The Australian Women's Register

Summary

The daughter of Archibald and Seca (née Lewin) Somerville, Dorothy Somerville was educated at Brownhill Creek School in Mitcham, the Methodists Ladies College (now Annesley College) and the Adelaide Law School. She was the third woman admitted to practice law in South Australia in 1922. Mary Kitson, the first woman admitted to the Bar, joined with Somerville in 1925 to form Australia’s first women’s legal partnership: Kitson & Somerville. Kitson later went to Sydney to work in publishing, and in 1950 she moved to New York to take charge of the United Nations affairs on the Status of Women. Somerville, who continued with the legal practice, became an honorary solicitor to a number of women’s organisations.

Events

• 1955

  Honorary solicitor to the Women’s Memorial Playing Fields

• 1921

  Foundation Member of the Lyceum Club (Adelaide) Incorporated

• 1971

  Honorary Life member of the Lyceum Club (Adelaide) Incorporated

• 1945

  Honorary Life member of the South Australian Women’s Hockey Association

• 1945

  Honorary solicitor to the Wanslea Inc (Emergency Homes for Children)

• 1948 - 1975

  Honorary solicitor to the Australian Croquet Council

• 1986

  Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the Legal profession and to the community

• 1919

  Graduated Bachelor of Arts (BA) (Hons) from Adelaide University

• 1922

  Graduated Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Adelaide University

• 1925

  Solicitor in private practice

• 1925 - 1971

  Honorary solicitor to the Country Women’s Association (SA)

• 1925 - 1974

  Honorary solicitor to the South Australian Women’s Hockey Association

• 1925

  Honorary solicitor to the South Australian Women’s Croquet Association