Harris Society Dinner

Guest speaker Kannon Shanmugam (1993 Jurisprudence, Honorary Fellow) with Law Tutor Professor James Goudkamp

Keble College’s Law Society, the Harris Society, is named in honour of former law tutor, Professor James (Jim) Harris FBA. In February, the College had the pleasure of welcoming students and alumni to celebrate the vibrant legal community made up of those who have studied here to the triennial Harris Society Dinner. This year, we were privileged to have Kannon Shanmugam (1993 Jurisprudence), a distinguished appellate advocate, Keble alumnus and Honorary Fellow, as the guest speaker.

Kannon, one of the USA’s leading Supreme Court advocates, has argued 39 cases before the Supreme Court. His journey is one of dedication and excellence. Born in Oklahoma to Indian parents who had emigrated in 1968, he grew up in Kansas before studying Classics at Harvard. He was later awarded the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, which brought him to Keble to study. He was the founding editor of the brick and spoke warmly of his experiences at Oxford. His reflections on his time at Keble, as well as his views on the impact of the political climate on the legal landscape of the USA, were both inspiring and insightful.

“We live in an era when it is fashionable to attack our leading institutions, and academic institutions in particular. But I am, at my core, a believer in institutions — in the manner of another of the greats of these isles, Edmund Burke. And this institution has long played an outsized role in educating leaders in the legal profession, in this country and beyond, thanks in no small part to Jim Harris. To those of you who are currently in College, I’m sure you appreciate how fortunate you are to be continuing in that tradition. And to those of you who, like me, are old members, I hope you will join me in expressing thanks for this opportunity to gather here again on this wonderful occasion.” — Kannon Shanmugam (1993 Jurisprudence).

Read Kannon’s full speech here.

The evening was a fantastic opportunity for current students to connect with alumni, gaining advice and perspective on life after university. The event reaffirmed the strength of Keble’s legal network, one that connects past and present students, bound by shared experiences and a lasting connection to the College. Beyond professional networking, evenings like these highlight the enduring camaraderie among Keble alumni. The ability to share stories, offer mentorship, and reflect on the evolving nature of the legal profession, fosters a strong sense of community. Many of the attending alumni reflected on their time at Keble, reminiscing about their tutorials, late-night discussions in the JCR and friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

"I enjoyed the opportunity to connect with fellow alumni working in the legal profession at the recent Harris Society Dinner. I enjoyed catching up with my contemporaries and hearing about their wide range of careers and stories. Kannon's after dinner speech and reflections on his career were particularly insightful.” — Sam Edwards (2017 History)

“The College was very pleased to host another successful Harris Society Dinner. It was notable that alumni spanning 70 years were present.” — Professor James Goudkamp, Tutor in Law at Keble

Keble’s legal alumni continue to shape and support the next generation of aspiring solicitors and barristers. As the evening drew to a close, it was evident that the legal tradition remains vibrant at Keble.