This one is a little different. A well-regarded Canterbury law firm is looking to bring on a small group of general practice lawyers across a range of levels, from around two years PQE through to a senior associate or special counsel who is ready to have a genuine conversation about partnership.
The work is broad general practice with a natural lean toward rural and agribusiness clients. If you're open to relocating to a mid-Canterbury provincial town and want to build a career that actually means something locally, this is worth a conversation.
The work is broad general practice with a natural lean toward rural and agribusiness clients. If you're open to relocating to a mid-Canterbury provincial town and want to build a career that actually means something locally, this is worth a conversation.
The Role
The office carries a full general practice workload covering property, commercial, personal legal matters, disputes, and rural work. No single area dominates. The client base reflects the district, so farming families and rural business operators feature prominently alongside commercial clients, property owners, and individuals. The firm has been part of this community for a long time and the relationships run deep. They're looking for lawyers who want to put down roots rather than treat this as a short-term step.
Key Work
- Residential and commercial property transactions
- Business sales, acquisitions, and commercial advisory work
- Trusts, wills, estates, and personal legal matters
- Civil disputes and general litigation
- Relationship property and family law matters
- Rural property transactions, farm leases, and agribusiness contracts
- Succession planning and rural business structuring
- Financing arrangements and securities work
- Running a varied file load with direct client contact from early on
- Advising a mixed client base across commercial, personal, and rural matters
- Working alongside experienced partners on more complex instructions
- Playing a genuine role in a small, close-knit team
- For senior candidates, taking a visible presence in the office and contributing to client development over time
- A qualified NZ lawyer, anywhere from 2 years PQE through to special counsel level
- Comfortable across general practice, with an appreciation for rural clients and what they need from a lawyer
- Open to a regional move and prepared to commit to it properly
- A clear, practical communicator who builds trust with clients without making things complicated
- Someone who wants to be part of a community, not just passing through it
- For senior candidates, a genuine appetite for partnership and either an existing client base or the drive to build one
- Competitive remuneration appropriate to your level
- A genuine partnership pathway for the right senior candidate
- Real variety across practice areas day to day
- Mentorship and support for those earlier in their career
- A firm with long-standing community ties and a loyal client base
- The kind of professional reputation that only comes from being a trusted local lawyer over time
An established Canterbury practice with genuine roots in the communities it serves. The work is true general practice with a natural agribusiness lean, and the client base spans farming families, business owners, property owners, and individuals. Many of those client relationships run across generations. The team is tight-knit, experienced, and serious about the quality of advice they put out.
How to Apply
Send your CV and academic transcript to jenny.g@stellarrecruitment.co.nz or call 021 0230 3960 for a confidential chat.
#SCR-jenny-gallagher
Stellar Executive Search
Stellar Executive Search
