She was elected as Governor of Hoosier Girls State, a program of the American Legion Auxiliary, in 1973.

From 1984 to 1988, she served as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, prosecuting domestic terrorism, smuggling and tax fraud.

She became an associate at the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in New York City in 1988 and was promoted to partner in 1991.

In addition, she has been heavily involved with the American Bar Association, holding a number of leadership positions, including Chair of the Section on Litigation.

Schofield is the first Filipino American in the history of the United States to serve as an Article III federal judge.