Wendy Walker-Dyes’ goal of providing big city quality legal service to her small town neighbors appears to be well on course, as she was recently named Jefferson Township’s new attorney.

Walker-Dyes was selected by the township board to serve as their official legal council last month, on March 20. In her role as the township’s lawyer, she will help create and review new contracts, handle zoning issues and other legal matters for the township.

“I was thrilled when the township offered me this opportunity,” Walker-Dyes said. “This is the area of law I wanted to be in, and I’ve tried to stay in over the course of my career.”

The township is the latest major client Walker-Dyes has landed since opening her firm in Cassopolis, LakeStone Law, earlier this year. Prior to opening the local office, she had worked with South Bend based Faegre Baker Daniels, one of the largest law firms in the U.S.

Having lived in the village of Cassopolis for 10 years with her husband, Cass County Commissioner Skip Dyes, Walker-Dyes came to know many of the members of the Jefferson Township board due to her own work with county parks board, she said.

“I had a personal connection with the board, and they knew that I was opening the practice here,” Walker-Dyes said. “So they approached me and asked if I could do it.”

Despite her recent hire, the attorney is already hard at work for the township, reviewing financing contracts for the planned station for the Central Cass Fire Department.

“I just started working with the board, but I get the vibe that it will be a very good working relationship,” she said. “It feels a little bit more casual than some of the other ones I’ve had.”

The position is the latest in a series of township-related work the attorney has handled over the course of her career. Prior to beginning her legal career, Walker-Dyes served six years with the Southwestern Michigan Planning Commission, as well as four years as an independent community development consultant.

Walker-Dyes held a grand opening of her new offices last week, which she and her husband have spent the last several months remodeling. At least 100 people showed up for the event, including State Senator John Proos.

“We were thrilled with the turnout,” Walker-Dyes said. “I was shocked when Sen. Proos walked in.”

To her, the large turnout was just another sign that her decision to bring her years of legal experience to her hometown was a good one to make, she said.

“The support we’ve received from the community has been wonderful,” she said.