CONSULTING ATTORNEYS:

- Typically have both in-house and law firm experience
- Know how to work with business partners
- Have acquired the many soft skills needed to succeed in-house
- Require little to no ramp up and can begin completing substantive work in their first day in the role

![selection-process-1](https://info.mlaglobal.com/hubfs/selection-process-1.png)

#### SECONDEES:

- Client has limited involvement in the selection process; the firm typically picks and sends an associate.
- Law Firm sends who is available, not necessarily the associate familiar with the client.

#### CONSULTING ATTORNEYS:

- Hiring Attorney and Legal Department have a significantly higher involvement with the selection process for interim attorneys.
- Hiring Attorney and Legal Department meets and interviews the attorneys before selecting the one they wish to work with.

 Let us help!

## Are You in Need of an Consulting Attorney?

MLA Interim Legal Talent has the capabilities and technology to engage overworked and under-supported law firms and corporate legal departments with on-demand and expert legal talent for project and assignment-based matters.

[Learn more about hiring contract attorneys here.](https://www.mlaglobal.com/en/insights/articles/skip-the-secondee-try-an-interim-attorney-instead)

## Tell us how we can help.

![sc-cms-prod-cdn-grfyfvg9gdfcb3gh.z01.azurefd.net-mediaimagesmlagloballogosmlalogosmwhite2x-png](https://info.mlaglobal.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/sc-cms-prod-cdn-grfyfvg9gdfcb3gh.z01.azurefd.net-mediaimagesmlagloballogosmlalogosmwhite2x-png.png)

#### Heading

- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item

#### Heading

- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item

#### Heading

- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item

#### Heading

- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item
- Menu Item