CHAT WITH A LAWYER: Yaida O. Ford On Employment Discrimination for Federal Workers
Meet Yaida O. Ford
Topic: Employment Discrimination for Federal Workers.
Yaida specializes in condominium law, estate planning and civil rights and is the managing principal at THE FORD LAW FIRM PLLC located in Washington, D.C. She has successfully represented homeowners’ associations and their members in civil litigation, foreclosure actions, landlord tenant disputes and debt collection. She also counsels associations and owners on governance and operational issues to avoid litigation. Yaida’s estate planning practice focuses on the unique needs of a wide range of clients from married couples with assets that exceed tax exemptions to single individuals who need basic end-of-life planning and advice.
Yaida invests a portion of her case work to a limited number of civil rights cases that involve employment discrimination, wage and hour violations, and constitutional violations. Yaida is an experienced litigator who has represented individuals in cases against multi-national corporations, trade associations, large US-based companies, mortgage lenders, charter schools and federal and local governments. Yaida graduated magna cum laude from Denison University with a dual degree in Political Science and Spanish. In recognition of her leadership and academic record, Yaida was one of seven students who received the university’s highest honor, The Presidential Medal.
Yaida attended Howard University School of Law and immediately thereafter served as a law clerk for The Honorable Harold L. Cushenberry, Jr., Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court. Upon completing her clerkship, Yaida worked at The Legal Aid Society as a staff attorney where she successfully advocated on behalf of low-income families and individuals in administrative proceedings before the Office of Administrative Hearings and the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. Yaida assisted countless individuals in obtaining critical, life-sustaining benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance and income supplements to help them survive amidst disability, job loss and poverty. In recognition of her work, Yaida received the Frederick B. Abramson Public Interest Fellowship. Yaida left Legal Aid to serve as legislative counsel for the Committee of Human Services under the leadership of D.C. Councilman Jim Graham (D-Ward 1). From there, Yaida segued into private practice to focus on her passions – advocacy and litigation.
Yaida has held various leadership positions in and outside of the bar. She served on the Board of Directors of the Washington Bar Association from 2008-2010. She served as the Board Chair for Youth Now! from 2008-2009 a local non-profit that serves youth who reside in Southeast Washington, D.C. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for Know The Truth International Ministries, a Virginia-based non-profit that travels around the world to join relief efforts in developing countries and minister to the masses. Yaida also organizes an annual coat drive for the residents of the Mitch Snyder shelter in Northwest Washington, D.C.
In her personal time, Yaida enjoys working with youth and has served as a program director for a mentoring and professional development program called Ladies First that serves young women in Southeast D.C. Currently, Yaida travels to Haiti annually as a part of ongoing relief efforts to rebuild the country after the devastating earthquake of 2010.