Corporate Law Firm Gets $5.7 Million Legal Aid Payments Over 30 Months LawFuel -

The Law Jobs and News Wire Millions of dollars in legal aid payments are going to one of New Zealand's largest law firms, mostly for Waitangi Tribunal legal work.

Legal aid is generally made to barristers and smaller law firms for legal defence and civil claims. Kensington Swan have been paid over $5.7 million in the 30 months until the end of 2007, figures obtained by LawFuel.co.nz show.

The firm received over $2.2 million for the year ended 30 June 2006, almost $2.3 million for the following 12 months and over $1.3 million for the six months' until the end of 2007.

The $3.5 million received in the past 18 months relates to Waitangi Tribunal legal work, except for $26,000 the Legal Services Agency reports. The $26,000 was for civil work undertaken by the firm.

LawFuel's legal aid figures, released two weeks ago, show Kensington Swan one of the top three earners over the periods for which figures were obtained from the Legal Services Agency.

Attempts to ascertain the purpose of the legal aid from the firm received no reply.

EDNS

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