List of University of Oxford people in the law

This is a list of University of Oxford people in the Law. Many were students at one (or more) of the colleges of the University, and others held fellowships at a college.

This list forms part of a series of lists of people associated with the University of Oxford – for other lists, please see the main article List of University of Oxford people.

Oxford has produced a large number of distinguished jurists, judges and lawyers around the world. This list includes twelve Lord Chancellors, ten Lord Chief Justices, nine UK Supreme Court Justices and twenty-two law lords; four associate justices of the US Supreme Court as well as six puisne justices of the Supreme Court of Canada and a chief justice of the now defunct Federal Court of Canada. The current Lord Chief Justice (the most senior judge in England and Wales), Lord Burnett of Maldon, was educated at Oxford.

European Court of Human Rights

Name College Years at Oxford Notes Ref Nicolas Bratza Brasenose High Court Judge 1998–, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights 1998–, Section President ECHR 1998–, Vice-President ECHR 2007– Paul Mahoney Judge of the European Court of Human Rights 2012–16, first President of European Union Civil Service Tribunal (2005–2011)

Lord Chancellors and Lord Chief Justices Name College Years at Oxford Notes Ref Charles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden Corpus Christi 1781–1784 Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench 1818–32 Henry Bathurst, 2nd Earl Bathurst, 1st Baron Apsley Balliol 1730– Lord Chancellor 1771–78 Ian Burnett, Baron Burnett of Maldon Pembroke Lord Chief Justice 2017– Richard Bethell, 1st Baron Westbury Wadham 1814–1819 Lord Chancellor 1861–65 Thomas Bingham, Baron Bingham of Cornhill Balliol 1954– Master of the Rolls 1992–1996, Lord Chief Justice 1996–2000, Senior Law Lord 2000–2008 Stanley Buckmaster, 1st Viscount Buckmaster Christ Church 1879–1882 Solicitor General 1913–15, Lord Chancellor 1915–16 John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge Balliol 1838–1843 Fellow of Exeter College 1843–1846, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 1873–80, Lord Chief Justice 1880–94 Gerald Gardiner, Baron Gardiner Magdalen –1923 Lord Chancellor 1964–70 David Gauke St Edmund Hall 1990–1993 Lord Chancellor 2018– Hardinge Giffard, 1st Earl of Halsbury Merton 1842–1845 Lord Chancellor 1885–86, 1886–92, & 1895–1905 Rayner Goddard, Baron Goddard Trinity –1898 Lord Chief Justice 1946–1958 Matthew Hale Magdalen Hall 1626–1629 Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer 1660–71, Lord Chief Justice 1671–76 Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone Christ Church 1927–1931 Prize Fellow of All Souls 1931, Lord Chancellor 1970–74 and 1979–87 John Holt Oriel 1658– Lord Chief Justice 1689–1710 William Jowitt, 1st Earl Jowitt New College 1903–1906 Solicitor General 1940–42, Lord Chancellor 1945–51 Reginald Manningham-Buller, 1st Viscount Dilhorne Magdalen –1926 Lord Chancellor 1962–1964 Thomas More Oriel or Canterbury 1492–1494 Lord Chancellor 1529–1532 William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield Christ Church 1723–1727 Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench 1756–88 John Popham Balliol Speaker of the House of Commons 1580–83, Lord Chief Justice 1592–1607 Robert Reid, 1st Earl Loreburn Balliol –1868 Lord Chancellor 1907–1912 John Sankey, 1st Viscount Sankey Jesus –1891 Lord Chancellor 1929–1935 William Scroggs Pembroke 1639–1649 Lord Chief Justice 1678–81 Gavin Simonds, 1st Viscount Simonds New College 1900–1904 Lord Chancellor 1951–1954 Thomas Wolsey Magdalen College Lord Chancellor 1515–1529

Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

NameCollegeYears at OxfordNotesRefDavid Neuberger, Baron Neuberger of AbbotsburyChrist Church1966–1970, BA (Chemistry) President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2012–2017); Master of the Rolls (2009–2012); Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (2007–2009); Lord Justice of Appeal (2004–2007); Justice of the High Court, CD (1996–2004)Biographies of the Justices – The Supreme CourtJonathan Mance, Baron ManceUniversity1961–1964, BA (Law) Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2009–); Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (2005–2009); Lord Justice of Appeal (1999–2005); Justice of the High Court, QBD (1993–1999)Nicholas Wilson, Lord Wilson of CulworthWorcesterJustice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2011–); Lord Justice of Appeal (2005–2011); Justice of the High Court, FD (1993–2005)Jonathan Sumption, Lord SumptionMagdalen1967–1970, BA (Medieval History)Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2012–); Deputy High Court Judge, Judge Jersey & Guernsey Court of AppealRobert Reed, Baron Reed of AllermuirBalliol 1978, DPhil (Law)Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2012–); Senator of the College of Justice: Inner House (2008–2012), Outer House (1998–2008)Alan Rodger, Baron Rodger of EarlsferryNew and Balliol1970–1972, DPhil (Law) Lord President of the Court of Session 1996–2001; appointed a Law Lord in 2001, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2009–11)Mark Saville, Baron Saville of NewdigateBrasenose CollegeJustice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2009–12)Michael Briggs, Lord Briggs of WestbourneMagdalenJustice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2017–)Simon Brown, Baron Brown of Eaton-under-HeywoodWorcester CollegeAppointed a Law Lord in 2004, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2009–12)Vivien Rose, Lady Rose of ColmworthBrasenose CollegeJustice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2021–); Lady Justice of Appeal (2019–2021); Justice of the High Court, Chancery Division (2013–2019)Andrew Burrows, Lord BurrowsBrasenose CollegeJustice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2020–); Deputy High Court judge (England and Wales) (part-time), Commercial Division (2007–2020); Recorder, Crown Court South-Eastern Circuit (approx. 2000–2017)

Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (Law Lords)

Name College Years at Oxford Notes Ref Cyril Asquith, Baron Asquith of Bishopstone Balliol –1913 Elected Fellow of Magdalen College in 1913; appointed a Law Lord in 1951 James Atkin, Baron Atkin Magdalen 1884– appointed a Law Lord in 1928 Charles Bowen, Baron Bowen Balliol 1853–1857 Elected Fellow (whilst still an undergraduate) in 1857; appointed a Law Lord in 1893 Nicholas Browne-Wilkinson, Baron Browne-Wilkinson Magdalen Appointed a Law Lord in 1991 Horace Davey, Baron Davey University 1852–1856 Fellow of University College 1856–1864; appointed a Law Lord in 1894 Edmund Davies, Baron Edmund-Davies Exeter Appointed a Law Lord in 1966 Alfred Thompson Denning, Baron Denning Magdalen 1916–1920 (Mathematics), 1921–1922 (Law) Degree interrupted by war service 1917–1919. Appointed a Law Lord in 1957; Master of the Rolls 1962–1982 Kenneth Diplock, Baron Diplock University Appointed a Law Lord in 1968 Robert Goff, Baron Goff of Chieveley New College High Steward of Oxford University Leonard Hoffmann, Baron Hoffmann The Queen's Stowell Fellow, University College Brian Hutton, Baron Hutton Balliol Geoffrey Lawrence, 1st Baron Oaksey New College –1903 Appointed a Law Lord in 1947 Michael Nolan, Baron Nolan Wadham Appointed a Law Lord in 1994 Wilfrid Normand, Baron Normand Oriel 1902–1906 Lord President of the Court of Session 1935–1947; appointed a Law Lord in 1947. Cyril Radcliffe, 1st Viscount Radcliffe New College and All Souls 1919–1921 (New), 1922–1937 (Fellow of All Souls) Appointed a Law Lord (direct from the bar) in 1949 Eustace Roskill, Baron Roskill Exeter College 1930–1932 Appointed a Law Lord in 1980 Leslie Scarman, Baron Scarman Brasenose Appointed a Law Lord in 1977 Donald Somervell, Baron Somervell of Harrow Magdalen and All Souls 1907–1911 (Magdalen), 1912– (Fellow of All Souls) First chemistry graduate to be elected a Fellow of All Souls. Solicitor General 1933–1936, Attorney General 1936–1945, appointed a Law Lord in 1954 Johan Steyn, Baron Steyn University Appointed a Law Lord in 2005 Richard Wilberforce, Baron Wilberforce New College and All Souls –1930 (New), 1932–2003 (All Souls) Appointed a Law Lord in 1964 (direct from High Court). High Steward of Oxford University 1967–1990

Other judges and lawyers: United Kingdom Name College Years at Oxford Notes Ref Philip Bell The Queen's MP 1951–60, County Court Judge 1960–75, Circuit Judge 1971–75 Malcolm Bishop Regent's Park Deputy High Court Judge, Chair Isle of Man Legal Services Commission William Blair Balliol Dep High Court Judge 2003–, Chairman of Finsmat 2001–, of Combar 2003–05 Julius Caesar Magdalen Chancellor of the Exchequer 1606–14, Master of the Rolls 1614–36 John Cameron, Lord Abernethy Pembroke Senator of the College of Justice 1992– John Taylor Cameron, Lord Coulsfield Corpus Christi Senator of the College of Justice 1987– Kenneth Cameron, Baron Cameron of Lochbroom Corpus Christi Lord Advocate 1984–89 George Carman Balliol barrister 1953, QC 1971, sometime head of chambers New Court Joseph William Chitty Balliol and Exeter Lord Justice of Appeal 1897–99 Michael Coulson Merton MP 1959–64, Circuit Judge 1983–98 Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry Balliol Lord Keeper of the Great Seal 1625–40 Charles Isaac Elton Balliol and The Queen's Barrister 1865, QC 1885, MP 1884–85 & 1886–92 Sir Norris Foster, CBE Barrister, Warwickshire County Appeal Tribunal, Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, Birmingham Local War Pensions Committee, and the central Committee of the War Pensions and Citizens Committee d. 1925 Sir Michael Fox Magdalen Lord Justice of Appeal 1981–1992 Arthur Hamilton, Lord Hamilton Worcester Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session 2005– Giles Henderson Magdalen and Pembroke Senior Partner Slaughter and May 1993–2001 Leoline Jenkins Jesus Royalist, Principal Jesus College, Oxford 1661–73, Secretary of State 1680–84 John Laws Exeter Lord Justice of Appeal 1999– Sir Brian Leveson Merton current President of the Queen's Bench Division Roger Ludlow Balliol author of Fundamental Orders of Connecticut Ronald King Murray, Lord Murray Jesus MP 1970–79, Lord Advocate 1974–79, Senator of the College of Justice 1979– Ann Olivarius Somerville Chair, McAllister Olivarius, plaintiff in Alexander v. Yale, expert in discrimination, Title IX, revenge porn, sexual harassment law William Osgoode Christ Church first Chief Justice of Upper Canada 1792–1794, Chief Justice of Lower Canada 1794–1801 Stephen Richards St John's High Court Judge 1997–2005, Presiding Judge for Wales 2000–2003, Lord Justice of Appeal 2005– Bernard Rix New College Lord Justice of Appeal 2000– Geoffrey Robertson University QC, Recorder, Master of the Bench, head of chambers, visiting professor David Trustram Eve, 2nd Baron Silsoe Christ Church barrister 1955, QC 1972, expert in planning law Mathew Thorpe Balliol Lord Justice of Appeal 1996– Lancelot Ware Lincoln co–founder of Mesna 1946, barrister 1949, sometime Alderman London County Council James Whitelocke St John's Justice of the King's Bench 1624–32 Ivy Williams Society of Oxford Home-Students 1896–1902 (student), 1920–1945 (lecturer) First female barrister in England (1921), first female Doctor of Civil Law (1923) Norman Wylie, Lord Wylie St Edmund Hall MP 1964–74, Ld Advocate 1970–74, Sen Coll of Justice 1974–90, Justice of Appeal Botswana 1994–96

Natasha Hausdorff (born 1989), barrister, international news commentator, and Israel advocate

Judges and lawyers: other countries