Professor Donald Nicolson
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Email
dn17405@essex.ac.uk -
Location
Colchester Campus
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Academic support hours
Wednesday 09:00 - 11:00
Profile
Biography
Donald joined the Univesity in September 2017 as the Director of the Law Clinic.He was educated at the Universities of Cape Town (BA/LLB) amd Cambridge (PhD).He was previously a Professor at the University of Strathclyde where he set up its Law Clinic, and a Lecturer at the Universities of Bristol (where he set up itsLaw Clinic) and Reading. Donald currently teaches Jurispudence and various clinical courses. He has published numerous articles and a co-authored book on lawyers' ethics, various articles on clinical legal education, a co-edited book on affirmative action, a book and articles on evidence in Scotland, articles on evidence theory, articles and a co-edited book on criminal law, and articles on law and gender, feminist legal theory and adjudication. His current research interests are in the areas of evidence, law clinics, and lawyers鈥� ethics, with particular reference to moral development. He is on the editorial board of Legal Ethics and the International Journal of the Legal Profession and a trustee of the Clinical Legal Education Organisation. In 2011, Donald was awarded an OBE for services to the legal profession.
Qualifications
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BA African Government University of Cape Town, (1981)
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LLB Law University of Cape Town, (1983)
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PhD Law University of Cambridge, (1989)
Research and professional activities
Conferences and presentations
Profession under Attack: Impact of the Changes in Legal Services on Legal Ethics
Invited presentation, Keynote presentation, Building the Law Firm of the Future Conference, 16/11/2019
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Legal Research Skills (LW254)
Current supervision
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Law
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 16/4/2025
Publications
Journal articles (31)
Nicolson, D., (2025). . Law Teacher. 59 (1), 84-111
Newman, J., Lawrie, F., Nicolson, D. and Swain, M., (2020). . Clinical Law Review. 26 (2), 465-513
Nicolson, D. and Wheate, R., (2020). . Juridical Review. 2020 (3-4), 111-152
Newman, J. and Nicolson, D., (2016). . The Buffalo Public Interest Law Journal. 35
Nicolson, D., (2016). . International Journal of Clinical Legal Education. 23 (1), 69-110
Nicolson, D., (2016). . International Journal of Clinical Legal Education. 23 (3), 87-136
Nicolson, D., (2015). . International Journal of the Legal Profession. 22 (1), 51-69
Nicolson, D., (2014). . Edinburgh Law Review. 18 (2), 254-259
Nicolson, D., (2013). Calling, character and clinical legal education : a cradle to grave approach to inculcating a love for justice. Legal Ethics. 16 (1), 36-56
Nicolson, D. and Blackie, J., (2013). Corroboration in Scots law : "archaic rule? or ?invaluable safeguard??. Edinburgh Law Review. 17 (2), 152-183
Nicolson, D., (2013). Taking epistemology seriously : ?truth, reason and justice? revisited. International Journal of Evidence and Proof. 17 (1), 1-46
Nicolson, D., (2012). Access to justice and the legal profession. SCOLAG Journal. 416, 133-136
Nicolson, D., (2011). Do law clinics help to create progressive lawyers for the future?. Socialist Lawyer. 2011 (59)
Nicolson, D., (2009). Teaching legal ethics: what, how and why : Ensenar etica juridica: que, como y cuando. Revista De Educacion Y Derecho - Education and Law Review. 1, 171-190
Nicolson, D., (2008). 'Education, education, education' : legal, moral and clinical. Law Teacher. 42 (2), 145-172
Nicolson, D. and McHarg, A., (2006). Justifying affirmative action: Perception and reality. Journal of Law and Society. 33 (1), 1-23
Nicolson, D., (2006). Affirmative Action in the Legal Profession. Journal of Law and Society. 33 (1), 109-125
Nicolson, D., (2006). Affirmative action in the legal profession. Journal of Law and Society. 31 (1), 109-125
Nicolson, D., (2005). Making lawyers moral : Ethical codes and moral character. Legal Studies. 25 (4), 601-626
Nicolson, D., (2005). Demography, discrimination and diversity: a new dawn for the British legal profession. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 12 (2), 201-228
Nicolson, D. and Webb, J., (2005). Public rules and private values: fractured profession(alism)s and institutional ethics. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 12 (2), 165-172
Nicolson, D., (2004). In defence of contextually sensitive moral activism. Legal Ethics. 7 (2), 269-275
Nicolson, D. and Webb, J., (2004). Lawyers' duties, adversarialism and partisanship in UK legal ethics. Legal Ethics. 7 (2), 133-140
Nicolson, D., (2004). The theoretical turn in professional legal ethics. Legal Ethics. 7 (1), 17-23
Nicolson, D., (2004). Afterword: In Defence of Contextually Sensitive Moral Activism. Legal Ethics. 7 (2), 269-275
Nicolson, D., (2001). Review of Philip Thomas: Discriminating lawyers. Common Law World Review. 30 (3), 343-347
Webb, J. and Nicolson, D., (1999). Institutionalising Trust: Ethics and the Responsive Regulation of the Legal Profession. Legal Ethics. 2 (2), 148-168
Nicolson, D. and Webb, J., (1999). Taking lawyers鈥� ethics seriously. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 6 (1), 109-134
Nicolson, D., (1998). Mapping Professional Legal Ethics: The Form and Focus of the Codes. Legal Ethics. 1 (1), 51-69
Nicolson, D., (1995). Telling tales: Gender discrimination, gender construction and battered women who kill. Feminist Legal Studies. 3 (2), 185-206
Nicolson, D., (1994). Truth, Reason and Justice: Epistemology and Politics in Evidence Disclosure. The Modern Law Review. 57 (5), 726-744
Books (2)
Nicolson, D., Newman, J. and Grimes, R., (2023). . Edward Elgar. 978 1 80392 141 9
Nicolson, D., (2019). . Edinburgh University Press. 1474412009. 9781474412001
Book chapters (19)
Nicolson, D., Newman, J. and Grimes, R., (2023). Future perfect: planning your successful clinic. In: How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic. Edward Elgar Publishing. 215- 224. 9781803921419
Nicolson, D., Newman, J. and Grimes, R., (2023). Clinic design: organisational variables. In: How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic. Edward Elgar Publishing. 45- 76. 9781803921419
Nicolson, D., Newman, J. and Grimes, R., (2023). Delivering quality clinical education and services. In: How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic. Edward Elgar Publishing. 135- 177. 9781803921419
Nicolson, D., Newman, J. and Grimes, R., (2023). Setting up an effective and sustainable clinic. In: How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic. Edward Elgar Publishing. 178- 214. 9781803921419
Nicolson, D., Newman, J. and Grimes, R., (2023). Clinic services: what services can clinics provide?. In: How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic. Edward Elgar Publishing. 77- 117. 9781803921419
Nicolson, D., Newman, J. and Grimes, R., (2023). Service delivery models: who, how, where and when?. In: How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic. Edward Elgar Publishing. 118- 134. 9781803921419
Nicolson, D., Newman, J. and Grimes, R., (2023). Introducing law clinics. In: How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic. Edward Elgar Publishing. 1- 18. 9781803921419
Nicolson, D., Newman, J. and Grimes, R., (2023). Clinic goals and benefits. In: How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic. Edward Elgar Publishing. 19- 44. 9781803921419
Nicolson, D., Newman, J. and Grimes, R., (2023). Index. In: How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic. Edward Elgar Publishing. 9781803921419
Nicolson, D. and Fisher-Frank, E., (2020). . In: Covid-19, Law and Human Rights : 糖心Vlog Dialogues. A Project of the School of Law and Human Rights Centre. Editors: Ferstman, C. and FAgan, A., . 糖心Vlog. 229- 236. 978-1-5272-6632-2
Nicolson, D. and Russell, J., (2020). . In: Covid-19, Law and Human Rights : 糖心Vlog Dialogues. A Project of the School of Law and Human Rights Centre. Editors: Ferstman, C. and Fagan, A., . 糖心Vlog. 207- 215. 978-1-5272-6632-2
Nicolson, D. and McHarg, A., (2019). Salvesen V Riddell (Lord Advocate and Advocates To The Court Intervening). In: Scottish Feminist Judgments Projects. Editors: Cowan, S., Kennedy, C. and Munroe, V.,
McHarg, A. and Nicolson, D., (2019). Salvesen v Riddell [2013] UKSC 236: Reflective Statement: Salvesen v Riddell. In: Scottish Feminist Judgments Re Creating Law from the Outside in. 410- 412
McHarg, A. and Nicolson, D., (2019). Salvesen v Riddell [2013] UKSC 236. In: Scottish Feminist Judgments Re Creating Law from the Outside in. 389- 403
Nicolson, D. and Auchie, DP., (2017). . In: Scottish Criminal Evidence Law: Current Developments and Future Trends. Editors: Duff, P. and Ferguson, PR., . Edinburgh University Press. 161- 193. 9781474414760
(2017). Re-thinking Legal Education Under the Civil and Common Law. In: Re Thinking Legal Education Under the Civil and Common Law A Road Map for Constructive Change. Editors: Grimes, R., . Routledge. 87- 113
Nicolson, D., (2016). Teaching ethics clinically without breaking the bank. In: Experimental Legal Education in a Globalized World. Editors: Qafisheh, MM. and Rosenbaum, SA., . Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 454- 476. 9781443889100
(2016). The Calling of Law. In: Calling of Law the Pivotal Role of Vocational Legal Education. Editors: Westwood, F. and Barton, K., . Routledge. 61- 84
Nicolson, D., (2010). Learning in Justice : ethical education in an extra-curricular law clinic. In: The Ethics Project in Legal Education. Editors: Robertson, M., Corbin, L., Tranter, K. and Bartlett, F., . Routledge. 171- 190. 9780415546515
Other (1)
Nicolson, D., (2001).Review of Richard Spitz and Matthew Chaskalsons: The politics of transition: A hidden history of South Africa's negotiated settlement. International and Comparative Law Quarterly. 50(4),Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Contact
Academic support hours:
Wednesday 09:00 - 11:00
