Stubbs, 64, was last year tried and found guilty by a jury of 14 counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception.

The crimes concerned legal work Stubbs had performed for a client, Alexander Duffy, who was accused of involvement in a murder plot.

Stubbs was the man's solicitor.

Over the course of 2008 and 2009, Stubbs took some $3000 from Legal Aid ACT, and nearly $26,000 from Mr Duffy's mother for work on his defence.

The taking of the money was dishonest because he kept both parties ignorant of the other's contribution.

Stubbs faced a dramatic trial in November and December last year.

On the second day, the jury lost a member for medical reasons.

On day four, Stubbs' barrister withdrew citing ethical reasons. His solicitor also withdrew, saying his instructions had been withdrawn.

Stubbs asked for the jury to be discharged but the request was declined, though the judge offered to adjourn for a few days for him to get new representation.

Stubbs said it would not be possible and so the trial continued with him defending himself.

On the seventh day, Stubbs emailed the court to say he had admitted himself to hospital.

A few days later, a medical report said there was no evidence of an ongoing new organic illness and the trial continued, with Stubbs now in custody.

Stubbs appealed the subsequent convictions.

He argued that he did not receive a fair trial, saying the judge allowed the trial to continue after his counsel withdrew and that Stubbs - who continued in her stead - was incompetent counsel.

He also argued that on the evidence his conduct was not capable of making out the crime he was charged with, and that the jury's verdict was unsafe and unsatisfactory.

But on Monday a full bench of the ACT Court of Appeal comprised of Justice Michael Elkaim, Additional Justice Robert Bromwich, and Acting Justice David Robinson, dismissed each ground of the appeal.

On the ground of a fair trial, the judges said the trial judge had offered Stubbs an adjournment to get new counsel but the offer was declined.

"We cannot see any error in the exercise of the trial judge's discretion to continue the trial in the circumstances and in the manner in which his Honour did," they said.

There was also no error in continuing after Stubbs was in hospital, they said.

"The trial judge considered the then available medical evidence before continuing the trial. At that time the appellant made no objection to the trial resuming. Again, this was a matter for the discretion of the trial judge."

Stubbs has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison, with one year to be served behind bars.

He is currently serving time in the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

He is due for release November next year.