When one of Syeda’s first employers was asked to describe her, he responded, “I think anyone can represent an ‘overdog,’ but it is not just anybody who can capably represent an underdog.” Syeda’s career path shows that she has made it her mission to live up to this description ever since. She represented survivors of intimate partner violence at Lakeshore Legal Aid, and then spent seven years in private practice, representing workers in employment discrimination cases. She joined the ACLU in 2020, where her litigation background has served her well by allowing her to work on a multitude of issues, including disability rights, access to medication for people who are incarcerated, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, a wide range of free speech issues, and employment rights.
Syeda has a B.A. from the University of Michigan – Dearborn and is a cum laude graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Recognizing that public service is not limited to litigation, Syeda has written articles for multiple publications, and was a managing editor for the American Bar Association’s magazine, TYL, as a young lawyer. She also teaches employment law in the paralegal program at Oakland University and employment discrimination at Michigan State University College of Law. Syeda is a member of the Board of Directors for Affirmations and the Oakland County Bar Association. She has served on the Board of Commissioners for the State Bar of Michigan, and continues to serve on its Judicial Qualifications Committee and Legal Deserts Workgroup. She has twice been appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court’s Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Judiciary, and serves as a hearing panelist for the Attorney Discipline Board. She is proud to have been recognized by a variety of organizations for not only her legal abilities, but also for her leadership, integrity, and commitment to serving underserved populations.
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/syedadavidson.bsky.social
Twitter: https://x.com/SyedaDavidson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/syeda-davidson-a316698/
