President

Cassandra Banks

Cassandra Banks is a solicitor with more than 12 years’ experience in general practice, acting mainly in family law, children’s care and protection matters along with property and wills and estates planning, and advising in Guardianship and financial management matters before NCAT.

In 2018, Cassandra started as a sole practitioner at Susan Green Legal Practice in Coffs Harbour. The firm has since been rebranded to CB Legal and is now a busy three-lawyer practice. Cassandra has been active in the Clarence River & Coffs Harbour Regional Law Society, serving as President, Vice President and until late 2022 as Co-President.

Cassandra was first elected to the NSW Law Society Council in 2015, being appointed Treasurer in 2020. She has been active in the Law Society of NSW since her admission in 2010, taking prominent roles in NSW Young Lawyers at the regional and state level, becoming a member of the NSW Young Lawyers executive in 2014.

In 2017, the then Justice Margaret Beazley awarded Cassandra the NSW Young Lawyer of the Year Award, and Cassandra was a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards in 2017 and 2018.

Cassandra holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws from the University of New England.

Requests for media interviews

Requests for media interviews with the President should be directed to the Law Society of New South Wales Media Adviser on phone: 0417 788 947 or mobile damien.smith@lawsociety.com.au    

Follow the Presidents Twitter account @LSNW_President

The Law Society of New South Wales President's Medal

President's Medal

The Law Society of New South Wales President's Medal is an annual award that recognises a NSW solicitor and Law Society member who has made a significant personal and professional contribution to the improvement of law and justice in the community. 

Nominations for the 2023 President's Medal will open in August 2023.

You can see the list of past President's Medal winners here.

A person may be nominated for the Law Society’s President’s Medal if the following criteria are satisfied:

  1. The person must be a current or former NSW solicitor and a member of The Law Society of New South Wales.  Currently serving Law Society Councillors are excluded from nomination.
  2. The person is of high standing in the NSW legal profession.
  3. The person has made a personal and professional contribution which demonstrates achievements in one of more of the following areas:
  • improvement in community access to justice
  • improvement in NSW or national legal policy or legislation which delivers significant benefits to the NSW community
  • significant service or support to NSW solicitors
  • promotion or defence of the rule of law
  • improvements in the administration of justice in NSW.

Persons may self nominate or be nominated by someone else via the President's Medal nomination portal. Currently serving Law Society Councillors are excluded from nomination. Each nomination must be accompanied by documentation which:

  • outlines relevant current and previous professional positions held by the nominee
  • explicitly addresses each of the three eligibility criteria
  • provides the names and contact details of at least two referees who may be asked to attest to the achievements on which the nomination is based.
  • Completed nominations must be received by the due date.

If you would like more information please email councilsupportunit@lawsociety.com.au.

Nominations are assessed and the successful candidate determined by a selection panel comprising three people. It is chaired by the President of the Law Society.

The selection panel receives written applications and may elect to undertake interviews with candidates or to seek further information from those nominating the person. Cross checks are also made with Professional Standards to ensure that those being considered are fit and proper persons.