Ms Frankie Bray
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
School of Law
College of Business and Law
Frankie Bray is a PhD candidate at the Adelaide Law School. Her research considers the history of animal law in South Australia, and the way in which legislative instruments erode the ability of animal law to protect animals. Frankie graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours in 2020, before going on to complete her Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. During her undergraduate degree, Frankie was awarded several prizes including the John Keeler & the John Bray Law Chapter Alumni Prize for Torts, Dean's Certificate (International Law) and the Stow Prize. Upon graduation she was awarded the University Medal for outstanding academic achievement. Following completion of her GDLP, Frankie practiced for over two years in the areas of health law, civil litigation, family law, wills and estates and victims of crime compensation before being awarded a scholarship to begin her PhD in March 2024. Frankie has also been awarded the J.J. Bray Scholarship and the 2024 RSPCA Sybil Emslie Scholarship.Frankie was elected Deputy Chair of the Animal Law Committee at the Law Society of South Australia in 2024 and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Australasian Animal Law Teachers and Researchers Association (AALTRA).
Frankie is an emerging expert in the field of animal law - specifically the history of animal law in South Australia, and the operation of regulations and other delegated legislation in respect of the protection of animals. She is conducting novel research in this field which is unprecedented. Frankie aims to influence law reform in this area with her research, which is likely to impact a variety of important sectors such as industry, international trade and relations, environment and climate change.
Prizes and Awards
- Frankie was awarded a University Award (2025) - Student Leadership Influence
- Frankie was awarded a University Award (2024) - Outstanding HDR Representative
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 - ongoing | Research Assistant | University of South Australia |
| 2023 - 2024 | Solicitor | Debra Spizzo & Associates |
| 2021 - 2023 | Solicitor | Avant Insurance |
| 2021 - ongoing | Sessional tutor | University of Adelaide |
| 2019 - 2021 | Paralegal | Avant Insurance |
| 2015 - 2019 | Paralegal | Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 - 2020 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Laws (Honours) |
| 2003 - 2006 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Commerce |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2021 | Admission to Legal Practice | Supreme Court of South Australia | - |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Perrett, M., Bray, F., O'Neill, F., Crichton, J., & McIntyre, J. (2025). Judicial Development Session: Pseudolaw in South Australia's Courts. In N/A. Courtroom 8, Sir Samuel Way Building, Adelaide. DOI |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | McIntyre, J., Bray, F., Crichton, J., Hobbs, H., O'Neill, F., Perrett, M., & Young, S. (2024). The Rise of Pseudolaw in South Australia: An Empirical Analysis of the Emergence and Impact of Pseudolaw on South Australia's Courts. Elsevier BV. DOI |
In her role as HDR Representative for the Adelaide Law School, Frankie and her co-HDR rep Madeleine Perrett successfully applied for the Student Experience Small Grant Scheme in October 2025. They received $1,000 towards a team building and stress management exercise for the 2025 law HDR cohort.
Frankie currently teaches in Foundations of Law, Family Law, International Law, Torts Law and Medical Law and Ethics.
Connect With Me
External Profiles
