Rick Snyder

Gov. Rick Snyder has retained two law firms to assist in criminal and civil matters related to the Flint water crisis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

(Paul Sancya)

LANSING, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder has retained $1.2 million worth of legal services in relation to the Flint water crisis and is paying one attorney $540 per hour, records show.

The contracts' existence became public earlier this week when they surfaced on a state Administrative Board agenda.

Details released by Snyder's office Thursday provide the hourly rates for attorneys. The highest-paid attorney will make $540 per hour.

The State Bar of Michigan in a 2014 study looked at the previous year's hourly billing rates. In 2013, the median hourly billing rate for an attorney in Michigan was $245 per hour. In the Lansing area, that median was $230 per hour.

Snyder spokesman Ari Adler said the governor's office was using the attorneys for processing massive amounts of emails and documents, including those being released voluntarily, Freedom of Information Act requests and lawsuit discovery requests.

"Having experienced counsel who can get documents in the form investigators like the U.S. Attorney's Office and others prefer can be very helpful in completing everyone's work. The fact that a counsel has such experience is a positive thing for getting the work done, even though no one in the Governor's Office did anything criminal," Adler said.

"We simply do not have the internal resources and expertise available to address such large legal demands and needed to turn to outside counsel for assistance."

Democrats, meanwhile, were critical of the contracts when they came up earlier this week.

"Paying more for high-priced lawyers than we are for school nurses or fully refunding victims is another kick in the teeth to taxpayers and my community. Our priority should be sending every resource we can to removing pipes and protecting kids, not covering legal fees," said Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint at the time.

The Flint water crisis emerged when the city switched water sources and more corrosive water leached lead into the water, exposing an unknown number of children. It's sparked criminal investigations and civil lawsuits.

Here are the details of the state's contracts with the legal firms:

Firm: Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker

Total: $400,000

Purpose: To provide legal advice and representation to Snyder "related to any civil litigation or civil investigations of Flint Water legal matters.

Pay: Eugene Driker $540/hour

Morley Witus $400/hour

Todd Mendel $400/hour

Josh Mosh $350/hour

Kevin Aoun $230/hour

Michael Steinberger $225/hour

John Sheets $220/hour

Jennifer Paris (legal assistant) $150/hour

Firm: Warner Norcoss & Judd

Total: $800,000

Purpose: To represent Snyder in any criminal investigations and prosecutions "arising from the Flint water supply matter."

Pay: Partners $415/hour

Associates $285/hour

Paralegals $180/hour

Emily Lawler is a Capitol reporter on MLive's statewide Impact Team. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.