Judging from the pm's and emails I have received from UKY people over the last several years, I can attest that *LOTS* of people have had the same idea. Most usually the idea of becoming an adviser occurs to people just after they have received an entry clearance.
That leads me to think that it's pretty much a phasic thing that accompanies the emotional flood that follows an entry clearance application. The incidence of people wanting to be advisers is a whole lot lower for subsequent in-country applications, and it is null once people naturalize. So the bottom line is that it's pretty much a temporary phase people go through when they apply for entry clearance. Of the literally hundreds of enquiries I have received on here about becoming an immigration adviser, I have never seen a person actually progress through all the steps for registration.
That doesn't mean people are being insincere. It just means they are going through a phase where they want to become an immigration adviser. Perhaps this thread is different? Let's hope so. Also I emphatically agree with Liz's advice that having real credentials in law is better.
On the positive side, it's interesting work. I did it for a long time helping people on the family formation side and also helping people who were in detention at Heathrow and Gatwick (i.e., people getting bounced). I stopped practicing in 2006 and these days I am strictly on the advocacy and lobby side.
To the other question about getting started, you sit the test and then get some pii and meet the other requirements and hang out your shingle!
It's very easy. The test is easier than the KOL!
But take careful note that if you go around calling yourself a lawyer just because you passed a 10 question multiple choice test, that I (and others here) will challenge your credibility.
