The First Nations Legal Clinic is designed to engage law students in the issues that arise in providing legal services to disadvantaged members of the First Nations community. In requiring a practice component that includes real clients, lectures which focus both on substantive and professional issues and completion of a major term paper, students have a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in this area and to reflect on such experience.

First Nations clients include individuals, Band Councils, Aboriginal societies, organizations and groups. The Clinic focuses on legal matters confronting these parties. The students work part of the week at the First Nations Legal Clinic, situated at 50 Powell Street (in the Native Courtworkers office), and for the balance of the week attend classes at the university. The Clinic classes include direct instruction in the "lawyering process", such as interviewing skills, case evaluation and management, investigation, trial work, general advocacy, ethics and substantive law issues.