People, Always.

For Jessie Hunt, becoming a lawyer was never really a question. It was something she always knew.

Growing up in the Wairarapa, Jessie was naturally drawn to standing up for others. “I was always getting in trouble for advocating for people,” she says. That instinct would go on to shape a legal career spanning more than two decades, built around helping people through some of life’s most difficult situations.

After attending Wairarapa College, Jessie left the region to study law, completing her LLB across both the University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington. Even then, she had a clear goal in mind. She wanted to practise law on the East Coast of the North Island.

When she graduated, she made that vision a reality, taking up a role in Whakatāne and beginning her career in a busy provincial firm.

Jessie’s early years in Whakatāne were intense and formative. Working in a three-partner firm, she was exposed to a wide range of criminal and family litigation matters. The work was often confronting, dealing with cases involving drugs, violence, and complex family dynamics.

The office itself overlooked the Whakatāne Police Station, and the realities of the work were never far away. On more than one occasion, situations escalated quickly, reinforcing just how unpredictable and high-pressure the environment could be.

“It was an eye opener,” Jessie says. “You saw a side of life you don’t forget.”

As soon as she became eligible, Jessie applied to become a lawyer for child, a role that requires a significant level of experience and trust within the Family Court. It was a natural progression for her, and one that would define much of her career.

Working closely with children and families, Jessie was exposed to the impact of intergenerational trauma and the complexities of family relationships under pressure. The work required not only legal skill, but empathy, resilience, and the ability to navigate highly emotional situations.

“That work really shaped how I see things,” she says. “You’re dealing with people at their most vulnerable.”

Jessie later returned to the Wairarapa and began working at a local law firm, broadening her experience across relationship property, trusts, conveyancing, wills, and some criminal work. She had planned to save for overseas travel, but life had other plans. After starting her family, she chose to stay and build her career locally. Following maternity leave, she encountered the limited flexibility available to working mothers at the time.

That experience shaped the direction of her career. She found herself increasingly drawn to working closely with individuals and families, supporting them through some of the most personal and difficult situations they face.

This led her to establish her own firm, Jessie Hunt Law, where she spent 16 years working for herself, acting for both children and parents in the Family Court and guiding clients through separation, parenting disputes, and complex relationship matters.

Running her own practice gave Jessie a deep understanding of people and their circumstances, reinforcing her belief that good legal advice is about more than outcomes. It is about helping people move forward.

After many years in private practice, Jessie made the decision to step back and gain a new perspective. She took on an in-house role as Principal Solicitor at the Real Estate Agents Authority, working with a team of lawyers and stepping into leadership as Acting Legal Services Manager.

There, she dealt primarily with complaints and conduct issues involving real estate agents. While she valued the experience, it also gave her clarity about where she wanted to focus her energy.

“It made me realise I wanted to help the people who were making the complaints,” she says.

That realisation ultimately brought her back to private practice, and to Gibson Sheat.

Today, Jessie specialises in life planning, relationship property, and estate disputes, including litigation. Her work spans wills, enduring powers of attorney, prenups, and separation arrangements, often helping clients navigate complex and emotional situations.

“My thing is helping people through difficult situations,” she says. “Especially when it comes to relationships, because those are the ones that matter most.”

Her approach is focused on resolving matters as early and as amicably as possible.

“The more people can resolve between themselves, the better,” she says. “Otherwise, the only people who win are the lawyers.”

Now nearly a year into her role at Gibson Sheat, Jessie is enjoying being part of a collaborative and supportive team environment.

“It’s a nice place to come to work,” she says. “You’re working with genuinely good people. It’s supportive and positive.”

Working alongside Senior Associate, Donna Watt, whose expertise in estates she describes as exceptional, Jessie brings complementary strength in dispute resolution and relationship property. Partner, Aimee McGowan, adds further depth, particularly in relationship property matters.

Looking ahead, Jessie is focused on building and developing a dedicated relationship property practice across the firm, supporting clients across all Gibson Sheat offices and strengthening the firm’s offering in this area.

Outside of work, Jessie lives in Greytown with her partner on a semi-rural property, where life is centred around family, the outdoors, and a strong connection to our community.

Since returning to private practice nearly a year ago, Jessie has quickly re-established herself as a trusted advisor in the Wairarapa, bringing together experience, empathy, and practical thinking to support clients through life’s more challenging moments.

For Jessie, it all comes back to the same thing that first drew her to law.

Helping people.

 Originally published in the Wairarapa Times Age.