Zakiyah Dillard is an associate in the Litigation Department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in Chicago. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, including pleadings, discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation across a range of civil matters.
Zakiyah also maintains an active pro bono practice, with experience in matters involving voting rights, asylum, and property disputes, and is committed to supporting clients across a wide range of pro bono needs.
Zakiyah received her J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where she served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, President of the Black Law Students Association, and a member of the Bartlit Center National Trial Team. She earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
Zakiyah also maintains an active pro bono practice, with experience in matters involving voting rights, asylum, and property disputes, and is committed to supporting clients across a wide range of pro bono needs.
Zakiyah received her J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where she served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, President of the Black Law Students Association, and a member of the Bartlit Center National Trial Team. She earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
Experience
Before joining Willkie, Zakiyah served as a law clerk to the Honorable Raymond A. Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for the 2023-2025 term. She also gained experience as a judicial extern for the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Credentials
Education
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., 2023 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, B.A., 2020
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois United States District Court, Central District of Illinois
Clerkships
Hon. Raymond A. Jackson, United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, 2023-2025