Jake McMillian Joins Dickinson Wright as its Director of Diversity and Inclusion
- McMillian, Jake R.
- In the News
Want to get our alerts?
Click “Subscribe Now” to get attorney insights on the latest developments in a range of services and industries.
Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Jake R. McMillian has joined the firm as its Director of Diversity and Inclusion. As a licensed diverse attorney, Jake previously served in similar roles at two other multinational law firms and brings a unique understanding of the legal world to this new role. He will be based in the firm’s Chicago office.
“Jake brings energy and experience in developing and implementing successful strategies to recruit, retain and promote diverse lawyers and staff,” says Michael Hammer, CEO of Dickinson Wright. “We are confident Jake will further enhance our inclusive atmosphere and help us ensure that we are continuing to provide meaningful opportunities to our diverse personnel.”
As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Jake will implement the Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s 32-point action plan, bring new Diversity and Inclusion programs and policies to fruition, and be a resource for Diversity and Inclusion efforts firm-wide. Jake will be working alongside senior firm leadership and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee to address issues related to diverse attorney recruitment, retention, and promotion; organizational culture and equity; diversity program development; and community engagement.
Prior to joining Dickinson Wright, Jake led Diversity and Inclusion initiatives at two other multinational law firms. In these roles, he oversaw national recruitment efforts for diverse attorneys, managed tracking strategies that monitored associate advancement and equitable work allocation, and developed award-winning sponsorship and mentorship programs for diverse and women attorneys. Jake’s leadership helped these previous firms achieve record diverse associate recruitment, diverse partner promotion, and diverse attorney retention. Most recently, Jake served as Assistant Director of Recruitment & Outreach at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) John Marshall Law School.
Jake is currently working on his Ed.D in Diversity & Equity in Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a member of KC Legal and SAVE, Inc. He also earned a B.A. from Ottawa University and his J.D. from University of Kansas School of Law.
“Jake brings energy and experience in developing and implementing successful strategies to recruit, retain and promote diverse lawyers and staff,” says Michael Hammer, CEO of Dickinson Wright. “We are confident Jake will further enhance our inclusive atmosphere and help us ensure that we are continuing to provide meaningful opportunities to our diverse personnel.”
As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Jake will implement the Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s 32-point action plan, bring new Diversity and Inclusion programs and policies to fruition, and be a resource for Diversity and Inclusion efforts firm-wide. Jake will be working alongside senior firm leadership and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee to address issues related to diverse attorney recruitment, retention, and promotion; organizational culture and equity; diversity program development; and community engagement.
Prior to joining Dickinson Wright, Jake led Diversity and Inclusion initiatives at two other multinational law firms. In these roles, he oversaw national recruitment efforts for diverse attorneys, managed tracking strategies that monitored associate advancement and equitable work allocation, and developed award-winning sponsorship and mentorship programs for diverse and women attorneys. Jake’s leadership helped these previous firms achieve record diverse associate recruitment, diverse partner promotion, and diverse attorney retention. Most recently, Jake served as Assistant Director of Recruitment & Outreach at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) John Marshall Law School.
Jake is currently working on his Ed.D in Diversity & Equity in Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a member of KC Legal and SAVE, Inc. He also earned a B.A. from Ottawa University and his J.D. from University of Kansas School of Law.
Recent Insights
- November 26, 2025 Articles Michigan Supreme Court Amends Court Rules on Taxation of Costs on Appeal
- November 21, 2025 Conferences Dickinson Wright to Present at the Michigan–Japan HR Conference
- November 21, 2025 In the News Four Dickinson Wright Attorneys Recognized in 2025 Mid-South Super Lawyers, One Named Rising Star
- November 21, 2025 In the News Four Dickinson Wright Lawyers Recognized in Lexology Index Canada 2025
- November 21, 2025 Media Mentions Kristen Hudson was quoted in an American Bar Association Litigation Section article, "Online Shopping, Cookies, and Jurisdiction."
- November 19, 2025 In the News Thirty-Two Dickinson Wright Attorneys Named DBusiness Magazine 2026 Top Lawyers
- November 19, 2025 In the News Twelve Dickinson Wright Attorneys Named Grand Rapids Magazine 2025 Top Lawyers
- November 19, 2025 In the News Three Dickinson Wright Attorneys and a Patent Agent Listed in the 2026 Edition of the IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders
- November 17, 2025 Industry Alerts Congress Moves to Redefine Hemp: One Year to Reshape a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry