Joel Dillard has practiced law, initially as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alabama, since 1975.  He represented many state administrative boards and commissions during his state service, and was frequently called to defend them, and their members, in federal and state trial courts, and in appellate proceedings. After entering private practice in 1977, with the Montgomery firm, Steiner, Crum & Baker, Joel began representing private parties in administrative proceedings and in trials throughout Alabama.

In 1979, he became a founding partner of the Birmingham firm that is now Dillard, McKnight, James & McElroy.  Here, he represents a substantial array of individuals and companies in litigation, and enjoys continuously diversifying his practice to include representing plaintiffs as well as  defendants, and representing elected and appointed public officials, as well as private parties.

He graduated from the University of Alabama’s School of Commerce and Business in 1971, and from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1975. Commissioned as a JAG officer in the Alabama Army National Guard, he served 20 years in that part-time capacity, and retired from military service in 1991. He has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer and one of America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators.