Meet the young lawyer who is working from home from the ski fields abroad

A young lawyer has revealed how she is making the most out of her firm’s flexible ‘work from home’ arrangement by heading to Canada for the ski season.

Tegan Childs, 26, spends her mornings hitting the slopes and adventuring across snow-covered mountains before logging on for work after lunch.

The Queensland-based litigator spent a ski season in Canada before Covid and fell in love with the adventurous lifestyle.

So as soon as borders relaxed between the two countries she asked her boss at Twomey’s, firm director and head Commercial Litigator Ben Twomey if she could stretch the definition of ‘home’ and work abroad.

Tegan told FEMAIL she was shocked by how readily her boss let her work from the ski fields.

‘Ben was stoked – which was wild for me. Not that I didn’t think Ben would be supportive, but I don’t know anyone else, let alone any other lawyer, whose been given the opportunity to do what I’ve done,’ she said.

‘It’s a testament to Ben’s ethos as a boss, and in running a law firm – pushing the boundaries and proving that what people might not think is possible really is, if you’re open minded and think outside the box.’

The Gold Coast based lawyer asked her boss at Twomey Dispute Lawyers if they would let her work from home, from Canada

She spends her mornings exploring the ever-changing mountains and making the most of the fresh snow

And at 2.30pm she heads into town where she can log on to help her clients navigate the legal system

Tegan describes herself as a die-hard litigator and has been on the job for four years and while she would ultimately choose her career over travel she is thrilled she doesn’t have to.

‘I made this choice once before in December 2020, when I chose to return to Australia due to the ongoing pandemic. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,’ she said.

‘I pride myself on knowing that my time in Canada has and will continue to change me for the better, give me the drive I need to be the best lawyer I can.’

Tegan appears in court over video or by phone and only needs her laptop, phone and a good internet connection to get her job done.

‘I find when I’m working from Canada, I’m so motivated to do my best work and achieve results for clients because I want to prove this way of working does work, and it works the best.

‘It creates more productivity and drive for results when I’m rewarded with some wild adventure, or fresh laps to ride on the mountain the next day to look forward to,’ she said.

Tegan first fell in love with the area before the Covid pandemic when she took a season off work to have an adventure

Tegan will head back to the Gold Coast at the end of the season but has proven her ability to work hard and play hard

She says she has more energy since arriving to Canada because she is so excited by the opportunity

Most mornings the legal associate wakes up early so she can hitch a ride to the top of the mountain as soon as the lifts open.

Sometimes she leaves hours before first light and takes the specialist snow vehicles out to find the perfect spot for sunrise.

‘I love the mountains, the forest and the connection to nature and the outdoors.

‘I’ve climbed the top of Blackcomb mountain in a snowcat to see the sunrise, snowboarded fresh powder laps on 7th Heaven, snowmobiled up to remote cabins in the Callaghan and over frozen lakes,’ she said.

‘I’ve snowshoed through old-growth forests, dogsledding, camping under the clearest stars and watching the aurora, campfires on frozen lakes, yep, science is wild, laid on the mountain watching a meteor shower with my best friends, road tripped through the Rocky Mountains,’ she said.

With the time difference between the two countries Tegan typically starts work at 2.30 in the afternoon and continues on until 11pm.

But she tries not to make her life in Whistler too schedule heavy, allowing for fun, impromptu adventures.

The 26-year-old will continue to play all day before heading to work at 2.30pm

She has also been to the area in the summer time but appears to prefer it in winter

‘Tomorrow my mates and I are having a mountain top charcuterie – think snowboarding to the most beautiful spot on the mountain, and using a snowboard to lay out a charcuterie spread,’ she said.

And because of the excitement of everyday she claims she is more energised than ever making full-time work and travel easy. 

‘I definitely have so much more energy over here and seem to fit so much more in my day. It’s not hard when my commute to work is a gondola ride down the mountain.’ 

Tegan fell in love with the area near Whistler on a previous trip where she worked as a tour guide.

She tries to head to the slopes first thing every morning but is at the mercy of the weather

‘Previously coming from an office job full-time, to doing something totally different like ATV tours in the summer, snowshoe and snowmobile tours in the winter, outside in the fresh air and surrounded by thousand year old, old growth forest that has seen all walks of life, it really grounds you. 

‘I’ve never felt more connected to my place in this world than when I’ve been walking through the Callaghan,’ she said.

She says she will sleep on the plane on the way home to Australia after her time in the snow town comes to an end.