People and Culture Specialist

Modern Family Law, a boutique law firm which specializes in Family Law, is looking for a compassionate, innovative, and organized People & Culture Specialist – Employee Relations, Leave and Accommodations to work remotely near one of our office locations. Modern Family Law offers dynamic compensation, a wide array of benefit selections, and a culture built on family.

Role summary The People & Culture Specialist leads day-to-day employee relations, leave, and accommodation work for the Firm's multi-state workforce. The role is a primary partner to managers, Managing Attorneys (MAs), and employees on workplace concerns, performance and conduct matters, and leave or accommodation requests. The specialist owns assigned matters from intake through resolution, communicates clear recommendations, documents decisions and follow-up, and leads approved People & Culture initiatives through implementation. The role works independently within established policies and guidance and promptly brings significant legal, employee, or policy risk to People & Culture leadership.

Responsibilities
- Lead the day-to-day employee relations process for assigned matters, including intake, issue assessment, fact-finding, interviews, investigations, findings, recommendations, communication, documentation, and follow-up.
- Serve as a trusted People & Culture partner to MAs, managers, and employees. Lead consultations and meetings, clarify the concern, coach managers on fair and consistent next steps, and confirm agreed actions are completed.
- Advise managers on performance, conduct, attendance, workplace conflict, retention, and other employee concerns. Promote coaching and development where appropriate and partner with P&C leadership on formal corrective action or separation decisions.
- Use sound judgment to resolve routine matters within Firm policy. Escalate promptly to P&C leadership any allegation or circumstance involving significant legal or employee risk, potential retaliation or discrimination, safety concerns, policy interpretation or exceptions, or a proposed high-impact employment decision.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential case records, including relevant facts, analysis, recommendations, decisions, communications, and assigned follow-up. Track open actions and deadlines through completion.
- Own assigned leave and accommodation matters, including applicable ADA, FMLA, state and local leave laws, and religious accommodations. Coordinate the interactive process, required documentation, employee and manager communication, and timely case milestones.
- Partner with employees, managers, payroll, benefits, and other stakeholders to coordinate leave administration and workplace accommodations while protecting confidential medical information and limiting access to those with a business need.
- Monitor changes in employment and leave requirements across the Firm's jurisdictions. Research questions, identify operational impacts, recommend updates, and support implementation of policies, procedures, handbook materials, and manager guidance.
- Lead approved employee relations, leave, accommodation, and employee experience initiatives from planning through completion. Define deliverables and milestones, coordinate owners, communicate status and risks, resolve routine blockers, and confirm adoption and follow-through.
- Develop, document, and maintain practical procedures, templates, and process guides that improve consistency, timely handling, compliance, and scalability across the Firm.
- Review case and leave data, recurring themes, and manager feedback to identify trends and recommend specific actions to P&C leadership. Track agreed actions and report progress and outcomes.
- Partner with P&C leadership to plan and deliver manager education and resources on employee relations, performance conversations, leave, accommodations, and effective partnership with P&C. Follow up on questions and reinforce key practices.
- Work with cross-functional partners to resolve employee matters and implement People & Culture processes. Keep stakeholders informed of their responsibilities, timelines, and next steps.
- Perform other related duties as assigned to support People & Culture and Firm needs.

Essential
- 5+ years of progressively responsible employee relations, HR or leave administration experience
- Experience conducting ER investigations and advising managers
- Hands-on ADA / FMLA / state leave and accommodation administration
- Working knowledge of multi-state employment requirements (CA, CO, TX, WA, VA, GA)
- Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Adobe, Slack, Zoom
- Reliable remote work setup

Desirable
- Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Psychology or related field
- Law firm, professional services or fast-growing multi-state organisation experience