Adrian John Hall, 39, a criminal law practitioner, pleaded not guilty in the Launceston Supreme Court on Tuesday to eight counts of stealing.

The Crown has accused Mr Hall of having stolen about $17,780 from Launceston barrister and solicitor Grant Tucker, between August 2010 and September 2012.

The amounts alleged range from about $320 to $9000.

The defence has denied that Mr Hall acted dishonestly.

Today, personal assistant Heather Gangell, who has been employed in Mr Tucker's office for about six years, gave evidence for the Crown.

During evidence-in-chief, she said that during the time she was secretary to Mr Hall, his computer literacy was not very good, so Mr Hall would ask her to check how much money was left in trust before he acted for clients in court.

"There were a number of occasions when I had phoned clients when I had the file to close," Mrs Gangell said.

"I would say, 'You have not paid your full $660 fee' and they would reply that they had given that money to Adrian in court or given him cash in his office."

Mrs Gangell agreed with Crown prosecutor Madeleine Wilson that her phone calls to clients were prompted by the fact that there was no money in trust for those particular clients.

Mrs Wilson asked Mrs Gangell if any other professional members of staff in Mr Tucker's office engaged in the practice of receiving cash payments from clients.

"No, only Adrian," Mrs Gangell replied.

Mrs Wilson then asked her about the office "Christmas Club jar".

Mrs Gangell explained that the "little jar" was for casual clients, including friends, who paid Mr Tucker with small amounts of cash or an in-kind payment, such as wine or a carton of beer.

She said that if such people, including the elderly who wanted a simple will drawn up, offered $50 cash or a similar amount, that money would be collected inside the jar.

Mrs Gangell said the money in the jar would then be saved for the office Christmas function and Friday night drinks. 

The trial, before Justice Stephen Estcourt, continues.