Changes to the New Zealand legal aid system could see some lawyers’ incomes drop by more than half, according to reports.

From November 29, those who want legal fees paid by the government will be unable to nominate which lawyer represents them and instead will be assigned a lawyer from a roster, so that lawyers have an equal share of the work. Defendants have been selecting their own lawyers since 2001 and, before then, court registries distributed legal aid cases.

30-year-old Manukau-based lawyer Tudor Clee took on more legal aid cases than any other last year -  599 cases, earning him NZ$431,000. It is expected Clee’s income will fall by more than 80% under the new system, along with countless others.  Several lawyers have told the Sunday Star-Times the changes will mean financial difficulties for those who have relied on legal aid for their incomes, who might be assigned only one legal aid case a week.

Clee argued that as a single male with no children he was able to work across those files confidently, often working 85 hours a week.

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