"If any of these matters caused harm or damages to clients then they would be in the position of not having insurance coverage."

After flying Qantas planes for more than 20 years, Whitehall took early retirement in 2020, seeking to "move in a new direction".

He then began working for a Newcastle conveyancing company, and prepared and witnessed the signing of multiple family wills while pretending to be a lawyer.

He also legally represented a woman for a traffic infringement in Belmont Local Court in late 2020, and signed a water access licence.

Whitehall represented himself throughout his proceedings and told the court he did not gain or benefit anything from his legal sham.

"I was, in some cases, just simply helping out a friend or a colleague," he said on Wednesday.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts said the offences were below the mid-range but she was concerned about his lack of remorse. 

"The way the matter was run before the court does seem to indicate a lack of understanding as to the seriousness of the offending," she said during sentencing.

Whitehall had originally pleaded not guilty in September 2021 to all eight charges he faced, including appearing in court as a lawyer and witnessing and signing a will as a lawyer.

Then in May this year he entered guilty pleas to all charges.

Whitehall has 28 days to pay his fine and will be released next July from his community order, requiring him to be of good behaviour.

Law Society of NSW president Cassandra Banks said Whitehall's sentence should serve as a deterrent to others tempted to falsely present as a lawyer.

"People in need of legal advice and advocacy have a right to expect that the person they have retained to provide these services is qualified to do so," Ms Banks said in a statement.

Lawyers need to abide ethical obligations, put their clients' interests above their own and maintain high standards of integrity, honesty and fairness, she said.