🌟 HR Manager (Maternity Cover)
đź’Ľ Salary: Up to ÂŁ77,000 DOE + benefits
đź“Ť London | Hybrid (3 days office)
🕒 Mon–Fri | 9am–5:30pm
Are you an experienced HR professional with a passion for managing and developing trainee cohorts? I’m supporting a leading law firm in hiring an HR Manager for a maternity cover contract. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys building capability in early careers talent, and wants to take ownership of trainee development programmes.
While this role does include broader HR generalist responsibilities, your experience with trainees, training contracts, vacation schemes, assessment centres, or graduate development will be the key focus. Generalist HR experience is secondary but is still part of the role, you will have the support and guidance of the Head of HR and wider team.
The Role
You will be the HR lead for the Law firm’s paralegal and trainee groups, ensuring they receive a high-quality development experience and supporting them through every stage of their career journey.
Key Responsibilities
Trainee & Early Careers Management (Primary Focus)
* Lead the full lifecycle of trainee management from induction to qualification.
* Manage seat rotations, performance monitoring, and career progression conversations.
* Partner with the Training Principal to deliver a structured, supportive trainee programme.
* Organise and run the firm’s Vacation Scheme, including advertising, recruitment, onboarding, and feedback.
* Oversee the full Training Contract recruitment process, including shortlisting, assessment centres, psychometrics, and offer management.
* Maintain ongoing engagement with future trainees, ensuring a seamless pre-joiner experience.
* Facilitate learning and development opportunities tailored to trainee needs.
* Monitor trainee performance and manage any early performance challenges (with support if needed).
HR Generalist Responsibilities (Secondary Focus)
* Support managers with day-to-day HR matters, including probation, absence, appraisals, and leaver processes.
* Provide guidance on employee relations matters—escalating and working with the Head of HR on more complex cases.
* Maintain HR documentation, policies, and compliance-related processes.
* Support the coordination of recruitment for paralegal and junior roles.
* Contribute to HR communications and team initiatives.
* Support diversity reporting, salary surveys, and HR data integrity.
* Oversee HR systems updates and management information reporting.
About You
You’ll be successful in this role if you have:
Essential Skills (Shortened)
* A‑levels (or equivalent); degree preferred.
* CIPD Level 7 (or working towards).
* Experience working with legal trainees, including onboarding, seat rotations, appraisals, performance management, and qualification pathways.
* Strong understanding of Training Contracts, SQE and/or CILEx routes.
* Experience running assessment centres and/or Vacation Schemes.
* Strong IT skills (Outlook, Excel, Word).
* Solid HR best‑practice knowledge and good commercial awareness.
* Able to identify improvements and propose practical HR solutions.
* Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills.
* High attention to detail and strong process discipline.
* Strong time‑management skills; able to prioritise and work flexibly to deadlines.
* Team player with excellent written and verbal communication.
* Self‑starter: highly organised, calm under pressure, and confident handling a busy workload.
Please note:
Start Date: Ideally May/June 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.