California HR Manager

MG+M The Law Firm; Walnut Creek (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

In-office 3 days per week

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

MG+M The Law Firm seeks a California HR Manager to lead the HR function across Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Walnut Creek. The role reports to the CHRO and CA Managing Partner, providing strategic HR leadership in a national law firm renowned for complex civil matters.

The successful candidate will drive recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, compliance, and professional development across CA offices in a hybrid work environment that requires in-office

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field required.
• Minimum of five years HR experience in a law firm.
• Strong knowledge of California labor and employment laws.
• Demonstrated leadership and stakeholder management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR strategy and align with firm goals.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding for CA offices.
• Manage employee relations and investigations.
• Support performance reviews and development plans.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and policies.
• Coordinate compensation planning and annual reviews.

Skills

HR strategy

Leadership

Employee relations

Performance management

Compliance

Learning & development

Compensation

HRIS

Applicant tracking

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/

Tools

HRIS

Applicant tracking systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

MG+M The Law Firm (MG+M) seeks a California HR Manager to lead and manage the HR function across all California office locations: Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Walnut Creek. The California HR Manager serves as a key advisor to local management teams and plays a critical role in fostering a positive work environment. This role will report to the CHRO and CA Managing Partner.

MG+M is a nationally renowned litigation law firm concentrating on complex civil matters. The firm's expertise is diverse but focused in the areas of toxic tort, complex product liability, professional practices, local government, general liability, construction and commercial litigation. We approach litigation as a unified team, integrating our efforts with those of our clients to advance their interests wherever they do business. Our goal is always to deliver optimal results at the best possible value.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

HR Strategy & Leadership

Partner with firm leadership to develop HR strategies that support business goals, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

Oversee recruiting, onboarding, offboarding, and staffing initiatives to meet current and future workforce needs.

Employee Relations

Serve as the primary resource for employee relations matters, investigations, policy interpretation, and workplace issue resolution.

Performance Management

Support performance reviews, coaching, corrective action, and employee development while fostering a culture of accountability and feedback.

Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and administer HR policies and best practices.

Learning & Professional Development

Coordinate training and professional development programs that support employee growth and succession planning.

Compensation & Rewards

Partner with the CHRO on compensation planning, salary administration, and annual review processes.

Continuous Improvement

Identify opportunities to enhance HR processes, employee experience, and organizational effectiveness in alignment with firm goals.

Detailed Responsibilities

Recruiting

• Manage full-cycle recruitment for California-based positions.
• Post openings, source candidates, coordinate interviews, and extend offers.
• Serve as the primary contact for recruiting agencies and search firms.
• Partner with firm leadership to identify and fill staffing needs.

Onboarding & Offboarding

• Oversee employee onboarding, orientation, and offboarding processes.
• Facilitate exit interviews, separation documentation, and transition planning.
• Ensure compliance with California employment requirements.

Organizational Planning & Workforce Coordination

• Maintain organizational charts, reporting structures, and workforce data.
• Coordinate PTO tracking, leave administration, workforce reporting, and related processes.
• Support staffing analysis, organizational planning, and workflow alignment.

Performance Management

• Conduct new hire check-ins and support employee development initiatives.
• Assist managers with coaching, performance documentation, and corrective actions.
• Administer performance reviews, improvement plans, and compensation review support.

Employee Relations

• Serve as a resource for employee relations matters and workplace concerns.
• Conduct investigations and facilitate conflict resolution.
• Provide guidance on employee conduct, performance, and firm policies.

Culture & Employee Engagement

• Lead employee engagement and recognition initiatives.
• Coordinate employee communications, milestone celebrations, and office events.
• Partner with Operations to support a positive workplace culture.

Law Clerk Program

• Manage law clerk recruiting, OCI participation, interviews, and offers.
• Build relationships with law schools and assess staffing needs.

Mentorship & Professional Development

• Coordinate associate mentor assignments and program administration.
• Identify and support training, development, and career growth opportunities.

Employment Law Compliance

• Ensure compliance with California employment laws and firm policies.
• Provide guidance on wage and hour, leave, accommodation, and workplace requirements.
• Maintain required notices, records, and employment documentation.

Qualifications, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressive HR experience in a law firm.
• Demonstrated knowledge of California labor and employment laws and HR best practices.
• Strong leadership and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence and advise stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and sound judgment.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and implement practical solutions.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the capability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High degree of accountability and ownership, with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, composure, and confidentiality under pressure.
• Proficiency with HRIS, applicant tracking systems, and Microsoft Office applications.

Why Should You Apply?

We offer a hybrid work environment, with the potential for fully remote work, competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and 401(k).

MG+M will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status. We are committed to cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity as a fundamental value.

In-office requirement: The CA HR Manager must work in-office a minimum of three (3) days per week.

Salary range: $110,000 - $140,000