Working in a rural location to get a foot in the door of your chosen profession is a well trodden path for many new graduates. Luca Cherubin and Brienna Johnston are taking their first step down that familiar road, after accepting positions at Mildura law firm Ryan Legal. They chat with Teagan Bell about their experiences shifting from the big smoke to embrace the ease of country living. Pictures: Carmel Zaccone
Why Mildura?
Brienna: I came from the Gold Coast, so for me it was a combination of the job here at Ryan Legal and also a bit of a lifestyle change. I was over the whole city, commuting to work thing, so Mildura seemed like a nice country change.
Luca: I grew up in Mansfield, so I’m a country girl originally. I completed university in Melbourne and it was the job that drew me here. I hadn’t heard of Mildura much before and, similarly to Bri, going back to the country lifestyle was definitely appealing, so I thought I’d just give it a go.
What are you loving about region the most?
B: It’s a combination of things. The nature is beautiful and there are a lot of places to explore, like the river and billabongs. It’s outdoorsy, which is really nice. I’ve been really impressed by the food here, too.
L: I’m such a foodie and I’m enjoying going to local restaurants who have really fresh produce and the markets and wineries in the area. For it to be such a big food and wine region was something I wasn’t expecting. When we have friends up here we always take them out to Trentham; that’s a really beautiful place.
What drew you to law?
B: I’d always wanted a career where I had the potential to help people. And I feel like law has that opportunity, especially personal injury law, which Ryan Legal specialises in. We’re helping people that have had pretty horrible accidents and are in quite difficult situations to seek the compensation that they’re entitled to, which will potentially help them navigate the rest of their lives with the impacts of those injuries. So, it’s really meaningful work.
L: It’s the same for me, but I would also add that I’m really interested in helping people understand what their rights are, because I think a lot of the time people don’t fully understand that they do have rights in these situations. So, it feels really meaningful to be able to take someone who is in a really difficult situation and to give them options that can help. It’s never going to wind back the clock or fix that injury, but it’s something that can help and that feels great.
Is living in Mildura changing your idea of where you would like to practice law?
B: I don’t think I’ll ever move back to the city, if I’m honest. After moving here, I’m definitely not a city girl; I’m a small town girl. So, for me, I’m loving working here and at Ryan Legal because the experience I’m getting is phenomenal. I don’t have any plans to leave – I’m just going to keep going with it and play it by ear.
L: At first I was just going to see how it went, but I have been very pleasantly surprised at how nice it is here. This job is a better opportunity than I would get in the city. It’s a really incredible firm operating at a really high standard, so the experience is way more hands on than I’d get working in the city. Also, experiencing country life as an adult, I really see the appeal; there’s affordable living, there’s no busy traffic and the people here are really friendly.
Has your perception of what a rural law firm would be like changed?
B: I didn’t really know what to expect because I haven’t had much experience in a law firm, so taking this step has been quite daunting. You hear some horror stories about firms and that kind of thing so it was really nice to get here and discover that Ryan Legal is really community orientated. Everyone here is really friendly, close knit and it’s really supportive.
L: I’ve been really impressed. It’s been great learning the paperless system the firm has and to be able to Skype to engage with experts in Melbourne, so even though we are, in some ways, remote we are still engaging with top experts in the field which has been really amazing.
Was it hard making the move away from family and friends?
B: A little bit. I am missing family and friends, but my partner moved with me, so I’ve got his support, which is really good. I’ve also joined yoga and Reformer Pilates classes and the pool, so I’m feeling part of the community.
L: My partner moved with me as well, so we’ve both been so lucky to have that extra support. I’m really missing my friends in Melbourne, which has been the hardest thing. But, I’m finding that I’m making a conscious effort to catch up with friends when I’m down there, so it’s really made me appreciate them. There’s also a really good community here – Mildura is a really friendly place to be which doesn’t make it feel so isolating.
Are you missing city coffee?
B: The coffee here is amazing!
L: I agree – I wouldn’t survive without it.
