Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 19 December 2015.
Manny Wood, our dedicated columnist and resident legal eagle has now attained specialist accreditation in wills and estates. We take a break from his regular column to speak to Manny about his career and what specialist accreditation means.
What is an Accredited Specialist?
Over the last two years only five other solicitors in New South Wales have been accredited in wills and estates.
Manny is the first and only accredited specialist in wills and estates practising in Coffs Harbour. He says; “Having an accredited specialist here in Coffs is a real asset to the community”.
To be eligible for accreditation, you must have practised in that area of law for at least five years and must successfully complete a rigorous assessment process, with notoriously high fail rates.
Specialist Accreditation is a formal recognition by the Law Society that a solicitor has a high level of up-to-date knowledge and skill in a particular area of law.
Out of around 25,000 solicitors in New South Wales, there are only 60 accredited specialists in wills and estates.
Why practise in Wills and Estates?
Manny says; “ I enjoy practising in wills and estates because of the relationships that I develop with my clients. I enjoy the challenge of providing answers to often complex family problems and providing peace of mind. I also consider it to be very important to provide information to the community and to eliminate common misperceptions that people have regarding succession law.”
Manny often encounters families that are experiencing times of great stress and grief, but says; “The positive feedback and appreciation from my clients is rewarding. I am also pleased by the fact that my clients often return for advice extending into other areas of the law such as Conveyancing, Business and Family Law.”
Manny has also completed a Master of Laws degree and finished first place in his year.
Ticli Blaxland
Manny is a partner at Ticli Blaxland, which is the oldest law firm established in Coffs Harbour. Manny is proud of the enduring reputation of the firm and the important role that it is played in the lives of many locals.
Manny says that without the assistance of his fantastic team, he would be unable to provide the service that he does.
Last Words
“Absolutely stoked! A big thank you to my family, friends and colleagues for their support during the years of study.
