Val Hemminger - Lawyer and Managing Lawyer at Hemminger Law Group Westshore

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

I am the lawyer and principal of Hemminger Law Group Westshore Law Corporation. I am focused on family law and I run our law firm.

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

That regardless of where you come from, and what your background is, that it is possible to achieve a lot in life. Telling ourselves stories about not having advantages is just that, a story. Don’t believe it.

I also believe that always learning in life makes it more exciting and rewarding. My Mom, Elma Hemminger (who was an awesome human being) learned how to read at 70 years old. She taught me lots of things, but one big one is that it is never too late to learn something new.

What is your home town?

As a young child I was raised in Maple Ridge. I then spent my teen years in 100 Mile House. I have called the Greater Victoria Area my home since 1986.

What do you love most about Langford and the Westshore?

Where do I start? I love the fact that it is a vibrant and growing community. People are friendly and open here. There are lots of great businesses and great places to eat and hang out. Basically it is a great place with great people. Plus, a LOT of our clients live here.

Where are your top 3 favorite places and why?

1. Frances King Park in Victoria - I call it my Pandora.

2. Our back yard at home, because of view and the singing birds and because it is where I spend time with my family and friends.

3. Finally, a ski hill, pretty much any ski hill will do.

Outside of the legal profession, what is your passion?

I am passionate about helping others live better lives. I am passionate about people creating their own families and creating lives where we are connected to others rather than being lonely. I have a podcast and video series called Your Family Village which talks about all that stuff. It is on valhemminger.com.

I want people, including other divorce lawyers, to understand that they are a gift of this universe and that they can live their lives in a way that puts them in an active role in living a beautiful, exciting, rich and rewarding life on their terms. I have a blog called bethebestdivorcelawyer.com which has lifestyle and practice tips for other lawyers.

What is your spirit animal?

Definitely a dog or a wolf. I love the strength and power of a wolf and the sweetness of dogs. I love the pure heart of dogs.

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

Because I have worked in other law firm environments, when I developed the Hemminger Law Group Westshore, I wanted to create a law firm that offered our clients way more than what a more traditional law firm might offer.

For our firm, clients are offered much more than what many may think of as the usual legal relationship between lawyer, legal staff, and client.

For me, delivering more is practicing with my heart. I can literally feel in my heart warmth towards clients when I am speaking with them. I am not sure if that is very common for lawyers to do. Our firm has a light and loving atmosphere.

Other things about Val:

Val loves her family a lot. She sees herself, not as an individual, but as part of a family and community. She loves her home. She loves spending time in any west coast forest and walks in the forest with her husband, daughter and dog pretty much every day off she has.