Joelle J. Dillard joined the Office of General Counsel in August 2020. Her government practice includes transactional work with an emphasis on real estate, public finance, economic incentives and community redevelopment. Ms. Dillard has served as counsel to various independent authorities and City boards, including the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) and the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority (JHFA). Prior to joining the Office of General Counsel, Ms. Dillard practiced for twenty years as a transactional attorney focusing primarily on commercial real estate transactions, office, retail and warehouse leasing, commercial finance, and corporate transactions. Her practice included serving for fifteen years as primary outside leasing counsel to a Fortune 200 company and its subsidiaries. Prior to that, Ms. Dillard’s practice included commercial litigation with a focus on construction matters. Ms. Dillard has an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale Hubbell and has been recognized as one of Jacksonville's Top Lawyers by Jacksonville Magazine.

Ms. Dillard obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida, Frederic G. Levin College of Law, where she was a Research Editor for the Florida Law Review and was recognized as the Wall Street Journal Outstanding Student in Business Law. Ms. Dillard obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Washington and Lee University.

Ms. Dillard is a member of the Florida Bar and the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section of the Florida Bar. She is also a member of the Jacksonville Bar, the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association and the Florida Association of County Attorneys, and shehas been admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida.