Who is Yolanda?

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Yolanda Trotman (@attorneytrotman )is originally from High Point, North Carolina and graduated from UNC-Charlotte in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Yolanda is a former high school history teacher and award-winning debate and speech coach. 

In 1999 she attended law school at the University of Pittsburgh and graduated in May 2002 with her Juris Doctor degree and continued to serve the community. Yolanda began her legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in October 2002 and was also an Adjunct Professor at UNC-Charlotte in the criminal justice department.

In 2005 she opened her own law practice, the Law Office of Yolanda M. Trotman, PLLC. In November of 2014 she was elected as a District Court Judge in Mecklenburg County North Carolina,  where she presided in matters in all criminal courts, civil court, and family court. As a Judge, Yolanda founded iSpeak Now, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that teaches public speaking, critical thinking and related skills to elementary, middle and high school students by utilizing a unique and interactive mock trial model called the Mock Trial Experience. Yolanda decided to leave the bench in December of 2016 to return to the private sector to practice law, and to pursue the development and expansion of iSpeak Now (@ispeaknownc),  She has been certified by Lawyers of Distinction for her work as a Family Law attorney in North Carolina. She has also been named to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Criminal Defense in North Carolina.  She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Yolanda has continuously served the community and has received a number of awards for her service to the community.   She loves to travel (@yotravelnow) and is an avid football and Carolina Panthers fan.