Jessi Dhanju, Lawyer

What kind of work do you do at Hemminger Law Group Westshore?

I practice in the area of Family Law.

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If there was one lesson you learned as a young person that you would like to pass on to others, what would that be?

The biggest lesson I was taught in life is that nothing in life is certain, and to value those crucial moments where my brain, heart and gut disagree. 

John Allen Paulos wrote it best when he said, “Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.”

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What is your home town?

I was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. Family business escapades moved my family to Vancouver, and then to Surrey. After spending 6 years living in the UK and Europe, I moved to Victoria, and recently relocated to the beautiful community of Bear Mountain.

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What do you love most about Langford and the Westshore?

The Westshore is a culture within a culture, combined with scenic beauty and amazing food.

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Where are your top 3 favorite places and why?

1. Lisbon: Foodies paradise!

2. India: Culture, history and continuous culture shock.

3. Edmonton: Home is where the heart is … and the Edmonton Oilers! :) 

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Outside of the legal profession, what is your passion?

When not practicing the law, I can be found scribbling down poetry in my notebook, channeling my inner Michelin star in the kitchen, and practicing a healthy lifestyle in and outside of the gym.

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How do you deliver your more as a part of the  more than your ordinary law firm team?

I deliver more by understanding that each client is more than just a file, and each client has different lived experiences than I do. I actively listen to my clients and understand the uniqueness of each and every individual and their particular set of circumstances. I then utilize the adversities of my life as fuel to further advocate on behalf of my clients to see them through the 'storm’.

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about”
-Haruki Murakami

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Other things about Jessi:

I have an uncanny knack for sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong when it comes to challenging stigma in the world. I am extremely passionate for Human Rights, specifically on behalf of gender equality initiatives, sex trafficking in Asia, and through my own unique lived experiences with an invisible disability, I advocate for those living life with disabilities (both visible and invisible).

Simply put, Jessi loves to make SHIFT happen.