Maia Beth Goodell

Maia Goodell is a civil rights lawyer for people facing employment discrimination or disability discrimination. A graduate of Yale and the University of Michigan law schools with 15+ years of experience, including work for racial justice, Maia provides the highest level of legal expertise and insight, empowering her clients to accomplish their goals. In addition to legal action, Maia works outside the courtroom, offering consultations about legal rights and support negotiating reasonable accommodations.

Recognized for her plaintiff-side employment work, Maia has successfully supported many different kinds of professionals – including executives, lawyers and Wall Street bankers, housekeepers, and security guards – in understanding and defending their rights. Her cases have addressed same-sex harassment, sex discrimination, criminal conviction discrimination and more.

Maia rejoined Vladeck, Raskin & Clark PC following close to a decade in public service. She previously spent formative years with the firm as an associate and later a partner, and returns with years of experience at nonprofits and in disability impact litigation.

Maia established and leads the firm’s disability rights and justice practice, centered on the enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related civil rights laws. Maia’s experience includes serving as individual and class counsel in state and federal courts and leading groundbreaking actions against major institutions, such as:

- New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) for the physical inaccessibility of its subway system
- The City of Philadelphia for failing to make its sidewalks and pedestrian routes accessible to people with mobility and vision disabilities
- Stanford University for its leave of absence policy violating the rights of students with mental health disabilities

Maia’s work has supported, in addition to disabled people, women, people of color, immigrants and veterans. Maia believes equality is a human right and recognizes that disability equity is intertwined with racial and other forms of injustice. She is committed to a client-driven, community-based approach to lawyering for long-term, holistic solutions advancing equity and dignity for all.

Maia was one of the first female U.S. Navy officers to serve aboard combatant ships in the 1990s, a transformative time in the military’s history marked by sexual scandals and debates about whether men and women could serve together. That experience before law school helped her develop a commitment to fostering equality to change systems and outcomes.

Maia holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Yale Law School, a J.D. from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Stanford University.