We were lucky to catch up with Lanie Bandell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lanie , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about growing your team – how did you recruit the first few people, what was the process like, how’d you go about training and if you were to start over today would you have done anything differently?
From an early age, we are all taught and heard the cliché that “there is no ‘I’ in team”. There is no truer statement than that. Throughout college and law school, my academic successes were largely attributable to having a team of fellow students, professors and family members act as my support team and allow me to flourish. As I settled into my legal career as a prosecutor, it became clear that in order to seek justice by evaluating and trying cases, it was impossible to accomplish them as an individual. I was fortunate to build a team of colleagues and support staff that allowed me to fully represent victims and their families.
As I segued into civil practice, the team at Lorium Law has provided me with the support and resources to pursue Title IX work, which is a passion of mine. Additionally, the experts in Title IX that I have met and established working relationships with have demonstrated the necessity for working as a team to combat and bring awareness to the extremely important principles under Title IX. I would not have the ability to pursue this type of work without being part of a team of professionals.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Before coming to Lorium Law, I was a prosecutor serving the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County. As a highly experienced trial attorney with a proven record of courtroom success, I tried cases from misdemeanors to serious felonies and spent the last 12 years prosecuting homicide cases. I was appointed Deputy Chief of the Homicide Trial Unit where I sat first chair on cases involving capital crimes. My experience as an Assistant State Attorney, both in my capacity as a supervisor and as a first chair litigator, ensured my ability to navigate through complex litigation matters during preparation, negotiations and in the courtroom, as well as throughout the Title IX process.
One trait that allowed me to succeed as a prosecutor, and now in my civil practice and Title IX work, is the relationships I foster with my clients. Communication and compassion are the keys to making the clients feel protected and aware. Additionally, managing expectations is critical. The Title IX process and civil litigation are intimidating and foreign to the clients going through it. A simple call or email can reassure the client that the client is not alone but that I am there every step of the way as an advocate.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Prior to my first Title IX case, all I knew about Title IX was what I would see in the news and, it centered around sexual harassment and athletes. It was not until a family friend found himself embroiled in a Title IX matter at university that I learned the broad scope of Title IX. I acquired the knowledge that Title IX applies to all students, faculty and employees at educational institutions that accepts federal funding and its purpose the protection from sexual harassment and sexual assault . When asked to be his advisor, which I accepted pro bono, is how I began to learn about the vast landscape that Title IX covers. I built my reputation by being prepared, communicating throughout the process and taking the initiative to follow-up with the participants that I work with on individual cases. Whether it be the hearing officer, investigator, or the school’s Title IX coordinator, I ask for feedback and continue fostering these professional relationships. By taking the time to develop these relationships, it has led to an impressive client roster that continues to grow.
Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?
After my first Title IX process was completed, I was so impressed with the hearing officer and her ability to handle the process with knowledge and compassion, that I sent her an email to see if she had time to discuss her journey with Title IX and her career. She graciously granted me a zoom meeting. Those 30 minutes of zooming changed the trajectory of my career goals. She gave me the names of contacts and introduced me to experts in the field. From there, I was able to establish a university-client that has repeatedly hired me to act as a Title IX advisor.
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Image Credits
credit to Lanie Bandell