outside counsel

USAGE SUMMARY

"outside counsel" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to refer to a lawyer, typically from another law firm, who has been hired to provide advice on a legal matter. For example: "The company retained an outside counsel to help them with their dispute in court."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It litigates, prodigiously, but uses outside counsel.

The New Yorker

Davis consulted outside counsel, at Proskauer Rose.

The New Yorker

"We should have outside counsel review this".

The New York Times

Both sides have brought in outside counsel.

The New York Times

But troubled enterprises often benefit from a little outside counsel.

The New York Times

The league retained outside counsel to conduct the investigation.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's devastating," said Jeffrey Kessler, the union's outside counsel.

The New York Times - Sports

Hunsaker did ask Gentilucci to get in touch with outside counsel.

The New Yorker

"Every step was undertaken with the advice and direction of the school's outside counsel.

The New York Times

Corporate clients, themselves wrestling with difficult business conditions, are demanding reduced fees from their outside counsel.

The New York Times

Mr. Murdoch said he had relied on "outside counsel" in settling that case.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When mentioning "outside counsel", clearly state the firm or individual providing the service, especially in formal communications or legal documents, to ensure transparency and accountability.

Common error

Don't use "outside counsel" when referring to your company's in-house legal department. The term specifically denotes legal professionals who are not employees of the organization but are contracted for specific services or advice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outside counsel" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it designates legal advisors or representation sourced externally to an organization.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

4%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "outside counsel" is a common and correct term used to refer to legal advisors or representation sourced from outside an organization's internal legal team. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to clearly distinguish it from internal legal resources and, ideally, specify the firm or individual involved. Alternatives such as "external legal counsel" or "independent legal advisor" offer similar meanings, while it's critical to avoid confusing "outside counsel" with in-house legal departments. "Outside counsel" indicates specialized expertise and independent perspective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

external legal counsel

Replaces "outside" with "external", maintaining the core meaning of external legal advice.

external attorney

Uses "attorney" as a synonym to "counsel".

external legal advisor

Substitutes "counsel" with "advisor", emphasizing the advisory role of the external legal expert.

independent lawyer

Uses the most basic expression.

independent legal counsel

Emphasizes the independence of the legal advice provider.

retained legal counsel

Highlights the contractual relationship with the lawyer or firm.

external law firm

Replaces "counsel" with a more specific descriptor.

independent legal expert

Uses "expert" instead of "counsel" for an emphasis on expertise.

hired legal representation

Focuses on the act of hiring for legal matters.

contracted legal services

Emphasizes the service aspect and contractual basis.

FAQs

How do I use "outside counsel" in a sentence?

You can use "outside counsel" to describe legal advisors who are not part of an organization's internal legal team. For example: "The company hired "outside counsel" to handle the merger."

What's a synonym for "outside counsel"?

Alternatives to "outside counsel" include "external legal counsel", "independent legal advisor", or "retained legal counsel".

When should I hire "outside counsel"?

Companies typically hire "outside counsel" for specialized legal expertise, independent investigations, or when internal resources are insufficient to handle a particular legal matter.

What is the difference between general counsel and "outside counsel"?

General counsel is an in-house lawyer and full-time employee of the organization. "Outside counsel" is an independent lawyer or law firm hired on a case-by-case basis or for specific legal needs.