I get a version of this question often: "What would you actually do for us on an ongoing basis?" It is a fair question, because outsourced general counsel means different things to different firms. Let me describe how I approach it, in concrete terms.
1. Contract review and drafting on a routine basis
This is usually the most visible part of the job. Vendor agreements, customer contracts, leases, non-disclosure agreements, and employment offer letters all cross a desk regularly in a growing business.
Outsourced general counsel typically reviews and drafts these as they come up, flags unusual or risky terms, and over time builds a library of templates so the business is not reinventing the wheel every time a similar deal comes along.
2. Ongoing entity and governance maintenance
Operating agreements, bylaws, board and member consents, and annual filings tend to get neglected once the initial formation is done. An outsourced general counsel generally keeps these current, updates them when ownership or management changes, and makes sure the paper trail matches how the business is actually being run.
This matters more than people expect. Sloppy governance records are one of the first things opposing counsel or a court looks at when a dispute or liability question arises.
3. Employment guidance before problems become claims
Handbook updates, classification questions, leave requests, and termination decisions all come up regularly for a business with employees. Rather than calling a lawyer only after a termination goes sideways, an outsourced general counsel is generally available to review the situation beforehand and help the business make a defensible decision the first time.
This proactive posture is usually the biggest practical difference between having ongoing counsel and calling a lawyer only in a crisis.
4. A sounding board for business decisions with legal dimensions
Many decisions that look purely operational — a new pricing model, a change in how commissions are calculated, a new vendor relationship — carry legal implications the business owner may not see. An outsourced general counsel who understands the business can spot these issues early and raise them before they turn into disputes.
This role often looks more like ongoing advice than formal legal work product. A phone call or an email exchange resolves most of it.
5. Coordination with other advisors and, when needed, litigation counsel
Outsourced general counsel typically works alongside the business's CPA, insurance broker, and banker, making sure legal structure and financial or tax strategy are pointed in the same direction.
If a dispute escalates to litigation, an outsourced general counsel who already knows the business, its contracts, and its history can either handle the matter directly or bring in and manage specialized litigation counsel efficiently, rather than starting from zero.
6. Predictable access and predictable cost
Most outsourced general counsel arrangements are structured around a flat monthly fee or a defined scope, rather than pure hourly billing for every phone call. This generally makes it easier for a business to actually pick up the phone with a quick question instead of avoiding the call because they are worried about the meter running.
That access, more than any single service on this list, tends to be what clients say they value most once they have it.
If you want to see what this would look like for your business specifically, reach out through blgattorney.com or call my Oklahoma City office. I am happy to walk through how an outsourced general counsel arrangement would actually work day to day for you.