mikej

OP if you wish to PM then feel free to do so and I can talk a little more about the experience I went though. I have worked in the migration industry but no longer do so and therefore don't have a need to trawl for business on this forum. You probably don't need a RMA given your level of experience and would save yourself 1000's. The one hurdle you do face is a positive skills assessment which is a simple matter. If you have a legal role at the moment then it would not be wise, as advised above to quit, go to a foreign country to complete admission requirement and then hope to get a job. The opportunity cost would be substantial and Australia can be a very expensive place to live.

OP note the word MAY here. Whilst you MAY receive a positive assessment you might also consider the odds of this occurring and if you do by chance receive a subclass 189 PR visa on this basis then unless you are planning on a new career as say a used car salesmen and give up 5 years of legal experience then you would not be able to practice. If you did wish to practice then you will of course go through the same procedure as initially outlined which in fact makes the above advice of limited value. You should above all consider the practicalities of your situation rather than rely on the above advice for guidance.

If you're traveling on a UK passport then you are eligible for a subclass 600 visa which would give you the time to find an employer who is willing to sponsor you for a subclass 457 visa. After two years on that then apply for a subclass 186 TRT Permanent Residence visa and the citizenship. I have seen the happen so its a reasonable scenario. To be blunt if you haven't got the skills on the SOL list then short of marrying in Australian this is the path you'll have to take.

I recently lodged an application for a subclass 190 visa as a solicitor which was subsequently granted so perhaps my experience could be of some assistance although there are significant differences. To be granted a 189/190 you need to have have an occupation listed on SOL and as others have mentioned this requires a positive assessment from the state legal admission board which means admission as a solicitor of the supreme court of NSW. As I qualified in NZ I was able to simply fill in some paperwork and pay the $350 for admission due to a reciprocal agreement under the Trans-tasman Act 1995 to gain a positive skills assessment. I would not have been able to apply on the basis on my NZ admission only. Therefore you would need to be admitted before being able to apply for a skills assessment. Perhaps you should investigate which state has the most lenient academic requirements and then get admitted there. Because the 189, as opposed to the 190, is an independent not a sponsored visa then you wouldn't be required to live in a specific state as I am (NSW) Also I sat some of my 'PLT' exams (profs) for NZ admission in Sydney with the COL so it can be done if they have a branch in the UK.