10 YEAR LR QUERY PLEASE HELP

[Rubyduchess]

Hello all
I have been reading this forum and have gained some useful insights, but I have a query which I wish someone on here can help with, or point me in the right direction. My issue is as follows:

Came on visit visa July 2008
Left after a month in August 2008
Visitor's visa expired in October 2008
Came back as a student with student visa in December 2008
Switched to post study work visa in July 2010
Got a job and was sponsored by employer for tier 2 general in June 2012
Renewed Tier 2 general visa in May 2015
This visa expires inJuly 2018

- I do not earn the threshold of £35K to apply for ILR even though I am almost due.
-I have about 4 months from when my current visa ends this July to When I will be eligible for ILR due to LR in December 2018.
-I am not sure how to bridge this gap of 4 months. I have seen/heard that visitor's visa counts towards the 10 year route, can someone please clarify this.
- I have seen a lawyer who advised an extension of my current visa and though it will be refused, I can buy time by sending an application in by post, delay the admin review and biometrics and by the time we know it, it's November, and we can vary the application and apply for ILR based on long residence.

Can you please help me as I am quite anxious about this proposal, The lawyer said my visitor visa does not count, but truly I don't think he has any idea of what he is saying. Please help!!!
Thanks in advance.

[bruteforce]

frivolous or vexatious applications are likely to be refused as HO is aware of such practices.