Dr Tristan Cummings

Biography

Professional biography

Dr Tristan Cummings is a Lecturer in Law (Central Academic) at The Open University (OU). Prior to joining the OU, Tristan was the Baker-Fellingham Fellow in Law at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge where he supervised Family Law and Equity and was a Stipendiary lecturer at Merton College, Oxford. Tristan undertook his BA at Oxford and completed the BCL with Distinction (2017). He was awarded the Vinerian Scholarship for Best Overall Performance and the Law Faculty Prizes in Children, Families and the State and Comparative Equality Law.

Research interests

Tristan’s research often examines the intersection of family law, human rights law and religious freedoms with a particular interest in the regulation of religious family life. His DPhil, funded by the AHRC, investigated the interaction between law and religion in the context of religious marriage and divorce through a systems theoretical account of society. More generally, his research examines weddings law reform and the financial consequences of divorce. Tristan has also researched in the areas of children’s rights.

Tristan is also currently an Editor of the University of Oxford Human Rights Hub Journal.

Teaching interests

Amongst other teaching interests, Tristan is Module Team Chair for Equity, Land and Trusts (W302) and is also involved in teaching Family Law (W230) and Exploring Legal Boundaries (W350) as well as the Access Course for Business and Law (Y035).