She received a Juris Doctor in 1992, from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Upon graduation from law school she joined the recently formed The Wolford Law Firm LLP as a partner, spending her entire career in private practice at that firm.

Her practice was concentrated in the areas of commercial, employment and personal injury litigation before both federal and state courts.

[5][6] On May 16, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Wolford to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, to the seat vacated by Judge Charles J. Siragusa, who assumed senior status on December 15, 2012.

On December 12, 2013, the United States Senate invoked cloture on Wolford’s nomination by a 55–41 vote.