Dog-loving family lawyer Teresa Lawrence's first trip to a big American dog show had an unexpected bonus.
"I met my partner JR Alcantara – he's a dog groomer and trainer – and now he's moved out here…" says Teresa, the South Canterbury representative for the New Zealand Law Society's Family Law Section, whose Timaru-based practice also takes in Ashburton.
- Name
- Teresa Dionne (Teresa) Lawrence
- Born
- Nelson.
- Age
- 47.
- Entry to law
- Graduated LLB(Hons) from Canterbury University in 2001. Admitted in 2001.
- Workplace
- Teresa Lawrence Lawyer, Timaru.
- Speciality area
- Family law.
Having grown up around dogs and herself training to become a New Zealand Kennel Club judge, Teresa breeds and shows Bouvier Des Flandres Belgium cattle dogs.
"I started going to dog shows about 20 years ago with my mother and it went on from there…
"The Bouvier Des Flandres were used during World Wars 1 and 2 and were pretty well wiped out… It was only through the foresight of a lady who smuggled two of her dogs into America while escaping from Belgium in World War 2 that the breed became established there…
"They are a big dog and not used much for cattle now, although some European police forces use them…
"I saw them at Crufts on my OE and was lucky enough to get one… I've bred a couple of litters and I'm trying to get another puppy from America…"
Originally from Nelson, Teresa got a job in Timaru before she was admitted.
"Just before I drove up to Christchurch to be admitted they had the September 2001 attack on the Twin Towers on TV… I will never forget that…
"I thought I would stay in Timaru for a couple of years and head back to Nelson, then I bought a four-acre property – now called Flandresfarm - and realised everything thing I wanted to do was easier here…"
Teresa took the plunge in 2014 and went out on her own. "Timaru's an OK place to live and there is lots of legal work…"
At Temuka, just north of Timaru, her Flandresfarm is close to work, central for dog shows and home to Teresa's five dogs and two horses.
She currently shows two dogs which have numerous trophies to their names and one of which is second in nation-wide all breeds competition.
Just back from ten days in California – including taking in a dog show - one of her favourite spots is Las Vegas, Nevada. "I've been there three times and just love it… Queenstown is my favourite place in New Zealand…"
Juggling a busy law practice around dog shows is a challenge. "I'm lucky being on my own in practice…"
"In one month of showing we were in Auckland, Invercargill, Christchurch and the West Coast travelling…
"We have a big Transit van for all the dog gear and you wouldn't believe what they travel with… Gazebos, generators, crates… they have so much stuff… This makes me sound like a crazy dog person…"
The entourage is off to Christchurch at the end of September for a week of competition around the Eukanuba National Dog Show.
"Outside dogs I have a retired thoroughbred and a standardbred, I go to the gym and run every day with the dogs… I used to ride competitively but you lose confidence as you get older…
"I like psychological thrillers including American crime writer Karin Slaughter… But I don't get much time for reading…
"And I'm a terrible singer unless it's karaoke after a few wines…
"I drive a Nissan Tiida to work, have an ugly people mover if I need to cart the dogs and the big Transit van for shows…
"Manu Fieldel from My Kitchen Rules – I love the show, not that I'm a great chef - would be my first dinner guest because I really like him… And I would quite like Judith Collins because we could all give her the big grilling and put her on the spot… I'm struggling here… Ricky Gervais, Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders also...
"There are no other lawyers in family and I am first from our family to go to university… If there were other lawyers in the family I think they would probably put you off…
"As a child I was interested in law and always wanted to do it at university… I did business studies at Nelson polytechnic and there were a couple of law papers in that… I enjoyed them, had no problem grasping the concepts so thought 'what the heck' and went to Canterbury…
"I enjoy family law… We have Family Court every four weeks in Timaru and I also do related criminal and youth court work…
"There are great relationships with work here… There is a good working relationship with the court, police and Child, Youth and Family…
"If I wasn't a lawyer I would probably be a school teacher or university lecturer… Ideally I would be a vet but the emotional side of that would be pretty tough…
"I would seriously consider it if asked to be a judge but it is not at the forefront of my mind… And it would mean moving - dogs and all…"
Jock Anderson has been writing and commenting on New Zealand lawyers and New Zealand's courts for most of his career in journalism. Contact Jock at jockanderson123@gmail.com.