Fenwick & West · 2 hours ago
Director of Legal Personnel
Santa Monica, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$186K/yr - $279K/yr
10+ years expFenwick & West is a law firm seeking a Director of Legal Personnel to manage and guide personnel matters for non-partner attorneys. This leadership role involves overseeing performance management, compensation, and attorney integration while providing strategic support and advice to firm leadership.
Law Practice
Responsibilities
Lead and actively participate in the day-to-day work of the Legal Personnel team, including policy administration, employee relations, performance management, and compliance
Serve as the primary, hands-on advisor to partners, Practice Group Leaders (PGLs), Practice Group Directors (PGDs), and firm leadership on all personnel matters affecting non-partner attorneys throughout the full attorney lifecycle
Act as a confidential and trusted point of contact for both partners and non-partner attorneys, personally handling sensitive issues, mediating concerns, and navigating difficult conversations to align expectations and reinforce firm priorities
Work directly with PGLs and PGDs to identify performance patterns, workload concerns, engagement risks, and retention challenges; translate observations into concrete, actionable interventions
Provide practical, legally sound counsel on complex personnel situations (performance issues, conduct concerns, leaves, accommodations, transitions, and exits), ensuring decisions are consistent with firm standards, employment law, and risk management best practices
Anticipate attorney and client needs, and design and implement support systems that enable high attorney performance
Success in this role requires sound business judgment, operational rigor, and the ability to lead through complexity in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment
Oversee attorney evaluation processes for non-partner attorneys, including spring/fall reviews, off-cycle performance discussions, and upward feedback processes
Oversee performance improvement plans and related interventions, ensuring consistency, equity, and alignment with firm standards
Lead and participate directly in performance-related conversations with attorneys, including difficult feedback discussions and disciplinary matters
Design, implement, and actively manage performance improvement plans (PIPs), including drafting documentation, tracking progress, coaching leadership, and determining next steps
Ensure consistent application of performance standards, fairness, and equity across practices while accounting for individual circumstances
Oversee annual salary and bonus programs for non-partner attorneys in close collaboration with practice group leaders and managing partner
Advise partners and leadership on compensation decisions by analyzing performance data, market considerations, and internal equity
Provide strategic guidance and support related to advancement decisions, role changes, and career progression
Collaborate with key stakeholders and client services teams to design programs that support engagement and successful transitions for attorneys seeking new opportunities
Partner with Legal Recruiting, Legal Training, Practice Management and other stakeholders to shape and support the successful onboarding and integration strategies for new attorneys
Partner with Practice Management on leading initiatives to enhance engagement, retention, and career satisfaction across attorney populations
Provide hands-on support for attorney transitions, including internal moves, leaves, secondments and separations, and coordinate outplacement or transition support when applicable
Foster cross-office collaboration and community-building efforts to strengthen firm culture
Work closely with Legal Training to align attorney development initiatives and training programs with practice-specific needs and performance expectations
Collaborate with HR, Equity & Inclusion, and firm leadership to develop and implement policies, benefits, and programs that promote attorney wellbeing, flexibility, and inclusion. Ensure streamlined coordination and clear communication of firmwide policies, procedures, and available resources
Monitor legal industry trends, market data, and best practices related to legal talent management, attorney compensation, and career development, and translate market data into concrete recommendations and operational changes that enhance competitiveness and retention
Maintain relationships with external coaches, consultants, and career advisors to support attorney development and engagement
Qualification
Required
Established knowledge of the legal industry and law firm management
Executive gravitas and polish, with the ability to communicate effectively with lawyers, staff and peer administrators, and to influence people at all levels
Self-motivated and enthusiastic, with proven ability to anticipate problems and move things forward with limited direction
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to oversee the development of new systems and processes and to suggest and execute solutions
Highly organized, efficient and extremely detail-oriented, with the ability to stay productive under pressure with tight deadlines
The ability to maintain composure in a demanding environment
A minimum of (10) years of relevant experience in a law firm environment
Bachelor's degree required
Preferred
Juris Doctorate, MBA or other advanced degrees strongly preferred
Benefits
Healthcare
Life Insurance
Health Savings Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts
Wellbeing
Company
Fenwick & West
Fenwick is a leading law firm, purpose-built to guide visionary tech and life sciences companies and their investors through every stage of growth, from startups securing their first round of funding to leading publicly traded global enterprises.
501-1000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Fenwick & West has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (11)
2024 (4)
2023 (10)
2022 (20)
2021 (18)
2020 (11)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Scott Pine
Chief Operating Officer
Alan Smith
Partner and Corporate Group Chair
Recent News
globallegalchronicle.com
2025-09-30
globallegalchronicle.com
2025-09-26
globallegalchronicle.com
2025-09-25
Company data provided by crunchbase