Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some guidance on my career options and the best way forward. I originally live in Dubai but have been in the UK for 6 years now, completing my undergrad, LPC and paralegal job here.
I graduated in 2022 with a training contract at an international law firm which was beginning in 2023 and 2:1 Law degree from University of Leeds. Due to my CAS letter not coming in time, I ended up having to apply to the 6 month LPC course in London. I did quite well in all my exams, except for the legal writing module. Due to being marked Not Yet competent, my tc was rescinded mid-LPC and I was left to complete my LPC without any certainty of the future. I applied for paralegal roles and landed one at another international law firm. I've been working there since 2023, and back in the applicant's pool with not much success. It was quite a tough thing to get over, but honestly, I'd make a much better trainee today than I would have back then so I've grown a lot.
I’m currently on a UK Graduate Visa which expires in January 2026. My original plan was to secure a training contract before then, but I’m also considering qualifying through the SQE route.
One option I’m looking at is applying for the SQE2 January 2026 intake (on a student visa). It’s a 3-month course, which means I’d complete the academic part by April 2026. At that point, I’d only need a couple more months of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) to meet the two-year requirement. I’ve already built up significant paralegal experience that should count.
The main issue is that I’d then be a newly qualified lawyer in Dubai by the end of 2026, as I’d likely have to return there. I’m unsure what the market is like for someone qualifying this way, and I’ve heard mixed things about opportunities for this route in Dubai or otherwise. My gut says that having completed a training contract in the UK would give me a much stronger position to return with, but I also don’t want to be chasing TC applications indefinitely. It occurred to me that I could continue applying for direct training contracts even in dubai but I can't seem to figure out how long to go on for or anything.
Has anyone been in a similar position or seen how each route plays out in practice? I’d really appreciate any insights on:
Thanks so much for any advice you can share!
I’m looking for some guidance on my career options and the best way forward. I originally live in Dubai but have been in the UK for 6 years now, completing my undergrad, LPC and paralegal job here.
I graduated in 2022 with a training contract at an international law firm which was beginning in 2023 and 2:1 Law degree from University of Leeds. Due to my CAS letter not coming in time, I ended up having to apply to the 6 month LPC course in London. I did quite well in all my exams, except for the legal writing module. Due to being marked Not Yet competent, my tc was rescinded mid-LPC and I was left to complete my LPC without any certainty of the future. I applied for paralegal roles and landed one at another international law firm. I've been working there since 2023, and back in the applicant's pool with not much success. It was quite a tough thing to get over, but honestly, I'd make a much better trainee today than I would have back then so I've grown a lot.
I’m currently on a UK Graduate Visa which expires in January 2026. My original plan was to secure a training contract before then, but I’m also considering qualifying through the SQE route.
One option I’m looking at is applying for the SQE2 January 2026 intake (on a student visa). It’s a 3-month course, which means I’d complete the academic part by April 2026. At that point, I’d only need a couple more months of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) to meet the two-year requirement. I’ve already built up significant paralegal experience that should count.
The main issue is that I’d then be a newly qualified lawyer in Dubai by the end of 2026, as I’d likely have to return there. I’m unsure what the market is like for someone qualifying this way, and I’ve heard mixed things about opportunities for this route in Dubai or otherwise. My gut says that having completed a training contract in the UK would give me a much stronger position to return with, but I also don’t want to be chasing TC applications indefinitely. It occurred to me that I could continue applying for direct training contracts even in dubai but I can't seem to figure out how long to go on for or anything.
Has anyone been in a similar position or seen how each route plays out in practice? I’d really appreciate any insights on:
- The pros/cons of qualifying via SQE + QWE vs TC for someone in my position
- How UK qualification via SQE is perceived in the UK and Dubai market
- Whether it’s worth prioritising TC applications for the next year or starting SQE2 preparations sooner
Thanks so much for any advice you can share!
