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Queenstown law firm Todd Walker ‘go local’ when it comes to employing staff – as shown by the recent female recruits to the burgeoning law firm.

And the booming town continues to provide more opportunities for lawyers and other professionals as firms like Todd & Walker Law continue to grow. Established by legal identity Graeme Todd six years ago, the firm now has 11 staff and a policy to employ locals wherever possible.

The ‘home is where the heart is’ strategy for the three women, senior solicitor Jessica Weinberg (left in photo) and two trainee legal executives, Molly Beauchamp (right) and Tessa Marchand, (centre) all of whom were born in Queenstown and for the two legal execs are also studying to qualify in their chosen jobs in the town.

Both of them previously worked at Glassons in Queenstown, but took up legal studies with Molly Beauchamp who completes her legal executive diploma this year and Tessa who has just commenced with the firm.

Mrs Weinberg, 28, told the Otago Daily Times that there was a growing number of opportunities in the town, which did not necessitate your professionals leaving for the so-called brighter lights in the major cities.

Mrs Weinberg (28) said there were ”more and more” opportunities for professionals in Queenstown. She studied at Otago Law School before working for Anderson Lloyd for five years and joined her new firm about two months ago, focused on the firm’s own principal areas of practice in commercial and property law.

The opportunities presented in the resort town continue to expand, including for lawyers and related professionals. As the ODT reported –

Once registered, Miss Beauchamp would become the firm’s estate manager, working across several areas including residential and commercial property, trust planning and refinancing.

Todd & Walker Law principal Graeme Todd said part of the firm’s philosophy was to give Queenstown residents a chance to pursue professional careers in their home town, including providing suppport for further education, particularly for those studying to become legal executives.

Offering local residents the opportunity to stay in their home town is a matter of considerable satisfaction to Graeme Todd. ”We are always delighted to be able to offer locals positions in our firm … it’s not always easy for locals to stay in the town where they grew up and be able to both work and study.”

Queenstown Growth

Jobs growth in the Queenstown Lakes’ region has grown massively in recent times, soaring almost four times over the national rate, making it the country’s top-performing region during 2016 according to the Infometrics 2016 Regional Economic Profiles report.

The Queenstown-Lakes District was the country’s top performing territorial authority, with employment expanding by 10.3 per cent over the year ended March 31 2016, according to the latest Infometrics’ 2016 Regional Economic Profiles report.

Infometrics’ senior economist Benje Patterson said the growth was almost four times the 2.7 per cent rate of employment expansion seen nationally, and well above the 5.9 per cent employment growth recorded by second-placed Western Bay of Plenty District.