Sumudu Thode, Thode Utting 
John Miller 
Sonja Cooper 
Peter Johnston, Rainey Collins
The stayers in the legal aid stakes are taken from figures 12 years ago where we compared the ‘veteran’ earners, headed by all-star legal aid lawyer Sonja Cooper, who received $1.5 million in the 2006/07 year and $1.7 million in the last year reported.
Ironically perhaps, Sonja Cooper’s firm makes its principal income from suing the Government funding them, handling psychiatric claims against the government on behalf of those abused under the previous mental health system.
[adrotate banner=”91″]
Three other Wellington recipients who featured 10 years ago include Rainey Collins, Thomas Dewar and John Miller Law.
The major legal aid earners from 2010 and today (being as at the last reported ‘earnings season’ are below.
The 2010 Top 10 . . And Today
| 2010 | 2018/19 |
| Charl Hirschfeld* – 2.8m | n/a |
| Rainey Collins – 2.4m | 565,000 |
| Tamaki Legal – 1.8m | 1.955m |
| Kensington Swan – 1.4m | 138,000 |
| Sonja Cooper – 1.2m | 1.7m |
| Rangitauira & Co** – 1.08m | n/a |
| Thomas Dewar – 880,000 | 930,000 |
| Te Nahu Lovell – 900,000 | 390,000 |
| Shane Tait – 807,000 | 433,000 |
| John Miller Law – 806,000 | 972,000 |
*Charl Hirschfeld faced disciplinary proceedings in 2013 regarding his legal aid work, quitting handling the work, principally for Treaty of Waitangi claims, in 2011. He was paid around $8 million from legal aid work over a four year period. (NBR).
** John Rangitauira was jailed for fraud after being duped in an email scam involving an alleged inheritance of $27 million.
The Million Dollar Law Firms
>> See The Multi-Million Dollar Legal Aid Lady
[adrotate banner=”90″]
Latest on LawFuel
- Delete IP Law? Why Tech Titans Want to Ctrl+Alt+Escape CopyrightThe Dorsey & Musk Battle on IP Law Jacqui Coombe, LawFuel contributor When Jack Dorsey,… Read more: Delete IP Law? Why Tech Titans Want to Ctrl+Alt+Escape Copyright
- Saudi Arabia Pioneers Data Embassies With Publication of Draft Global AI Hub LawThe draft law proposes a data embassy ecosystem and comprehensive framework in Saudi Arabia, promoting… Read more: Saudi Arabia Pioneers Data Embassies With Publication of Draft Global AI Hub Law
- How US Law Firms Are Shaking Up The UK Legal ProfessionThe UK’s legal world is in the midst of a dramatic change with the driving force is coming from US law firms that are expanding aggressively into London, triggering a fierce battle for both clients and top legal talent. London has always been a global legal powerhouse, but in recent years, US law firms have set their sights on the city like never before. By 2021, nearly 90 major US firms had opened London offices, and that number has only grown since.
- How a Lawyer Fights False Accusations of Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence Law In 2023, California law enforcement agencies received 160,357 domestic violence-related calls for… Read more: How a Lawyer Fights False Accusations of Domestic Violence
- Simmons To Relocate London Office to Finsbury CircusInternational law firm Simmons & Simmons has announced that it will relocate its London office… Read more: Simmons To Relocate London Office to Finsbury Circus
- How a Truck Accident Lawyer Holds Trucking Companies ResponsibleTruck Accident Lawyer Not only does it affect those involved in the accident directly, but families… Read more: How a Truck Accident Lawyer Holds Trucking Companies Responsible
- Mistakes Only a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help You AvoidThe process of accessing workers’ compensation can be complicated, and the legalities are making many people feel… Read more: Mistakes Only a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help You Avoid
