A Hobart lawyer charged with two counts of perverting justice in relation to Susan Neill-Fraser's appeal bid may not face trial.
Jeffrey Ian Thompson formerly represented convicted killer Neill-Fraser, who is currently serving a 23-year jail sentence for the murder of her partner Bob Chappell.
Mr Chappell was last seen on the couple's yacht in Sandy Bay on Australia Day 2009.
Mr Thompson allegedly influenced witness Stephen John Gleeson to change his version of events as to what he saw the night Mr Chappell disappeared in favour of Neill-Fraser's case.
The Hobart Supreme Court heard on Thursday a preliminary legal argument may result in the matter not proceeding to trial.
Mr Thompson claims boxes of documents seized by police in relation to the charge were part of the Neill-Fraser matter and therefore subject to legal privilege.
Crown prosecutor Jackie Hartnett said the state's position was that no privilege exists.
Justice Michael Brett said the legal argument seemed to be the crux of the entire matter.
"If I am correctly predicting this argument ... [it] may resolve the trial," Justice Brett said.
The matter was adjourned for the legal argument to proceed on October 31.
If the issue of privilege is dismissed, Ms Hartnett said it was the Crown's intention for the matter to be listed for trial in late November.
Due to scheduling conflicts, with two of Mr Thompson's defence lawyers based interstate, Justice Brett said he may not be able to deal with the trial until next year.