How I Got Here: Family Lawyer, Ana Anzani
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Admit it, we’ve all been there – stalking social media and LinkedIn profiles, trying desperately to figure out how the hell someone got their dream job.
It seems impossible and yet there they are, living out your career fantasy (minus the itchy business suit). It might seem hard to believe, but once upon a time, they were also fantasising about their future career, and with some hard work, they made it.
Welcome to How I Got Here, HerCanberra’s series that reveals everything you wanted to know about the secrets of career success. This week we meet Ana Anzani, an Iranian refugee and partner at Nicholls Anzani Family Lawyers.
Existential crisis time: Who are you and what do you do?
I am an experienced lawyer and partner in a newly-established Canberra law firm Nicholls Anzani. I specialise in family law and the resolution of complex matters, usually involving children. I have twin boys, aged five, and I have become even more passionate about family law since I became a mother. I am honoured with the trust my clients have placed in me throughout the years. I work 24/7 and make sure I am available to my clients when they need me. I have found that a 2-minute phone call can often be the difference between a good sleep and a sleepless night for my clients.
A refugee from Iran, I feel blessed to live in a country and age where, as a woman, I have a choice to work. I have been told many times that it is difficult to have a successful career and raise children, as one part ultimately suffers. I have not known this to be the case, and I hope that I can be a great example to working parents, proving that they can have dreams, achieve them, and build an amazing career, without sacrificing their family or children. You don’t need to choose one over the other and it is possible to find harmony between work and family. I jump between the lawyer Ana in a meticulous suit and perfect hair, to mum Ana dressed in tracksuits running after mischievous boys with unkempt hair. I still try to find time in each day for some self-care – usually a glass of wine with a girlfriend supporting each other in this crazy world we find ourselves in.
Let’s go back to when you were a kid, have you always dreamed of working in this industry?
My childhood was extremely complex and traumatic, and my story can be confronting to hear. I was born in Iran during the war and reign of the Ayatollah Khomeini, where my family and I witnessed some fairly unthinkable things – murders, stoning, rape. I have seen it all.
My father, a Lieutenant Commander in the Iranian Navy, and my mother, a doctor, spent many months planning our escape from Iran. They wanted their children, particularly their only daughter, to enjoy the basic human right of having the freedom of choice to pursue their own paths, free from coercion or undue influence. They chose to sacrifice their home, security, and livelihoods so that their children could have a better life, and it is this very sacrifice (and those subsequent) that forged my pathway to and journey into family law.
My father, an experienced pilot, made the decision to escape Iran by helicopter. We ran out of petrol and unbeknownst to my parents, we landed in a secret military base in Saudi Arabia. My parents were imprisoned, thought to be spies. By no measure of a miracle, the Royal Family were curious about the bravery of my father, and he soon became one of their advisors. My family and I then began to adapt to our new lives until I hit puberty, and a suitor was arranged for me. Under the pretext of a holiday, we came to Sydney and sought asylum.
My life growing up in North Shore, Sydney in the 90s was not without its challenges. I was beaten by other children because of the colour of my skin, and 9/11 only made it more difficult. From an early age, I knew that I wanted to be part of something that allowed children a childhood free from fear, pain and struggle. I have never seen myself as a victim or a survivor, rather that I was blessed to have opportunities regardless of my gender. Paying it forward means everything to me. Working as a family lawyer and advocating for my clients to ensure a future that is in the best interest of their children, is an honour.
Tell us about when you were first starting out, what set a fire in your belly to get here and how did you do it?
I always knew that on both a personal and professional level, I wanted to advocate for children. However, the fire in my belly really heightened when I became a mother. There are no words to describe the unconditional love a parent has for their child. Whilst I have myself been subject to years of family violence and abuse at the hands of an ex-partner, I am fortunate that this was not the case when I had children. I see the pain in my client’s eyes when they’re faced with having to navigate a separation and that extra layer of vulnerability when they’re advocating to remove their children from an unhealthy environment. I genuinely believe that there is no such thing as a bad child, just terrible circumstances. I understand why parents put themselves through the difficult (and unfortunately expensive) expense of fighting for their children in the family law system.
I take my role in telling my client’s story very seriously. It is not a numbers game for me and I do not take on every client. It is important for me to represent a client that only has the best interest of their child at the forefront of their mind. As long as I am advocating for the best interest of a child, I will always have the fire in my belly as a family lawyer.
Recall a time when you wanted to chuck it all in; what did you tell yourself when it got too hard?
I have a refugee mentality, I am beyond grateful for every opportunity and I have a different perspective on what constitutes “hard”. I feel lucky the whole time. I don’t ever want to chuck it in and actually thrive on challenges, maybe at the risk of burning out. I appreciate every opportunity I have and I am always trying to do more, and to make a difference.
What was your biggest break?
My biggest break was when I became a mother. It allowed me to look within and drown out the noise of other people’s thinking. It changed the way I viewed the world and my desire to leave the world knowing I have contributed, however minute, to making the future a little brighter for all children.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
My brother told me the quote which I now live by, “Change the way you look at things and the things you will look at change.” The older one gets, the more challenges we face and it is so easy to fall into a state of situational depression. Believing in the power of mind has transformed my life. Where there is a problem, I focus on the solution, where there are challenges, I view them as opportunity, and where there is fear, I remind myself that we all have courage inside us.
What is it about your industry that you love and what makes you want to pull your hair out?
I love being part of a solution for my clients, and there is nothing more professionally satisfying than achieving a great outcome for them.
What makes me want to pull my hair out is the keyboard warrior lawyers on the other side. The ones that are unnecessarily rude, aggressive and arrogant and only inflame the conflict between the parties. All clients would benefit if lawyers were kinder to each other. The family law system has a long way to go, and it is crucial that lawyers work together to be part of the solution and not the problem. I genuinely believe that family lawyers are the key to making the system better. Perhaps, as a start, it would help to have a committee that represented all individuals in the system – including the LGBTQI+ community, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and the cultural and religious minority.
Tell us how you ‘stay in the know’, what media do you consume?
I always start my morning at 5 am, reading at least five newspapers nationally and worldwide. I am a news junkie and read everything, whether it’s conservative or liberal. I believe that allows me to have a balanced perspective and insight into what the future holds for my children.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
It is a personal and professional goal of mine to continue to advocate for children. I am not sure the world has yet caught up with what the new generation of children are dealing with. It is alarming that youth suicide rates continue to increase. I hope in five years, I am part of the change to make the lives of children better.
Why should people follow in your footsteps?
I don’t think people should follow in anyone’s footsteps. Live your life on your terms and trust your intuition on how to get there. Life is short, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Position yourself to live out your own dream.
