An Interview With Sana Asghar, Our Recently Qualified Solicitor
Sana Asghar has been an integral part of the Optimal Solicitors team for more than three years. Starting out with us as a Conveyancing Fee Earner, she made the transition a year later to become a Trainee Solicitor – relentlessly pursuing a lifelong goal and broadening her experience across different legal areas along the way.
It’s now with great pleasure that we can announce Sana has officially qualified as a Solicitor with Optimal! We sat down with her to unpack what this achievement means, discover her journey to qualification, and hear her first-hand experiences for other aspiring solicitors to learn from…
Congratulations on qualifying! How does it feel to finally become a solicitor?
It’s been a long time coming! I knew I wanted to be a solicitor from a young age, so this doesn’t feel like a three-year journey, but more like a mission that I’ve been pursuing throughout my GCSEs, A-levels, my law degrees, and all subsequent training. I’ve had my foot on the gas all the way through while juggling my personal life, so this really feels like a big achievement.
What inspired you to pursue a career in law?
I’ve always been strong-willed, very opinionated, and never afraid of confrontation – but that’s not to say I was confrontational. I always backed my sister when we were young, speaking on her behalf and standing up for her when she struggled. I’ve always been very good at articulating my beliefs with a lot of passion, so my family weren’t surprised when I first vocalised that I wanted to become a lawyer.
What was your route to qualification?
I studied and graduated from both my LLB degree (Bachelor of Laws) and my LPC (Legal Practice Course) at University of Central Lancashire. Then COVID-19 hit, which made a quick transition into law difficult. After a six-month hiatus I began my professional legal career in conveyancing as Legal Assistant, after which I became a Conveyancing Fee Earner for two-and-a-half years at two different firms before joining Optimal.
A year later, I made the step up to start my training contract. All of this didn’t just happen overnight though – to transition in this manner, you have to demand progression and show that you’re ready for it every single day.
What part of your Optimal training or studies do you think shaped you the most?
I have gained more experience and exposure in different areas of the law than I ever expected. From the start of my training contract in June 2023, I’ve worked across personal injury, civil litigation, employment, probate, and family law – the latter of which I’m still developing in. This involved a lot of self-teaching and learning through webinars and research, but having the space to spread my wings has been invaluable. I’ll be forever thankful to Optimal for that. They know I can be very persistent…
Were there any mentors who supported you during your training?
I’ve worked closely with Chris Germaine (Director at Optimal) almost every day since the beginning of my training in the civil department. That’s been really helpful – he has over 30 years’ experience, which was like gold dust for me. I’ve received support from too many people to mention along the way but a shout-out also goes to Stephanie Matthews (Family Law Team Leader) who continues to provide me with advice, articles, and publications to help me in this area of the law.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their legal studies?
Get as much experience as possible. Don’t see your training contract as something to be achieved right away. The practical parts of the job are difficult, so if possible get a strong background in assisting and fee-earning before you take the step up to solicitor training.
You should also be prepared for some experiences to not be the best fit. I’ve been knocked back by colleagues before who didn’t connect with my approach, but it’s important not to let that set you back. Fail forward and appreciate that not everything will work out the way you want. Stick to your morals, keep your chin up, stay persistent, and find enjoyment in your work.
How would you advise those from non-traditional or diverse backgrounds to enter the profession?
I’ve met people from all sorts of backgrounds who get into law – there isn’t one route. And there’s a reason why you can qualify through so many different avenues: not everyone has the opportunities to pursue a legal career from a young age. Some only realise later on in life that they have the raw skills for this. I know hairdressers and nail technicians that have transitioned! If you enjoy the area and have a genuine desire to be good to your clients, then forget where you’ve been or where you come from – just go for it.
Tell us about life outside of work – any hobbies, interests, or inspirations?
I love ’80s and ’90s TV shows. I’ve also got a real travel bug and I always like to keep active, whether that’s long walks or working out. Music really drives me, both personally and professionally. I’ve got quite a diverse taste and find it both enjoyable and beneficial to connect most things I do to music.
Also I have to call out my biggest inspiration, my dad. My work ethic comes from him – nothing knocks him down and I’ve seen that attitude get him through all manner of situations across his life. I can always rely on him for direct advice or simply as someone to look up to.
What does the future look like for you at Optimal?
Currently I’m working through a lot of probate applications, general debt recovery, and consumer disputes – all while continuing my development in family law alongside Steph. That’s keeping me busy for now, but I’ll keep building on my experience.
I always need a new milestone to work towards. I really enjoyed the human side and personal investment of employment law. Perhaps I’d like to do more there, but whichever way I go, I’m sure Optimal will support me all the way.
And finally, where do you see the legal profession heading?
I know a lot of people are concerned about AI, and while I’m sure there is a place for it in manual day-to-day operations, it’s a long way away from replicating what we do. Technical expertise aside, a huge part of this job is the human element. When it comes to people’s personal lives, vulnerabilities, and sensitive circumstances, we are put in a position of trust to handle that with sincerity, integrity, and absolute empathy – drawing on the true essence of what it means to be human. No computer can copy that.
Experts in law, experts with people
Our dedicated team of legal experts and solicitors are technically equipped to fight for justice – all the way to court, if necessary – and win. But that’s only part of the job. We all share an unwavering desire to help people – whether that be supporting our clients through serious injuries, guiding families of victims through distressing circumstances, or helping individuals navigate life-changing disputes. We’ll simplify the complex and take the hassle out of what can otherwise be an arduous legal process.
If you need help fighting for what you deserve, and want to move on with your life as quickly as possible, don’t hesitate to contact us for second-to-none legal advice.
