The Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, has welcomed the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC)’s plans submitted to the government last week on the points-based system (PBS), which regulates migrant worker numbers entering Britain.

The MAC report, which focuses on Tier 1 of the points-based system, recommends that the requirement for highly skilled migrant workers in Tier 1 to have a Master’s degree be removed so that prospective migrants are able to score points for undergraduate qualifications. 

In February, the Home Secretary announced that criteria for Tier 1 would be tightened to ensure only applicants with a Master’s degree would gain enough points to qualify.

The report also recommended that professional qualifications should be recognised as equivalent to a Master’s degree for the purposes of the PBS. 

Law Society president, Robert Heslett, says: “Recruitment of the very best talent from the global marketplace underpins the success of leading international law firms that focus on developing talent to take advantage of opportunities in key emerging markets such as China and India.

“This strategic imperative means that non-EEA recruits, with foreign language skills and experience, are a vital component of a firm’s ability to remain competitive. The MAC proposals reflect the importance of allowing professionals with such skills to work for British law firms and in turn make a valuable contribution to our economy.”