Craig Thomson lawyer Chris McArdle's 'unethical' plea for donations to fund fraud defence Craig Thomson's lawyer Chris McArdle on Sky News. Picture: Sky News Source: Supplied FEDERAL MP Craig Thomson's lawyer has emailed a plea for members of the public to pay the embattled MP's legal bills. Thomson's lawyer Chris McArdle sent a wide-reaching email last Friday asking for $150 donations to the "Craig Thomson defence fund" at a fundraiser to be held at the Tattersalls Club on Thursday. The email has angered some of Mr McArdle's peers in the legal fraternity who said the lawyer was promoting the fundraiser to recoup his fees. Several senior lawyers contacted The Daily Telegraph to say they viewed the email as unethical and they will report him to the NSW Law Society and the Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner. Mr McArdle said there was "nothing unethical" about him sending the email. "Lawyers are allowed to charge for their services - it's an ancient and honoured tradition," he said. Speaking in general terms, Legal Services Commissioner Steve Mark said there was "nothing in law" preventing such an email from being sent. "In this case they've already got the business and they're only trying to fund the action," he said. Meanwhile, lawyers for Mr Thomson, who appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday, said they would make a summary jurisdiction application to have the matter heard before a sole magistrate. If successful it means Mr Thomson would not face a jury and would face a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, the maximum sentence a magistrate can impose. The most serious charges being faced by Mr Thomson would carry a maximum penalty of 10 years jail if the matter proceeded by way of a trial. Mr Thomson is facing criminal charges in Victoria relating to alleged misuse of Health Services Union funds.