10 Extraordinary Women of Albany Law | Albany Law School

Soma Syed - The Wave

Soma Syed moved to the United States from Bangladesh at 12 years old. She has a bachelor's degree in urban legal studies from the City University of New York  College and a law degree from Albany Law School. Syd is currently the head of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association.

Soma previously practiced at her own firm. She also served as a Special Prosecutor for the Village of Hempstead for seven years.

Soma Syed - Ballotpedia

Soma is currently a judge of the New York City Civil Court in Queens County. She assumed office in 2022 and her current term ends in 2032. She is running in a special election for judge of the New York Supreme Court 11th Judicial District in 2025.

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As a New York City (NYC) criminal court judge, Syed oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and conducts bail proceedings and pretrial hearings for criminal actions subject to more than one year of jail time.

As a New York City court judge since 2022, oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and civil matters.

As an attorney, represented individual and corporate clients in matters including Supreme Court (Civil), Civil Court, Family Court, Immigration Court, Bankruptcy Court, Southern and Eastern District of NY, and other civil (real estate and contract) transactions.

As an attorney for 21 years,  represented clients in matters including Civil Court, Family Court, Immigration Court, Bankruptcy Court, and other civil (real estate and contract) transactions.

As a special prosecutor for the Village of Hempstead, Syed prosecuted traffic, housing, and general Village Code violation cases.

As a special prosecutor for the Village of Hempstead, prosecuted traffic, housing, and general Village Code violation cases.

- As a New York City court judge since 2022, oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and civil matters.
- As an attorney for 21 years,  represented clients in matters including Civil Court, Family Court, Immigration Court, Bankruptcy Court, and other civil (real estate and contract) transactions.
- As a special prosecutor for the Village of Hempstead, prosecuted traffic, housing, and general Village Code violation cases.

Legal Experience

Meet Soma Syed - The Wave

Believes in the importance of community work.

Wants to expand educational opportunities and ensure Queens residents are represented by leaders with deep community experience.

Said, "It’s important to have diversity and representation, because people need to feel comfortable when they go to court. It’s important for people to feel comfortable and confident in the legal system by having a diverse judiciary."

Advocates for a diverse judiciary so people feel represented and trust the legal system.

- Wants to expand educational opportunities and ensure Queens residents are represented by leaders with deep community experience.
- Advocates for a diverse judiciary so people feel represented and trust the legal system.

Judicial Philosophy

Soma S. Syed, Scrutinize

Has a publication rate of 0.5 decisions per year, which is higher than 67.9% of judges in the dataset.

As a judge, set a commercial bond as the cheapest option 88.2% of the time, which is higher than 47.51% of judges in the dataset.

As a judge, set a commercial bond as the cheapest option 88.2% of the time for bail cases, which is higher than 47.51% of judges in the dataset.

Blocked Affordable Bail: 92.8% of bail cases
Higher than 46.41% of judges in the dataset
New York requires judges to make court-run, refundable bail the most affordable option. When judges set court-run, refundable bail options higher than other forms of bail, families are steered away from using payment plans that let them get their money back. This metric shows the percentage of each judge’s bail decisions where court-run, refundable bail was more expensive than other types of bail.

As a judge, blocked affordable bail in 92.8% of all bail cases, higher than 46.41% of judges in the dataset. 

- Has a publication rate of 0.5 decisions per year, which is higher than 67.9% of judges in the dataset.
- As a judge, set a commercial bond as the cheapest option 88.2% of the time for bail cases, which is higher than 47.51% of judges in the dataset.
- As a judge, blocked affordable bail in 92.8% of all bail cases, higher than 46.41% of judges in the dataset. 

Judicial Administration

As of September 15, 2025, Soma S. Syed did not have a website or any information online.

Ethics & Conduct

Soma Syed - Indiaspora

Worked on census drives and voter registration in Rockaway, distributed masks and food to residents, and helped answer legal questions about landlord-tenant disputes after Hurricane Sandy.

Mentors young lawyers and participates in community outreach programs.

- Worked on census drives and voter registration in Rockaway, distributed masks and food to residents, and helped answer legal questions about landlord-tenant disputes after Hurricane Sandy.
- Mentors young lawyers and participates in community outreach programs.

Community Involvement

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Soma S. Syed

Advocates for diversity in the legal system.

Soma Syed moved to the United States from Bangladesh at 12 years old. She has degrees from City College and Albany Law School. Syd is currently the head of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association.

Soma is a judge at the New York City Civil Court, Queens County. She previously practiced law in her own firm. She also served as a Special Prosecutor for the Village of Hempstead for seven years.

Recognized for work in criminal justice reform and promoting diversity in the legal system.

As an attorney since 2004, represented clients in matters including Civil Court, Family Court, Immigration Court, Bankruptcy Court, and other civil (real estate and contract) transactions.

- As an attorney since 2004, represented clients in matters including Civil Court, Family Court, Immigration Court, Bankruptcy Court, and other civil (real estate and contract) transactions.
- As a special prosecutor for the Village of Hempstead, Syed prosecuted traffic, housing, and general Village Code violation cases.
- As a New York City court judge since 2022, oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and civil matters.

Believes in upholding "fair and impartial justice in the courtroom with compassion and integrity."

- Believes in upholding "fair and impartial justice in the courtroom with compassion and integrity."
- Said, "It’s important to have diversity and representation, because people need to feel comfortable when they go to court. It’s important for people to feel comfortable and confident in the legal system by having a diverse judiciary."

Soma is a judge at the New York City Civil Court, Queens County. She previously practiced law in her own firm, handling cases in areas such as non-profit law, commercial and residential law, matrimonial and family law, and immigration law. She also served as a Special Prosecutor for the Village of Hempstead for seven years.

Soma Syed was just 12-years old when she moved to the United States from Bangladesh. She graduated from IS 238, Jamaica High School, City College, and then Albany Law School. Syd is currently the head of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association.

- Recognized for work in criminal justice reform and promoting diversity in the legal system.

Believes her experience in both criminal and civil law will be beneficial if elected, as the Office of Court Administration can place her in either type of court.

- Believes her experience in both criminal and civil law will be beneficial if elected, as the Office of Court Administration can place her in either type of court.

Believes in the need for "fair and impartial justice."

- Believes in the need for "fair and impartial justice."

Soma Syed was just 12-years old when she moved to the United States from Bangladesh, but she wasn’t about to let that stop her dreams for success. Graduating from IS 238, Jamaica High School, City College, and then Albany Law School, Syed started her own law practice right out of law school, and is currently the head of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association. Now, the driven go-getter is looking to reach the next level of her legal career and attain an appointment as judge in Queens Civil Court — and she’s doing it with a campaign meant to appeal to the average citizen of the borough.

- The  New York Supreme Court is the state-wide trial court with the broadest jurisdiction in criminal and civil matters. However, it is not the state’s court of last resort.
- It can hear virtually any type of case brought before it, except for claims brought against the state which must be heard by the Court of Claims. Generally, it hears high-level criminal cases or civil cases with a judgment of more than $50,000.
- It is the only court that can grant divorce, annulment, and separation in New York.
- The New York Supreme Court is broken into 12 judicial districts state-wide. There are currently 154 justices authorized to sit in the New York City Supreme Court, but only 136 actually serve in Supreme Court trial parts because some of the justices are assigned to the Appellate Division or the Appellate Term.
- Justices of the Supreme Court are elected to serve 14-year terms and are paid a salary of $232,600.

A judge on your judicial district’s trial court which oversees criminal and civil matters. 