Job Description
In order to be considered for this role, please apply at: Only applicants applying there will be considered.
This is a fully remote role open to residents of California, Washington, Arizona, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Florida only. Must be able to work 8-5 PST.
Non-negotiable: you must have CA HR experience and have a solid understanding of CA employment law.
We’re a small, fast-paced law firm looking for an HR & Talent Specialist to take the lead on recruiting while keeping the day-to-day HR operations on track. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys managing the full-cycle hiring process and handling the nuts and bolts of HR administration—from onboarding to benefits coordination. If you're organized, resourceful, and comfortable working independently without a lot of layers or red tape, we’d love to hear from you!
The HR & Talent Specialist manages the full-cycle recruiting process while supporting critical human resources functions. The position handles a variety of employee-facing and administrative tasks, including onboarding, offboarding, benefits coordination, policy updates, and employee record maintenance.
Responsibilities:
WHAT YOU’LL DO (Essential Functions):
(The essential functions listed above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required. The organization reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other responsibilities as necessary. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
Recruiting (Primary Focus):
- Manage full-cycle recruiting for all roles (cradle to grave), including job posting, sourcing, screening, scheduling, interviewing, and coordinating offers.
- Serve as the point of contact for offshore recruiting processes.
- Track pipeline metrics and drive continuous improvement of recruiting strategy.
- Develop and maintain job descriptions.
- Support an inclusive recruiting process and contribute to maintaining a workplace culture grounded in diversity, equity, and respect.
Onboarding / Preboarding:
- Prepare offer letters, conduct background checks, and manage new hire setup in the payroll system (Gusto).
- Maintain and update onboarding templates.
- Develop onboarding plans and ensure a successful preboarding and Day One experience.
- Calculate and input the new hire's personal time into HRIS.
Offboarding:
- Facilitate employee exits, including Gusto termination, final pay, and offboarding checklist completion, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
- Update and maintain offboarding process documentation.
HR Administration & Compliance:
- Maintain electronic employee files in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
- Administer and track PTO balances for offshore staff; communicate updates quarterly.
- Support updates to employee handbook and policies, including new state addendums, in partnership with outside counsel or HR Consultant.
- Stay up to date on employment law changes; identify changes needed to company policies and practices.
Payroll System Administration (Gusto):
- Process changes in pay, status, and deductions.
- Manage open enrollment setup, benefits deductions, and coordinate with the benefits broker.
- May open or assist with opening new states for employment, including setting up tax accounts, updating payroll system, and ensuring compliance with state employment laws.
- May run semi-monthly payroll, ensuring accurate and correct pay
Employee Experience & Communication:
- Administer exit interviews and engagement surveys; report on key themes.
- Contribute to Town Hall planning and support HR communications.
- Create and maintain a positive candidate and employee experience.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for employee questions, ideas, or feedback, always fostering an open-door approach.
Other:
- Handle sensitive employee information and company data with strict confidentiality and discretion.
- Support special projects or initiatives as requested.
Qualifications:
WHAT YOU’LL BRING (Essential Qualifications):
Education/Certification:
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field preferred.
- Professional HR Certification preferred (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR, AIHR)
Experience:
- 5 years of human resource experience in a professional office environment, including hands-on responsibility for full-cycle recruiting; experience in a law firm or other professional services setting strongly preferred.
- Experience with a payroll system or HRIS administration.
- Experience supporting a high-growth, remote, and multi-state employer, including California.
Knowledge/Skills:
- Strong knowledge of full-cycle recruiting best practices, sourcing techniques, and candidate evaluation.
- Solid understanding of employment laws and compliance requirements across multiple states, especially California.
- Demonstrated ability to manage employee lifecycle processes, including onboarding, offboarding, and benefits coordination.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and cloud-based collaboration tools.
- Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally at all levels.
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive employee information.
- Self-motivated, adaptable, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, remote work environment.
- Commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruiting and employee engagement.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
This is a remote work environment, working from your secure home office. There may be occasional on-site or in-person meetings.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
This role involves regular communication in various forms, including verbal, written, and digital. It is primarily desk-based and may involve extended periods of computer work. Tasks often require the use of a keyboard and mouse for typing and navigating digital platforms. Visual capabilities are utilized for reading both printed and digital materials and viewing screens. Accommodation can be provided as needed to support individuals with disabilities in fulfilling these tasks.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
There are no supervisory responsibilities.
About Company:
Defend. Advocate. Elevate.
At Chalaw Ethics, we are more than just a law firm—we are champions of professional integrity. Our mission is to protect and empower attorneys as they navigate complex ethical and disciplinary challenges. With a commitment to justice and fairness, we stand by clients to ensure they receive fair representation and due process.
Job Tags
Work at office, Local area, Remote work, Work from home, Home office,