To celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March), Partner Donna McCarthy will join a panel of inspirational women lawyers at the Law Society’s ‘I want her job’ event.
Taking place on 7th March 2017, the seminar will hear from women lawyers from a variety of backgrounds on how they made it and will celebrate their achievements. Other panellists include Nilema Bhakta-Jones, legal director, Ascential Group Limited, Alexandra Marks, deputy high court judge and Jo Sidhu of Crowdjustice.
Donna has enjoyed an unconventional route to partnership in a city law firm. She left school at 16 and started her legal career in local government as a trainee legal assistant while studying to become a legal executive at night classes. Donna was keen to do more than copying and clerking and by 18 she was responsible for managing and conducting advocacy for all of the local authority’s mortgage possession cases.
After qualifying, she decided to focus on housing law and did a further diploma in Landlord and Tenant law before joining a legal aid practice. In 1999, Donna became a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and decided to put her skills to the test by joining Devonshires as part of the Housing Management team. She juggled motherhood with the love of her job by working part time for 10 years before being made partner in 2011.
Throughout her career, Donna has always been dedicated to her work and those around her. She is a key leader in Devonshires’ ‘Women in Housing’ initiative, a networking, training and support group for senior female executives within housing associations. She is also responsible for IT delivery and a committed member of the Devonshires’ Corporate Social Responsibility Group.
If you are interested in attending the Law Society’s ‘I want her job ‘event on 7th March, please contact Trainee Solicitor Suzanne Gallagher who will reserve you a space.
