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Cassandra Banks
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hat is your area of expertise? Family Law, Care and Protection and Wills and Estates. When and why did you start your business? I took over the practice on 1st April 2018, of all days! April Fools to me! I worked for Susan Green for five years, and I was her succession plan for when she retired. I enjoy the critical and creative thinking required in my role, and it is extremely fulfilling to be able to help people, often in times where they are at their lowest. Taking over the practice was the
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next step in my career, and I thoroughly enjoy working as my own boss. I have fabulous staff, and we are an excellent team. What is the best thing about your job? While there are difficult days, each day requires problem solving to assist my clients, their children and extended families. While I cannot always get a client what they ultimately want, I work extremely hard to get them the best possible outcome. What makes your business stand out? I have really made an effort to try to have a point of difference. When people ask what I do and I say I am a lawyer, there is usually a stereotypical
F E AT U R E
view of my personality and work - and I hate of the firm and growing into my own brand and that! Over the past 12 months I have worked style of practice. I am asked on an almost daily at increasing my local professional network, basis when I will change the name and right and I have been really pleased to hear people now, “if it aint broke, don’t fix it”! Having said say, “You’re not what I expected. You’re not a that, a name change may come in time, and I ‘typical lawyer’.” That’s right; I have a sense of welcome any suggestions! humour! I pride myself on being a person, then And you have a family as well - how do you a lawyer. I hope to convey to my clients that I juggle it all? My husband is incredibly supportacknowledge what they’re ive. He cooks, cleans, does going through, and I want the washing, plays with the to work hard to get them dog, helps at the office on into a better place for the weekends AND works fulllong term. I am very proud time. Husband of the Year, I hope to convey to to receive frequent referright here! He truly is wonmy clients that I rals from crisis support derful, and I couldn’t ask acknowledge what services in the local area. for a more supportive and they’re going through, This is because clients who loving partner in crime - no and I want to work hard need these services need pun intended. My parents to get them into a better someone who fulfils all of live locally, and they are also place for the long term. the criteria I strive for and a wonderful support. if other local professionals What do you enjoy most trust me with their clients about working on the as well, I must be doing Coffs Coast? The lifestyle something right! - while I work hard, I really appreciate the Coffs What plans do you have for 2019 - 2020? Coast. I am in Sydney twice a month, and Annaliese Drayton joined the team as a solicitor literally every time I step off the plane back in in December 2018. Together, we are increasing Coffs, I appreciate the clean coastal air and the the variety of clients accessing our services. I am (comparatively) relaxed lifestyle. It is a beautiful gradually diverting from the previous branding place to live.