By Harbani Kohli
On 12 February 2025, we welcomed our founder, Professor Donald Nicolson back to the University of Strathclyde to give a talk on his new book “How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic: Principles and Practice”. The event was hosted by the University of Strathclyde and organised by Gordon Gow, Student Director, and Gillian Melville, Supervisor. Many thanks to those who attended the event and to those who made the event possible.
The following article was produced by Harbani Kohli, a Student Advisor who attended the talk, and provides a detailed overview of the event and the main points discussed by Prof Nicolson…
Professor Donald Nicolson OBE is a pioneering figure in the law clinic world. His inspiring career has been dedicated to making the law more accessible, while empowering the next generation of socially conscious lawyers. We at Strathclyde know Professor Nicolson as the founder of Strathclyde Law Clinic, an award-winning model for student-led law clinics across the UK. The thriving clinic today reflects Donald’s belief that law students should gain practical experience while making a difference in their communities. The Clinic will celebrate 22 years this year, and it’s continued success remains a testament to what was envisioned more than two decades ago.
On 12 February 2025, I joined staff and students at a talk by Professor Nicolson about his recent publication, “How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic: Principles and Practice” co-authored with JoNel Newman and Richard Grimes. The session, which was hosted by Strathclyde University, was well attended by those with an interest in pro bono legal services and education, and I am glad to have been there for Professor Nicolson’s homecoming.
Professor Nicolson gave guidance for those wishing to establish and manage their own law clinics, while also giving attendees a deeper understanding of the founding principles behind Strathclyde Law Clinic. It was great to see some of the original founding student members of Strathclyde Law Clinic present at the session too.
Professor Nicolson spoke about the importance of experiential student learning. He also discussed the importance of supervisors, which stuck with me, as I have always felt incredibly supported by the supervisors at Strathclyde Law Clinic who truly go above and beyond in their support for students.
Professor Nicolson also spoke about the duality of clinics, which, depending on which type of clinic you set up, can function as both places of learning and places to enhance access to justice. This is the model in action at Strathclyde Law Clinic and I think it demonstrates that when a law clinic provides legal services to people who cannot afford it, it also shapes minds and encourages the next generation of lawyers to think about the importance of pro bono work.
The Law Clinic at Strathclyde runs various projects in line with Professor Nicolson’s suggestions including Public Legal Education Sessions, specialised projects, and generalist advice platforms like the Initial Advice Clinic (IAC). As the Depute IAC Coordinator, I have had the chance to experience running the latter first hand which has shown me its importance in people’s lives and how crucial it is for people to have access to legal advice.
Strathclyde Law Clinic is and remains a social justice-oriented clinic. It became a formally educationally oriented as well with the introduction of the clinical LLB (CLLB) programme, an innovative degree designed by Professor Nicolson, which is thought to be unique in the UK, and possibly in the world.
Professor Nicolson’s observations force one to think about one’s motivations towards becoming a lawyer. I personally have had the privilege to speak to many students who genuinely want to give back, not just to the community but to the Law Clinic that played a pivotal role in their legal journeys.
I started my studies at Strathclyde in 2022 and joined the Strathclyde Law Clinic as a Student Advisor and Elected Member in the 2023 cohort, hoping it would be something I could speak about during application season, but it quickly became a part of who I am. The clinic completely transformed my experience, and I instantly felt like I belonged and had someplace to go. This is the essence of what I took away from Professor Nicolson’s talk. Law clinics don’t only have a social justice benefit, but they can bring people together and oftentimes give students purpose, both personally and professionally.
The talk was followed by a well-attended social which shows that law clinics aren’t just charitable bodies but can be like big families. I have certainly felt that way and Professor Nicolson’s message to keep the family together can certainly be seen throughout his book and in the way he delivered his lecture. I am privileged to be a part of the Clinic at Strathclyde and to have been able to attend the talk because it was a testament to how far Professor Nicolson’s vision has come and gives us as students ideas on how to develop it even more for the future.