A former international pilot who lost his wings after he was found to have abused prescription medication has learnt his fate after he was charged with practising law without a licence.
Former Qantas pilot Nathan John Whitehall was found guilty of eight charges stemming from legal work he completed for clients while employed at Lake Macquarie Conveyancing.
The NSW Law Society confirmed to Downing Centre Local Court that Whitehall never held a certificate in any state to practise law – a requirement for all solicitors working in NSW.
The court was told on Tuesday that Whitehall began working for LMC in its Belmont office in mid-2020 after initially expressing interest in buying the business from its owner, Lorraine Berry.
A former LMC client previously told the court that she had employed Whitehall during the purchase of some land and had agreed for the firm to draw up wills for herself and her family.
The court was told Whitehall met with the family to discuss their needs for the will before exchanging emails from the company email address that he signed as “Nate”.
Magistrate Juliana Crofts threw out claims by Whitehall, who gave his own evidence during the weeks-long hearing, that the emails were not actually from him.
Ms Crofts also dismissed claims by the former pilot that he had not written the word “lawyer” on the documents given to the family.
The court heard evidence from previous LMC employees about Whitehall purporting to be a lawyer or solicitor on numerous occasions, including in important documents.
Ex-employee Amanda Carr gave evidence about Whitehall’s role in the signing of a water contract in 2021.
“Ms Carr told Whitehall, ‘I’m a lowly licensed conveyancer and only a solicitor can sign’,” Ms Crofts said.
“Whitehall took the documents, signed them and responded that ‘humility did not suit her’.”
Another employee, Allison Keyes, gave evidence that Whitehall signed a couple’s statutory declaration forms.
Ms Keyes was with Whitehall and the couple when the documents were signed in LMC’s Swansea office.
“Ms Keyes gave evidence of her growing suspicions of Whitehall over the following months,” Ms Crofts said
“He did not have the level of knowledge of a lawyer, and she could not find him on the NSW law website.”
Ms Keyes admitted Whitehall had not told her he was a solicitor but had signed documents in that capacity.
She resigned from the company shortly after.
Whitehall claimed in court the former employees had colluded but provided no evidence.
He denied some claims during the hearing but largely admitted to practising law without a licence.
He instead debated what constituted legal work, which the court was told was for the magistrate to decide.
The court was told Whitehall had acted on behalf of a woman in a licence appeal at Belmont Local Court in 2021.
Ms Croft said Whitehall could be heard in the audio telling the magistrate he possessed a certificate.
Later, Transport for NSW solicitor Georgia Hazzard interjected after she was told by Whitehall that he didn’t have one.
“A court officer got Ms Hazzard’s attention and told her ‘he’s not a lawyer’,” Ms Croft said.
“Whitehall later told Ms Hazzard ‘I guess I don’t (have a licence) and called for an adjournment.”
Ms Hazzard noted emails she had exchanged with Whitehall did not include the word lawyer or solicitor.
She told the court she was tipped off by his behaviour and manner of dress on the day.
Ms Croft found Whitehall guilty of all eight charges, stating she deemed them evidence of legal work.
Whitehall will reappear before the Downing Centre Local Court on June 19 for sentencing.
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