At Rowlinsons, we believe there is no single route into a successful legal career. We are committed to supporting ambition, developing talent and providing clear, structured pathways for progression at every stage.
Sarah Snasdell’s journey is a strong example of this in practice. Starting her career through an apprenticeship with no prior experience of the legal profession, Sarah has progressed to become a Chartered Legal Executive, building significant practical experience along the way and earning national recognition for her achievements.
Her story reflects not only her own dedication and resilience, but also the firm’s commitment to investing in its people and supporting long term career development.
To explore current opportunities and start your own journey with Rowlinsons, visit our careers page: https://www.rowlinsons.co.uk/site/about/careers/
My journey into law began in 2014 when I finished my A Levels at college. At that stage, I was uncertain about what I wanted to study at university and felt that continuing straight into further education without a clear direction would not be the right decision for me. I therefore chose to take a year out of education to give myself the time to consider my future properly and explore alternative options. During this period, I secured an in-house legal apprenticeship within the legal department of a housing association, which allowed me to gain invaluable exposure to the legal profession.
Up until that point, law had never been a career I had seriously considered. It was not an A-level I had studied at college, and I had very little exposure to the profession. However very early on in my apprenticeship, I realised that law was the career path for me. I enjoyed the structure and the opportunity to support individuals during important and often difficult stages of their lives. This experience confirmed that I wanted to pursue a long-term career in law, albeit through a non-traditional route, and showed me that there is more than one way to succeed in the profession.
Following the completion of my apprenticeship, I worked at a law firm in Northwich within their Private Client department for a year. This role allowed me to develop my practical legal skills further and gave me valuable exposure to areas such as wills, trusts, and estate administration. It was during this time that my interest in Private Client work really began to develop and I recognised that this was an area of law I found both challenging and rewarding, combining technical expertise with a strong client-focused approach.
In July 2017 I joined Rowlinsons, where I have continued to develop both professionally and academically. During my initial interview, I expressed a clear interest in qualifying as a Chartered Legal Executive through CILEX. Rowlinsons were extremely supportive of this ambition from the outset and explained that the firm actively encourages and supports employees who wish to undertake professional qualifications. This open and encouraging approach proved instrumental throughout my training and qualification journey.
I settled into the Private Client department, where I spent the first year building on my existing knowledge and gaining further hands-on experience. I was trusted with increasing responsibility from an early stage, which allowed me to grow in confidence and develop my skills in a meaningful way. After just over a year at Rowlinsons in November 2018, I met with the Directors to discuss the CILEX qualification route and the progression path available to me within the firm and Rowlinsons formally agreed to support me through my CILEX studies.
I then spent the next two years completing the Level 3 Diploma, which involved sitting eight examinations across the core areas of law, alongside two professional skills modules. Upon completion, I became an Affiliate Member of CILEX. Rowlinsons continued their support as I progressed onto the Level 6 Diploma, which marked a significant increase in both academic difficulty and personal commitment. Balancing full-time work with studying during evenings and weekends was challenging, particularly during the various lockdowns which added further pressure and disruption. Despite these difficulties, completing the Level 6 Diploma was one of the most demanding yet rewarding achievements of my career. I successfully passed all examinations at the first attempt and became a Graduate Member of CILEX.
It was at this stage that Rowlinsons nominated me for the award of Best Paralegal at the Modern Law Awards in 2024. I was incredibly proud to be shortlisted and honoured to ultimately win the award, which was a significant personal achievement and a moment of recognition for the dedication, commitment, and practical experience I had gained throughout my training. The nomination itself reflected the firm’s commitment to recognising and celebrating the achievements of its people at every stage of their careers.
Following this, I completed my work-based learning portfolio and in 2025 I became a Fellow of CILEX and qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive. While qualifying required a substantial commitment and a great deal of perseverance on my part, I genuinely believe that I could not have achieved this without the ongoing support, flexibility and encouragement provided by Rowlinsons throughout the process. One of the key advantages of qualifying via the CILEX route was that by the time I had qualified, I already had several years of practical experience within Private Client, including running my own caseload and dealing directly with clients. This hands-on experience proved invaluable and ensured that my academic learning was firmly grounded in real-world practice.
I am now continuing my professional development by studying towards the STEP Diploma, once again with the support of Rowlinsons. I have successfully completed the first two examinations and have two remaining, and I therefore hope to qualify as a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) later this year. Continuing to develop my expertise reflects both my personal commitment and the firm’s ongoing investment in long-term career development.
While no route into law is without its challenges, my experience has shown that alternative pathways can be just as rigorous, rewarding and effective as the traditional university route. Rowlinsons have proved invaluable to my career development and have provided me with the strongest possible foundations on which to build my professional future. It is a wonderful place to work offering genuine opportunities for progression, support and recognition. I am extremely grateful for the encouragement, trust, and investment I have received throughout my career to date.