Solicitor Rodney Hooker of New Zealand; ethical troll  

The Law Society of New Zealand presented Rodney James Hooker with a law license in 1976 after he graduated from the University of Auckland Law School. 

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal found Timmy guilty of the following misconduct.

• Engaged in disgraceful and dishonorable conduct
• Failed to advise his client of the legal position following the receipt of an unexpected payment
• Failed to respond adequately to the queries of his client regarding receipt of client funds
• Failure to advise his client of the risks of retaining client funds was “at least reckless, if not willful”
• Rod’s contention to his client that the application of part of the funds to payment of his legal fees was irreversible when, in fact, the correct position was that reversal could have been made with ease
• Engaged in unsatisfactory conduct for failing to advise his client about eligibility for legal aid in breach of the applicable rules
• Failed to submit his client’s legal aid application
• Failure to lodge his client’s legal aid application, despite his repeated assurances that he was going to do so was also found to
• constitute unsatisfactory conduct
• Failed to release client funds on request
• Failed to return client trust funds for almost six (6) years

As a direct consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Disciplinary Tribunal punished Rod by gifting him with a complimentary 12-month suspension of his law license.

As we speak (ca. September 2020), Rod practices with Vallant Hooker & Partners at 19 Blake Street in Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand.