Human Resources Manager

Salary: Up to £77,000 DOE plus benefits.

Location: London office, hybrid 3 days office, hours of work Mon to Friday 9am-5:30pm

Overview

We are seeking an experienced HR Manager to provide comprehensive, proactive and consistent HR generalist support across the business during a maternity cover period. This role requires strong HR expertise, excellent relationship‑building skills, and the ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders in a professional services environment. HR experience within a law firm; ideally exposure to trainee recruitment, assessment centres or graduate recruitment. Minimum CIPD Level 5 required (Level 7 or working towards preferred).

Key Responsibilities

Firm-wide & HR Support

• Provide consistent HR generalist support across the organisation.
• Support the HR Advisors on employee relations issues, coaching and guiding them through processes.
• Support the Head of HR on more complex ER matters.
• Maintain HR policies, standard documentation and staff manual, ensuring compliance with legislation and business requirements.
• Complete and coordinate salary surveys to support benchmarking activity.
• Act as point of contact for the organisation’s UKVISA account.
• Contribute content for internal HR communications.

Employee Lifecycle & Operational HR

• Work closely with Heads of Department and line managers to support effective people management.
• Advise managers and employees on employee relations queries.
• Monitor absence and sickness trends, manage documentation, and coordinate occupational health referrals.
• Manage leaver processes, including correspondence, exit interviews, data updates and feedback reporting.
• Oversee probation monitoring, reminders, outcomes, and related documentation.
• Support processes related to extended leave (maternity, paternity, adoption), including entitlement guidance, updates to payroll and HR systems, and communication with managers.
• Manage appraisal tracking, monitor outstanding reviews, and report on training needs.
• Assist with the creation of job descriptions, interview participation, offer paperwork, and induction coordination for new joiners.
• Work with managers to identify learning and development needs and ensure opportunities align with business objectives.

HR Systems & Reporting

• Oversee effective use of HR systems and management information.
• Manage relationships with HR systems providers.
• Ensure HR content on the intranet is accurate and up to date.
• Oversee data quality and integrity in HR reporting.
• Support publication and verification of D&I and Gender Pay Gap data.
• Produce and maintain turnover statistics.

Trainee Recruitment & Development

• Work closely with the Training Principal to manage the full training contract lifecycle.
• Act as the main point of contact for trainee solicitor recruitment and development.
• Manage branding and advertising for the Vacation Scheme and Training Contract programmes.
• Lead the Summer Vacation Scheme, including preparation, recruitment, delivery, and feedback.
• Oversee the full Training Contract recruitment process (advertising, shortlisting, assessment centres, interviews).
• Plan and facilitate trainee induction and coordinate learning and development opportunities.
• Manage seat rotations in line with business needs and trainee development goals.
• Oversee qualification processes and compliance with SRA requirements.
• Monitor trainee performance and address emerging concerns promptly.
• Manage trainee appraisals and ongoing engagement with future trainees.
• Oversee PSC course coordination and support trainees completing SQE2 where required.

Professional Qualifications & Compliance

• Manage the practising certificate renewal process (SRA, CILEx and others as applicable).
• Support paralegals pursuing qualification routes such as CILEx.
• Maintain the organisation’s mySRA online account.
• Manage the bi‑annual SRA diversity reporting process.
• Maintain HR‑related compliance accreditations and support audits.

Person Specification

• A‑levels or equivalent; degree desirable.
• CIPD Level 7 qualified or working towards.
• Knowledge of legal sector qualification frameworks (LPC, SQE); understanding of training contract processes
• Experience of working in a legal environment; ideally with Trainees and Vacation Schemes
• Experience of developing and delivering assessment centres
• Experience within a professional services environment (legal sector preferred).
• Strong working knowledge of HR best practice and HR strategy.
• Commercially aware with a focus on delivering results.
• Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high standards.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• High level of organisation and ability to manage a demanding workload.
• Strong IT skills, including Outlook, Excel and Word.
• A proactive, self‑motivated and team‑oriented approach.

Please note:

Start Date:

Ideally June/July to allow for a thorough handover. A phased or part‑time onboarding period prior to the full start date maybe possible.

Duration:

Expected to be a 12‑month Fixed Term Contract.

#J-18808-Ljbffr…