The Crown has alleged Stephen Raymond Stubbs, 63, dishonestly took $30,000 from Anne Duffy, while also taking money from Legal Aid - a service that funds legal representation for low-income people.

It's alleged Stubbs kept both Ms Duffy and Legal Aid in the dark about each other's contributions to the case of Alexander Duffy, who faced a charge of conspiracy to murder.

On Thursday, Anneka Ferguson, a senior lecturer at Australian National University in the graduate diploma of legal practice, gave evidence about the courses of legal ethics and trust accounting.

Reading Stubbs' transcripts from the ANU, she told the court under questioning from prosecutor Katrina McKenzie, that Stubbs had achieved a distinction and a high distinction in accounts and legal ethics when he completed the diploma in 2004.

In cross-examination, the topic of the questions turned to legal professional privilege - also known as client privilege.

Stubbs, who is representing himself after his barrister Theresa Warwick withdrew from the matter on Thursday, questioned Ms Ferguson on when client privilege attaches and when it ends.

"If a client gave information before becoming a client, by signing a costs agreement, is that information privileged?" he asked.

"Yes. A costs agreement is not indicative of when privilege attaches to the relationship," she replied.

He asked Ms Ferguson whether privilege is broken if a solicitor is attacked, by being sued, for example.

"Not that I'm aware of," she said.

She said legal privilege can only be broken if there's a risk of harm to another person. Information received under privilege can also be disclosed if the client waives that privilege, she said.

She told the court privilege lasts until the matter ends, but rules around confidentiality extend beyond that.

The prosecution case closed on Thursday. On Friday, Stubbs will take the stand to give evidence.

The trial continues.