Jamila Hall McKnight, a founding member of the Jamaican Civic And Cultural Association’s (JAMCCAR) JAMKids (JAMCCAR’s young adults group), was promoted to Partner at Jones Day, a global law firm with over 2,400 attorneys in 40 offices worldwide. Ms. Hall McKnight, a trial attorney, is resident in the firm’s Atlanta office. She represents businesses and individuals in significant government investigations, complex civil lawsuits, and at trial. She has extensive experience working on global matters for Fortune 500 companies. This work has included legal and factual investigations in South Korea, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Central Europe.
Ms. Hall McKnight, a graduate of Ramapo High School, the University of Maryland and Columbia University Law School, began her legal career at Jones Day in 2003 and then served as an Assistant United States Attorney from 2007 to 2011. As an Assistant United States Attorney, Ms. Hall McKnight successfully prosecuted more than 100 criminal cases and was lead counsel in numerous jury trials, including nationwide, multi-defendant white-collar crime cases. She returned to Jones Day in January 2012.
A current member of JAMCCAR’s Advisory Board and multiple committees, Ms. Hall McKnight is actively engaged in community service and several other philanthropic initiatives in the legal community. She has devoted a significant amount of her time to volunteer and pro bono activities. She is a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and has accepted appointments defending federal fraud matters. She also has represented pro bono clients in connection with criminal appeals and habeas petitions. She is chair of the Criminal Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association and sponsorship chair for the Leadership Institute of Women of Color Attorneys. Jamila is also a member of the Women’s Solidarity Society, an advisory and fundraising arm for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.
Millicent Johnson-James, JAMCCAR’s current president said, “JAMCCAR proudly acknowledges Jamila’s achievements and we are happy for her success. Not only do we fondly remember her as one of our outstanding young adults who was a very active member of JAMKids, where she made many contributions to JAMCCAR and the Rockland community, but we appreciate her continuing contributions as a member of JAMCCAR’s Advisory Board. Jamila is also a past recipient of our annual JAMCCAR Scholarship Award.”
Jamila attributes much of her personal and professional success to the values of hard work and community service instilled in her by her parents, JAMCCAR community, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church family. She is the daughter of Dr. Clover Hall, a past president and current board member of JAMCCAR, and Ronald Hall.
JAMCCAR, Inc. is a non-profit, community organization with a mission of fostering good relations with Jamaican-Americans and friends in the metropolitan area, with the purpose of promoting the civic, economic, and cultural aspects of the Jamaican, Caribbean, and Pan-African cultures.
