The woman known as Lawyer X is now slated to give evidence by phone over four days in February, having previously been expected to phone in next week.

"For various reasons, which I need not go into in public, she will give evidence instead (from) February 4," Rishi Nathwani has told the inquiry.

Ms Gobbo will also only give evidence in the mornings, and then subject to "how she is appearing and her health", he said.

She had previously argued, through Mr Nathwani, that she was too unwell to give evidence at the inquiry.

Those claims were unsuccessful and Commissioner Margaret McMurdo ordered Ms Gobbo to share her side of events.

During an interview with the ABC Ms Gobbo claimed it would take at least 1000 hours to give a statement to the inquiry.

She'll instead have about 14 hours.

Australian Associated Press