Rickards in legal rift

Some lawyers said they would be unhappy working with Clint Rickards. Photo / Chris Skelton

Resigned top policeman Clint Rickards has qualified to work as a duty solicitor but his time training at Auckland District Court has created a rift in Auckland's legal profession.

An Auckland duty solicitor who asked not to be named said some lawyers told her they would be unhappy working with Rickards.

And an Auckland barrister, who also asked not to be named, said women felt intimidated by Rickards, "not only in the physical sense but his history as well".

Many young women lawyers believed they should have been consulted before Rickards was allowed to train in court, he said, and the "piss weak" Law Society should not have admitted him to the bar.

But Law Society rules meant lawyers had to be "nice and professional" and were "forced to shut up about it".

In 2006, Rickards, a former assistant commissioner, was acquitted of historic charges of raping Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas during the 1980s.

Former colleagues Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton were also acquitted, but returned to jail to continue serving sentences for the 1989 pack rape and abduction of a Mt Maunganui woman.

Rickards left the police two years ago and was admitted to the bar last November.

He works for Auckland's Waipareira Trust and this year began training to be a duty solicitor. Rickards' partner Tania Eden yesterday said he would not comment on the issue.

But Auckland duty solicitor supervisor Leigh Langridge said Rickards had endured "the most unbelievable unprofessional rubbish" during training.

While Rickards had completed the training programme - and passed "exceedingly well" - she did not think he planned to apply to become a duty solicitor.

Rickards had been "extremely professional, extremely polite, extremely knowledgeable", she said, and lawyers should remember he had been acquitted.

"I find it offensive that some lawyers won't let this go and give him a break."