Dr. Teresa Somes is a legal scholar specialising in equity, property law, and elder rights. With over 30 years in academia, she joined the University of Technology Sydney Law Faculty in 2022 after holding positions at Macquarie University, the University of Western Australia, and in the United Kingdom.

Before her academic career, Dr. Somes provided research assistance to Professor Paul Finn and served as associate to Justice Terry Higgins of the ACT Supreme Court. She is admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the ACT Supreme Court.

Dr. Somes' research focuses on strengthening the social and legal position of older Australians, particularly exploring the intersection of property law, equity, and elder rights. She co-leads the Law, Regulation and Ethics theme of the UTS Ageing Research Collaborative (UARC). Her PhD thesis addressed access to justice issues for older people in family accommodation arrangements and proposed reforms to better protect their interests.

Her current work centres on improving legal rights for older people, including those living with dementia and their carers, reflecting her commitment to advocacy for vulnerable populations within the legal system.