"Pure greed" was the sole motivation for the fraud committed by high-profile Brisbane criminal solicitor Tim Meehan, who represented Daniel Morcombe's killer Brett Peter Cowan, the Supreme Court in Brisbane has been told.
Meehan, 41, faced a sentencing hearing on Thursday after pleading guilty last month to one count of aggravated fraud and eight counts of fraudulently falsifying records, after a CCC investigation.
Meehan's public profile grew through his defence of Cowan in 2014 and subsequent appeals.
Meehan sat motionless in the dock as crown prosecutor Michael Byrne QC outlined the case against him and called for a minimum seven-year jail term.
Mr Byrne said 19 clients were asked to pay fees in cash, which were not deposited into the firm's trust fund as required by law.
"Almost certainly, well in excess of $600,000 is involved overall in the wider scheme," he said.
Mr Byrne said it was difficult to determine exactly how much Meehan pocketed, but it could have been up to $500,000.
"A lot of the cash was tainted property and the proceeds of crime," he said.
He said the scheme was used to avoid financial reporting and other tax obligations.
Meehan has alleged that the money was shared with two other people from the firm.
Mr Byrne told the court Meehan's motivation was "pure greed" and "personal enrichment" and his actions brought the legal profession into disrepute.
"He had sworn and affirmed to uphold the laws of this state," Mr Byrne said.
"His conduct over a four-year period has grossly breached that solemn promise."
Meehan's lawyer Tony Glynn QC told the court his client had "voluntarily offered information about his crimes" to the CCC "when there was no investigation underway".
Mr Glynn also told the court the prospects of Meehan working again as a lawyer were non-existent and that in itself formed part of his punishment.
He called for a sentence of four to five years and for Meehan to serve 11 to 18 months in jail.
Justice Roslyn Atkinson, who also presided over Cowan's murder trial, said Meehan's clients had "received good representation".
Meehan, who has been in custody since last month, has surrendered his practising certificate.
The sentencing hearing will continue on Friday.
