How to Build an In-House Legal Function from Scratch at a Rapid-Scale Tech Startup
When you’re the first lawyer through the door at a fast-growth company, the playbook from private practice or big corporates won’t help you much. Speed, simplicity, and pragmatism matter more than perfect precedent. What you build in the first 6–12 months will shape how the wider business sees Legal for years to come.
Over the past decade I’ve gone from barrister, to corporate lawyer, to General Counsel and first legal hire at a hypergrowth SaaS company. I now work with tech startups and scale-ups across Europe, helping them design legal functions that are lean, efficient, and genuinely well-liked.
Here’s the roadmap I used — ten steps that will help you build an in-house legal function that supports growth without burning you out.
1. Throw Out the Rulebook
Rapid scale requires a different approach. The traditional way of providing legal services doesn’t work in this environment. Focus on low-cost, high-impact solutions that directly support revenue.
2. Adjust Your Mindset
At a high-growth business, you’re not just a lawyer — you’re a business partner. That means balancing risk with speed. Get comfortable with “smart risks” and remember that risk-taking is a team sport. Show that you care about the company’s goals, not just legal exposure.
Tips for shifting your mindset:
Partner proactively with other teams — especially Sales and Finance.
Make legal issues relevant by tying them to business outcomes.
Remove friction wherever you can, and refine processes constantly.
3. Sort Out Legal Intake
If you don’t control how work lands on your desk, you’ll drown. From day one, mandate a single intake channel and stick to it. Post a clear message in company comms explaining where and how to reach you — and remind people often.
4. Set Legal Team Goals
Expectations will be all over the place when you start. Anchor yourself with 2–3 clear priorities per quarter, aligned to company goals. Communicate them widely. Define “non-goals” too, so it’s clear what Legal will not be doing.
5. Create a Simple Legal Ops Roadmap
Legal operations isn’t just for big companies. At a startup, it’s the cornerstone of building a function. Start with a lightweight roadmap covering outsourcing, automation, AI, and data. You’ll iterate as the business grows.
6. Outsource Strategically
You won’t get headcount right away, but you can often justify budget for ALSPs or contractors. Use them for high-volume, lower-risk work (like NDAs), and free yourself up to focus on higher-value issues.
7. Use Automation and AI
Leverage whatever tools you already have — Slack, Jira, Notion — before investing in legal tech. Automate repetitive processes early to speed up deal cycles and reduce errors.
8. Leverage Data
Data doesn’t lie. Track turnaround times, number of contract revisions, and when Legal gets pulled into deals. Use this to show value, build credibility, and make the case for future investment in your team.
9. Tap into Community
You don’t have to do this alone. Join communities of in-house lawyers, swap templates, and share lessons learned. A quick sanity check from peers can save you hours.
10. Back Yourself
Rapid scale isn’t for the fainthearted. But it’s also one of the most exciting environments for lawyers who want to build, innovate, and make a visible impact. Back yourself to take smart risks, experiment with new approaches, and build something that works for the business — and for you.
Final Thoughts
Building an in-house legal function from scratch at a fast-growth company is equal parts exhilarating and overwhelming. The secret is to stay lean, keep things simple, and never lose sight of the company’s core goal: growth.
If you want to dive deeper into these strategies, join the Irish Tech General Counsel community or subscribe to my newsletter for more practical resources.
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