The senior associate also discusses the impact of the cost-of-living crisis
For employment law expert Anna Ford, the lawyers in her field are rarely looking for a fight. The work she finds most rewarding sees her steering clients away from disputes rather than challenging them.
In the second part of this April interview, the Copeland McAllister senior associate discusses the cost-of-living crisis’ impact on both employers and employees, and the vital role of trust in the rule of law’s effectiveness.
What's one misconception people have about lawyers, and how would you correct it?
That we love conflict. I can't speak for every area of law, but in employment, a good fight is rarely the goal. The best outcome is usually a solid process, a well-drafted policy, or a frank early conversation that stops a problem from becoming a crisis. I spend far more time helping clients avoid disputes than fighting them - and that's genuinely the work I find most rewarding. Litigation has its place, but prevention is almost always cheaper, faster, and better for everyone involved.
What challenges are particularly pressing in New Zealand's legal industry?
From an employment perspective, the cost-of-living crisis is affecting employers and employees alike. We're seeing more employees seeking flexibility to work from home as fuel costs bite, while employers are simultaneously looking for ways to reduce costs in an uncertain environment. Those two pressures don't always point in the same direction and navigating that tension is something we're working through with clients regularly right now.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the rule of law worldwide?
Despite having a politics degree, I'll be honest - global geopolitics isn't quite my area of expertise. What I can say is that the rule of law only works when people trust it, and there are parts of the world right now where that trust is being seriously tested. New Zealand has strong foundations, but that's not a reason for complacency. That trust is built or eroded at every level - including in workplaces. Keeping those relationships fair and functional might be a modest contribution in the grand scheme of things, but it's the one I can actually make.
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
"Looking forward to" might be a stretch - but what I'm most keenly watching is the election. This current government has introduced a significant raft of changes in the employment and health and safety space, with more expected in the coming months. A change in government could see many of those changes quickly repealed - as we saw happen with fair pay agreements last election cycle. Employment law is a constantly evolving space, and keeping on top of that pace to ensure clients are always getting current, relevant advice is one of the more interesting challenges of the job.
