Shelley graduated from Auckland University in 1991 and was admitted to the Bar in 1992. Her first role was in a general commercial litigation role. She remembers receiving her first employment file, and beginning her path to becoming an employment lawyer. Employment law appealed as having a deeply human side, combined with sometimes challenging legal problems. It requires advocacy and negotiation skills, as well as people and strategic skills.
Shelley continued with a mix of commercial and employment law, becoming a specialist in employment but along the way developing advocacy skills as she appeared in the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, while also appearing in the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court.
After time out travelling Shelley had a spell as an in-house lawyer, and in that organisation moved into an operations management role, also studying leadership and management. A further time out led to tertiary teaching, and a three-year spell as a lecturer in employment law, HR and management.
In 2005 Shelley returned to legal practice for a five-month contract as a solicitor with a central city firm. Making the decision to stay, over the years she progressed from solicitor, to associate, senior associate, and then in 2015, to partnership. And after a move to director at another firm, Shelley commenced practice as Shelley Eden Law in February 2023.
