About Joel F.
Joel F. Dillard built a legal path that runs from chemistry labs to appellate benches. He earned a B.A. in chemistry from Vanderbilt University in 2005 and completed his J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center in 2008. Those academic choices left him prepared for both technical questions and the written precision required in appellate practice.
After law school he served as a law clerk to Judge Timothy B. Dyk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. That clerkship placed him at the intersection of complex statutory and patent-related work. He moved into public service the next year, joining the National Labor Relations Board in 2009 as a lawyer in Special Litigation. There he handled enforcement and litigation matters that touched labor relations and administrative law.
In 2015 Dillard left government work to form Joel Dillard & Associates and took on the role of CEO. He has since steered the firm through contested hearings and federal filings. His background in appellate practice and agency litigation informs how the firm approaches case strategy and briefing. He has argued or participated in matters across several federal forums, and his resume lists admissions to state bars and federal courts that reflect that breadth.
Dillard is admitted in Maryland, Mississippi and Indiana. He also holds admissions in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. He maintains active membership in The Maryland Bar since 2008 and The Mississippi Bar since 2013. Professional affiliations include the National Employment Lawyers Association and the Lawyers Coordinating Committee of the AFL-CIO, both of which he joined in 2015 and retains membership in today.
Colleagues and opposing counsel note a practice that combines appellate technique with labor and employment subject matter. His time at the NLRB and service before the Federal Circuit inform how he frames administrative records and legal standards. He tends to emphasize careful record development and concise briefing. That approach shows in courtroom appearances and in petitions filed at the appellate level.
Outside the courtroom he has continued contributing to organizations tied to employment law and labor advocacy. He balances casework with administrative responsibilities at his firm and the bar activities that come with multi-jurisdictional practice. He currently focuses his practice on employment and labor litigation.
