In her own words: Donna McCarthy

Every issue we hear from a different CILEX member about how they started out and their career journey. Donna McCarthy tells her story

Donna McCarthy left school at 16 and took a job as a trainee legal assistant at her local council, qualifying with CILEX at 20. She went on to specialise in housing law and joined City law firm Devonshires, where she is now a partner.

When I was 16, there was never any doubt that I would leave school, get a job and start earning a living. I’m from a normal working-class background, grew up in council housing and went to state school.

It was a given that, rather than go into further education, I would get a job. Nobody from my family had gone to university, but I had always been capable academically and I was keen to continue my education somehow.

My objective was to find a job where I could study and work at the same time.

I saw a card on my school’s careers board to be a trainee legal assistant at my local council in planning, conveyancing or litigation. The role offered a combination of work and study to become a legal executive. I looked into it and the idea of going to court seemed very exciting.

I went to the interview – I had to borrow some smart clothes from my mum – and despite stressing how keen I was to get into court and be a litigator, I was offered the planning job. Despite my disappointment, I knew it was an opportunity that was too good to miss.

In court by the age of 17

At the council, I was so keen that I would offer to help the solicitors in any way that I could. When the person doing litigation left, I jumped in and took over all of their mortgage repossession work and all sorts of other general litigation. I did a couple of hearings at court when I was just 17. It was such a fantastic opportunity.

I became a qualified member of CILEX when I was 20 and housing law was something I was passionate about. Although my studies were officially over, I decided to do a further diploma in landlord and tenant law.

Even though I have been working in housing law for a long time, I like to spot new opportunities where I can use the skills and knowledge I have built up.

I thought about how I could do something with more of a social agenda, so I moved into legal aid work, representing the most vulnerable tenants. From there I wanted to look at the bigger picture of how you could make a difference working for the greater good. That’s when I jumped to the other side and started working for social landlords, joining Devonshires in 1999.

I had my son in 2001 and daughter in 2004 and worked part time for 10 years, first for two days and then three days a week. I didn’t feel I had to make massive sacrifices in my career while still having time with family. I carried on as I was, and in 2011 was asked if I would like to join the partnership, the first Fellow at Devonshires to do so.

Two years ago, I became an equity partner, giving me more say in the running of the firm and further leadership responsibilities. My role is now balanced between client work and management both of my own team and the firm as a whole.

I now focus on more complex legal work – last year I acted in a Court of Appeal case that is a leading authority on the impact of the Equality Act in possession actions. The other side is currently appealing to the Supreme Court.

Even though I have been working in housing law for a long time, I like to spot new opportunities where I can use the skills and knowledge I have built up in new areas.

I am currently leading on our care sector group, which draws in expertise from across Devonshires’ practice areas to advise care providers – an area that is seeing growth in demand for legal services. 

Driving diversity in the legal profession

The pandemic has been tough for everyone and I have been responsible for setting up the firm’s wellbeing initiative in response.

At the beginning, each department was doing something different – from book clubs to bingo sessions. I realised we needed a broader approach to respond to the needs of employees across the whole firm. It has really helped us get through this difficult time and was rewarding to be involved in.

Another important part of my role is client training. Online training over Zoom has been great – I have done more than ever before. Not having the constraints of having to bring people together physically means I can deliver a training session to an audience of over 100 at a time.

As I’ve progressed in my career, I’m pleased that I have managed to continue to be involved in so many different elements that I enjoy, from training, recruitment and management to complex litigation.

I now feel a responsibility, both as a woman and a person from a more socially disadvantaged background, to go out and tell people about CILEX. I am a great believer in the platform it provides for driving diversity in the legal profession. People shouldn’t let their social background get in the way of what they want to do.

Over the years, the number of CILEX members at Devonshires has grown. Some started as office clerks straight out of school, becoming paralegals and then Fellows. Others are graduate CILEX students and another is a fellow partner who came into the law via the CILEX route.

I feel that historically we were considered a poor relation to solicitors but all that has changed. My experience has been that whatever your ambitions, there are very few limitations on CILEX Lawyers now – you can be a partner, own your own firm or become a judge. It is a great route into a legal career.