Senior solicitor Jessica Weinberg and trainee legal executives Molly Beauchamp and Tessa Marchand were all born and raised in Queenstown.
But, unlike many of their contemporaries who choose to leave the resort for tertiary studies and climb the career ladder in bigger cities, the trio have decided home is where
their hearts are.
Mrs Weinberg (28) said there were ''more and more'' opportunities for professionals in Queenstown.
''People don't think that they'll find jobs [in Queenstown] ... [they] think they have to go to Auckland or Christchurch, but local businesses love the local people.''
Mrs Weinberg attended St Joseph's School and then moved to Dunedin to complete her high school education at Columba College.
After completing bachelor of commerce and bachelor of laws degrees at the University of Otago she returned to Queenstown, working for Anderson Lloyd for five years before joining Todd & Walker Law about two months ago, specialising in commercial and property law.
Miss Beauchamp (24) and Miss Marchand (21) both attended Wakatipu High School and have followed similar career paths ever since.
Both worked at Glassons in Queenstown - Miss Beauchamp for six years, managing the store for two and a-half years, while Miss Marchand worked at the store for four and
a-half years and was the manager for six months.
They had since joined Todd & Walker Law.
Despite neither having given any thought previously to careers in the legal field, Miss Beauchamp will finish her legal executive diploma next month and Miss Marchand will begin studying for the same qualification in February.
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.
''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.''
The firm's staff numbers had increased from one when it was established six years ago to 11 - four were Queenstown-born and three were being assisted in gaining further qualifications, Mr Todd said.
