HR Generalist at Law Firm

Estavillo Law Group•Oakland, CA

2h•$90,000 - $105,000•Onsite

About The Position

Estavillo Law Group, a real estate litigation law firm with offices in Oakland and Newport Beach, is seeking a hands-on Senior HR Generalist to partner directly with firm leadership. The role owns the full employee lifecycle, helps shape workplace culture, and maintains compliance as the firm grows. The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with detailed execution, strong knowledge of labor laws, and the ability to manage multiple priorities, improve workflows, resolve conflicts, and strengthen the office culture. This is an in-office position Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the firm's downtown Oakland office. The building includes an on-site gym, and the office has a supportive group of coworkers.

Requirements

At least 5 years of full-spectrum HR experience in a rapidly growing organization.
Prior experience in a law firm or other professional-services setting.
Knowledge of California protected-leave laws.
Proven conflict-resolution and harassment-prevention skills.
Working knowledge of payroll best practices.
Unfailing discretion and sound judgment.
Strong organization, attention to detail, and multitasking skills.
Strong deadline discipline and tactful diplomacy in challenging interactions.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Own full-cycle recruiting, including writing job advertisements, sourcing and screening candidates, scheduling and conducting interviews, and closing offers.
Design and deliver onboarding from day-one orientation through employees’ development into productive contributors.
Address employee concerns, mediate conflicts, and conduct fair, timely, and impartial investigations.
Run pulse surveys, recognition programs, and employee-engagement initiatives.
Coordinate annual and quarterly performance reviews, goal setting, performance improvement plans, and salary adjustments.
Conduct skills-gap analyses and arrange in-house or vendor-led training.
Prepare and process semi-monthly payroll in Gusto, ensuring accurate time entries, paid time off, deductions, and expenses.
Conduct compensation benchmarking and internal pay-equity analyses, and present data-driven recommendations.
Administer medical, dental, vision, 401(k), protected leave, and other benefit programs.
Coordinate benefit deductions and employer contributions with Gusto payroll.
Guide employees and managers through benefit eligibility, enrollment, and compliance.
Maintain required notices, filings, and annual disclosures.
Manage open enrollment timelines, vendor negotiations, employee education sessions, and system updates.
Draft, update, enforce, and communicate firm policies.
Maintain audit-ready HR files and records.
Monitor legal updates and ensure compliance with federal, California, and local labor laws.
Train supervisors on feedback, documentation, and conflict-management practices.
Champion engagement initiatives, recognition programs, and team-building events to support morale and a collaborative culture.
Lead respectful separations, including exit interviews, final pay, asset collection, and knowledge transfer.
Analyze exit data and turnover trends to inform retention strategies.
Handle additional tasks and special projects as they arise.