Scattering by a layered elastic obstacle submerged in a fluid is considered. The null field approach (T‐matrix method) is used, but the method is modified so that all surface fields can be expanded in spherical harmonics. The resulting method is then compared with the conventional null field approach (which uses expansions in regular wavefunctions), and it is concluded that the present method is the better one in general. It is, however, doubtful if the null field approach is applicable to cases where there is no sphere that circumscribes the core and inscribes the outer surface. Some numerical results are given for a layered spheroid and superspheroid.