Oscar Davies (French & History, 2016) is an award-winning barrister and Legal 500’s LGBTQ+ Champion of the Year 2024.

Oscar made history as the first barrister in the UK to be publicly recognised as non-binary and is a keen advocate for transgender and non-binary people across the legal sector. Oscar works from Garden Court chambers, and covers a variety of areas, including human rights, employment and public law.

What are your happiest memories of your time at King’s?

I sang with the King’s Chapel Choir in the Byzantine chapel on the Strand Campus about three times a week, and with King’s acapella group, All the King’s Men. We went on tour to Paris, Venice, Gibraltar and the USA, which was a great experience.

How have you stayed connected to King’s since graduating?

I still have a core friendship group I met during Freshers’ Week at King’s. I also met lots of friends through my study abroad programme.

Fast forward ten years, and I now work as a human rights barrister. I work in Temple so I feel like I never really left the Strand!

I was the first barrister to come out publicly as non-binary, so I do lots of advocacy around transgender and non-binary rights. This work was informed by the variety of gender theory modules I did in my final year at King’s.

I also regularly go to alumni events, and I've been asked back to speak at some King’s law events over the years.

Why is your alumni network important to you?

It’s important to maintain connections at your alma mater as people understand where you started your adult life. They share long-standing experiences with you, too.

Has the ability to interact effectively with people from other cultures and backgrounds been important in your life?

King’s has an international approach and that’s informed my own stance. When I was at King’s, I studied abroad in Paris, Quebec and Berlin. These gave me such a rich understanding of the importance of a multicultural approach to life and work.

This has helped me in my job as a barrister. Clients often come from all walks of life – some more privileged than others – so it helps to have a degree of understanding and sensitivity towards other cultures, practices, and languages.

What advice would you give for success in life after King’s?

If you want to go to the Bar, make sure to focus on your academics and try your hardest to get a First if you can. Legal work often intersects with academia, so it’s important to get the best grades you can and have a well-rounded university experience.

Lean into the diverse opportunities King’s has to offer, too. Study abroad if you can – even if it is just for a summer. Also lean into the activities and societies if you can. This is where you make your long-lasting friends.