Celebrating our Charity's Women: Gillian Duckworth
This week we're spotlighting the amazing women at Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity
Gillian joined Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity back in Autumn 2022. Gillian is the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Solicitor & Monitoring Officer. She has a wealth of experience working in local government.
We spoke to Gillian about her time with the charity so far and for any advice for someone interested in her profession. Here's what she had to say:
What’s been the most interesting thing you’ve encountered as a Trustee for GMMC?
I can see how Greater Manchester Combined Authority can be more effective by working with charities to better understand and support the needs within the city region.
What advice would you give to young women interested in law and local government?
The diversity passion and enthusiasm of the trustees who volunteer their own time to make a difference in Greater Manchester.
What advice would you give to young women interested in law and local government?
Being a lawyer in Local Government is a great career option as local councils have legal teams that cover many aspects of law from childcare through to commercial property and prosecutions in the Magistrates’ Court to civil proceedings in the High Court. You work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and can easily see how your work impacts on people’s lives, giving a sense of fulfilment. There are approximately 374 local authorities in England and Wales so you can move between authorities and maintain the pension and holiday entitlement benefits of continuity of service. There are many entry levels for a legal department. Some Councils offer solicitor training contracts which will provide for an interesting and varied grounding in the legal work of local councils and they are also likely to offer apprenticeships or paralegal roles for those who have not had academic training as a solicitor. There are lawyers at various levels with the most senior solicitors in local councils likely to be a member of the Executive leadership team and will therefore play a part in the strategic leadership of the organisation. Diversity and inclusion is important to local councils as they aim to ensure that their staff at all levels are representative of the communities in which they work, therefore they will have HR policies that are inclusive and are family friendly and often operate flexitime schemes to recognise and be supportive of pressures other than work.
Have a read of the other content we've posted this week as we celebrated International Women's Day!
Thank you, Gillian, for all you do for the charity.
Donate today and know that your money will help tackle homelessness across our city-region for a fairer and more sustainable future.