New entrant criteria - SQE

[GBT]

Does anyone have any success stories with skilled worker visa relying on either : (3)Applicant is working towards a recognised professional qualification in a UK-regulated profession; (4) Applicant is working towards full registration or chartered status with a relevant professional body for the job for which they are sponsored.

If successful what kind of evidence did you submit and what was the timeline of the decision after biometrics?

My employer has used the 3520 code and job title as paralegal. My salary is 22k so above the going rate for the occupation code. We have filed the application now and my employer submitted a letter explaining I’m working towards the qualification of solicitor in England and Wales, which will be achieved by me taking the SQE exam and evidencing 2 years of employment in legal services and that my job as a paralegal will count towards that required work experience.

[Frontier Mole]

Being a paralegal does not qualify you for working towards a professional qualification. If your role was stated as a lawyer / solicitor in training it would, but you would have a training contract and not be considered a paralegal.
You would also have to be registered for SQE and therefore already assessed to be able take the exams. By all accounts you are not there yet. I am assuming you don’t hold a U.K. degree or have relevant U.K. qualifications or experience?

Perhaps have a look at https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor ... amination/

The going rate for paralegal is not the actual required salary - until 3rd April it will be £26,200 thereafter it jumps to £38,700

[GBT]

I do have a UK based degree (LPC) and have been exempted from taking the first past of the SQE. I only need to take the second set of the exam. I have also been registered as an SQE candidate via the SRA. I submitted evidence of this with my application. The only reason I couldn’t submit registration to the exam is because registration was not open when I filed in March. My employer also submitted a letter explaining that I’m exempt from the the first part of the exam, due to my LPC degree and that I’m pursuing the qualification of solicitor via my paralegal role which will count towards the training period, that I’m enrolled in a Barbri course for the sake of the SQE2 and that I would enroll into the exam once registration opens. Does it seem to have better prospects?

[Frontier Mole]

Paralegal role is not considered as a training role. It is a defined role within the legal profession in its own right. Therefore the use of the role to work towards full qualification is useful but it is not a training contract. Therefore the full rate for the role will have to be met.
If your prospective employer is looking to offer a training contract they should do so under the correct SOC