Laura Grenfell

Associate Professor Laura Grenfell

Associate Professor

Adelaide Law School

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Laura researches in the fields of human rights law, comparative public law and post-conflict justice. To critique the law she takes a broad socio-political approach, drawing on other relevant disciplines such as anthropology, politics, development studies and gender studies.

I have three interconnected areas of research expertise relating to human rights.

One area is the complexities of governance and human rights protection in post-conflict environments, specifically in Timor-Leste, South Africa and Afghanistan. This research is interdisciplinary and it intersects with that of scholars from Anthropology, Development Studies, Gender Studies and Politics.

A second area of research expertise is anti-discrimination laws in Australia, North America and Europe. In particular I have conducted research into how law understands discrimination faced by the trans community.

A third area of research expertise examines political rights review in Australia, looking at the work of parliamentary committees across Australian jurisdictions that conduct rights-scrutiny of bills.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2015 - ongoing Associate Professor in Law University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2014 - ongoing Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, Faculty of the Professions University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2009 - 2014 Senior Lecturer in Law University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2004 - 2008 Lecturer in Law University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2002 - 2003 Associate Lecturer in Law University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2000 - 2000 Solicitor Crown Solicitor's Office of South Australia
    1999 - 1999 Solicitor Office of the Solicitor-General for South Australia
    1998 - 1998 Judge's Associate to Justice Margaret Nyland Supreme Court of South Australia, Adelaide
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    Australian National University, Canberra Australia PhD in Law
    University of Toronto, Toronto Canada Masters in Law
    University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
    University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
  • Certifications

    Date Title Institution name Country
    Graduate Certificate of Legal Practice University of South Australia, Adelaide Australia
  • Research Interests

Course co-ordinator of Undergraduate courses

  • Aboriginal Peoples and the Law (2016-2018)
  • International Study Tour: World Indigenous Law Conference (2016)
  • Principles of Public Law (large compulsory first-year course) (2009-2010)
  • Human Rights Law: International & National Perspectives (2003-2018)
  • Comparative Constitutional Law (2003-2007)
  • International Justice and the Rule of Law (Summer intensive 2003/2004)
  • Human Rights Internship Programme (2003-2018)
  • Public Law Internship Programme (2009-2016)
  • Native Title Internship (2016) 
     

Course Co-ordinator of Postgraduate courses

  • Transitional Justice (2012)
  • Comparative Constitutional Law (2003-2007, 2009)
  • Human Rights Law (2003-2007, 2017) 

Co-teaching of compulsory subjects including Principles of Public Law (2012, 2018); Australian Constitutional Law (2004), Legal Research and Writing (2002-2003), Introduction to Australian Legal Systems (2002).

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 Co-Supervisor Law of Global Governance, Refugees and UNHCR: Refugee Regime Complex in Australia and Pakistan Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Umar Rashid
    2021 Co-Supervisor Who should be the parties to a Treaty (or Treaties) with Australia's First Nations peoples Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Mrs Michelle Robyn Hopkins
    2020 Co-Supervisor Non-Judicial Constitutional Review and the Rule of Law The Case of Ethiopia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Legesse Tigabu Mengie
    2020 Principal Supervisor The extent of and motivations for post-legislative scrutiny in Australia. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Samuel John Hastings-Fernance
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2015 - 2018 Principal Supervisor The Rights-Protecting Role and Impact of Commonwealth Parliamentary Committees: The Case of Australia's Counter-Terrorism Laws Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Sarah Moulds
    2014 - 2017 Co-Supervisor African States and the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism: A Study of Effectiveness and the Potential for Acculturation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr . Etone Damian
    2004 - 2011 Co-Supervisor Healing the Blind Eye? Using the United Nations Protect, Respect, Remedy Framework to Achieve Accountability for Corporate Complicity in Human Rights Abuse Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Catherine Brooks
  • Other Supervision Activities

    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2010 - 2012 Co-Supervisor ‘A Proposal for the Implementation of Human Rights Treaty Obligations in Armed Conflict University of Adelaide PhLaw Doctorate Full Time Samaneh Hassanli
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2018 - ongoing Member Gender, Equity and Diversity Committee University of Adelaide Australia
    2015 - ongoing Chair Faculty of the Professions Diversity and Inclusion Committee University of Adelaide Australia
  • Position: Associate Professor
  • Phone: 83135777
  • Email: laura.grenfell@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134344
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Ligertwood, floor 3
  • Org Unit: Adelaide Law School

Connect With Me
External Profiles