Scholars let clients loose (10)

I believe the answer is:

intellects

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'scholars' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'let clients loose' is the wordplay.
'loose' indicates anagramming the letters (letters are loosened from their original positions).
'let'+'clients'='letclients'
'letclients' anagrammed gives 'INTELLECTS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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