An investment in future lawyers and Manitoba communities

More than 20 years ago, University of Manitoba (UM) law alum L. Kerry Vickar [LLB/80, LLD/25] saw an opportunity to transform how future lawyers learn their profession.

Through his initial support in 2005 to the Faculty of Law for the business law program, Vickar helped launch what would become the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic, creating opportunities for law students to gain practical experience while providing legal support to entrepreneurs, small businesses and community organizations. Vickar and his wife Simone helped the program grow from an innovative idea into a thriving teaching law firm – transforming a former storage room in Robson Hall into a dedicated, state-of-the-art experiential learning hub.  

Today, the Clinic is making a measurable difference across Manitoba. Since it first began serving clients in 2021, students have contributed more than 23,000 pro bono hours – over 4,000 pro bono hours per year – supporting startups, nonprofits and businesses throughout the province. Nearly 50 per cent of clients are women entrepreneurs, 20 per cent are nonprofit organizations, and 37 per cent are based in rural or northern communities.

The impact extends well beyond campus. Clinic alumni can be found at prestigious law firms in Winnipeg and across Canada, carrying forward the practical skills and community-minded approach they first developed through the Clinic. 

Bringing legal education to life

Clinic alumni Robert Johnstone [BA/21, JD/24], Jamie Robertson [JD/24] and Abhinav Dhingra [BSc/21, JD/24] say the Clinic proved to be one of the most formative experiences of their legal education. 

"In the classroom you're learning cases, you're learning material, you're learning history. You're not really learning the social element of law," says Johnstone, now an associate at MLT Aikins in Calgary. "I think a really big piece of practising law is being able to interact with clients on a professional level and understand what their goals are and explaining how you can help them."  

The Clinic allows students to apply that knowledge by working directly with clients under the supervision of experienced lawyers. Students conduct interviews, assess legal issues, draft documents and help clients navigate important decisions. 

For Robertson, now a lawyer at Manitoba Hydro, and Dhingra, now a corporate and commercial lawyer with Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, that experience offered an invaluable glimpse into the realities of legal practice.

"Time management was something I learned through practise at the Clinic," says Robertson. "Deadlines are not always set out clearly with what exactly must be done when you are working with clients. Rather, you need to discuss reasonable timelines, and account for the fact that multiple meetings may be required, as well as multiple drafts of a deliverable." 

Building confidence through experience

Alumni frequently cite the Clinic as a confidence-building experience that prepared them for articling and legal practice and have credited the Clinic with teaching them what kind of lawyers they want to become. 

Serving Manitoba's entrepreneurs and communities

The impact is also felt across Manitoba. In the past year alone, Clinic students worked on 945 cases, projects and client files and participated in 24 community outreach and education events. These events attract entrepreneurs, artists, nonprofits and community leaders looking to access information and supports that can be difficult to obtain outside major urban centres. 

A legacy of opportunity

Looking back, Johnstone, Dhingra and Roberston see Vickar's philanthropy as an investment that continues to pay dividends for students and the community alike. 

"The community gets the help and advice they need, and students gain experience," Dhingra says. "Being able to benefit the community while also learning so much myself was incredibly rewarding."  

Through hours of student service, province-wide outreach and a growing network of alumni practising across Canada, the Clinic has become far more than a learning opportunity. It is a model of how philanthropy can both strengthen education and the community.  

"The Clinic is a vital resource. Without it, a lot of individuals wouldn't have access to legal assistance," says Johnstone. "I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a safe environment with mentorship and support."

For the next generation of aspiring lawyers, and for the individuals, businesses and organizations they serve, the impact of the Vickar's generosity is felt every day. 

When Vickar was recently asked about his motivation for giving, he reflected on his experiences as an articling student. Vickar realized that while law school had given him a strong foundation in legal theory, it had not fully prepared him with the practical skills needed to serve clients and navigate the realities of practice. That insight inspired the creation of the Clinic.