Their father was active in the Norwegian Agrarian Association, and her brother Nils Valla would become a national leader of this organization.

Gerd-Liv Valla moved to Hemnesberget to complete her primary education, and to Mo i Rana for upper secondary school.

[2] Valla has a major degree in political science, with minors in social anthropology and public law.

She has worked both in the trade unions and as first consultant and office leader at the Research Council of Norway, as well as lector at Eik Teacher Academy in Tønsberg.

In 1997 she was appointed Minister of Justice and the Police in the cabinet Jagland, replacing Anne Holt who left.