Voice of Experience: Ann Margaret Pointer, Partner, Fisher & Phillips LLP
When Ann Margaret Pointer was in grade school, a woman became a Justice of the Supreme Court for the State of North Carolina, and that had a profound impact on Pointer’s life. ”My parents knew and respected [Justice Susie Sharp] and pointed out her accomplishments to me,” explained Pointer, who is a partner at Fisher & Phillips LLP. “That, together with my parents’ attitudes, helped me know I could do anything I wanted to do if I had the gifts to put hard work to use.” And, as it turned out for the young woman who loved to debate, what she wanted to do was to become a lawyer.
Pointer, who has been practicing labor and employment law for 30 years, was guided to the specific area of practice while at the University of Virginia School of Law. “I said I wanted to do litigation in Atlanta, and a law school professor told me to try to get a job with I. Walter Fisher, who he said was the best management labor lawyer in the country.” She did indeed get that job and has been with the firm ever since.
Lessons Learned
She discovered early on the importance of communication and client confidence. “I lost a client relationship because I had candidly told the client’s management team that I thought our chances of success in the defense of a claim [were poor]. In making that assessment, I had thoroughly investigated the facts and knew the law, and that, no matter what, I was ready to fight like the dickens to win the case. But, because I didn’t know the client well enough at that time for the managers to know that, [they lost confidence and terminated our representation.]” The story has a happy ending though, as the client later came back to the firm.
Pointer did learn a valuable lesson from that experience. “I still try to figure out as quickly as possible what’s involved in a case and what our chances are, and I am still as candid, but I do try to make sure the client representatives know for sure that we (and I personally) will do everything possible to win a case they want to litigate while at the same time we (and I) want them to be able to make the business judgments they need to make, fully informed regarding their options.” She explained, “We don’t want to [make a living] by charging large fees and then settling just before trial [if it can be helped]. Most people appreciate knowing where they stand as quickly as possible.”
Work-Life Balance in the Legal Profession
While the legal profession can be challenging in terms of work-life balance, Pointer believes that challenge impacts both women and men equally. “My son is about to enter law school. He’s working for a law firm now in a staff capacity. He [sometimes] ends up working on Sunday afternoon [to prepare exhibits for trial] just because [the lawyers have to] focus on other trial preparation work.” She added, “If the work of being a lawyer isn’t enjoyable enough so you can feel good about working on a project like that, maybe another line of work will be more satisfying.”
Pointer, too, often works from home on the weekends, utilizing the firm’s virtual private network. “I can log into my own documents and firm electronic resources from home so I can enjoy dinner more often with my husband and work a bit afterwards. Likewise, it’s just easier to do a few hours of work from home on weekends than it used to be when driving into the office used up part of the available time [I had allotted to the work].”
After three decades in the business, Pointer still loves what she does. “Everyday is an interesting day because we are able to be involved in helping business people solve business problems.”
She advises women to “find something you like to do and are good at, and do it.” She also warns not to be daunted if no one has done it before. Invoking the intrepid spirit of Hannibal, she says that when faced with such challenges: “I’ll find a way, or make one.”