Meet Mia, our up-and-coming Junior Lawyer

All lawyers start somewhere, and at Hume Taylor & Co, we are proud to have so many launch their careers in our humble offices across Adelaide, Whyalla and Millicent. Take Mia Valk, for example. After graduating from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Law (Honours) and Commerce, she has brought fresh perspectives and energy to our team since early last year.

Since joining Hume Taylor & Co, Mia has seamlessly supported Scott Herriman, who also spearheaded his legal career with the firm before becoming a Managing Partner in 2013. Mia’s areas of interest and growing expertise span criminal law, civil litigation, estate planning, and administration.
Between basketball and exploring South Australia’s great dog-friendly walking tracks and cafes, we’ve found time to ask Mia a few questions about her career journey and working at Hume Taylor & Co.

I was fortunate enough to have some work experience during high school in the Solicitor-General’s department, and my interest continued to peak from there. When I finished year 12, I was unsure what path I wanted to take, so I kept my options open and decided to do a double degree. The further I advanced through my degree I realised that law was something I was passionate about and could see a career in.

I had worked in another firm as a receptionist during my studies and was looking for other opportunities once I had completed my GDLP. The role was advertised online, and a small-sized family firm was enticing to me. I applied online and then had an interview with Scott at our Adelaide office. Scott explained the role as his “shadow” and the importance of the regional offices and the idea of travelling and experiencing different environments was appealing to me.

I’m genuinely excited about the prospect of engaging with a diverse range of clients in our Whyalla and Millicent offices. Each interaction presents a unique opportunity to understand the specific challenges and needs of these communities. Ensuring that everyone, regardless of their location, has access to quality legal services is incredibly rewarding. It’s about more than just providing legal advice; it’s about building trust and fostering meaningful connections.

In Millicent, I cannot go past McCourt’s Café! Our lovely office administrator, Kelly’s son, makes one of the best coffees in town. In Whyalla, we usually have less time, but now that we are operating from a shared office with Cunningham & Harvey accounting on McDouall Stuart Avenue, I like to mix it up and get something different from the Westlands Food Court across the road every visit.

Absolutely. I believe honesty and transparency are the cornerstones of any successful client-lawyer relationship. Before their consultation, I encourage clients to take some time to reflect on their situation and be as open and candid as possible during our discussions. The more information they provide, the better equipped we are to tailor our advice and strategies to their specific circumstances. I want our clients to feel comfortable sharing their concerns and objectives with us, knowing that they’ll receive judgment-free guidance and support every step of the way.