By Lorenzo Murillo
On November 2, 2021, the IndyBar Law Student Division had the pleasure of hosting a moderated discussion with 2021 IndyBar President Jimmie McMillian. McMillian, a 2002 IU McKinney graduate, currently serves as Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Corporate Counsel of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Sports Production.
During the moderated discussion with Lorenzo R. Murillo, the 2021 IndyBar Law Student Division Chair, McMillian discussed a variety of thought-provoking topics including his pathway to the legal profession, the plights of being a diverse attorney, the importance of networking, and the true value of a J.D.
McMillian began by telling the audience, a group of IU McKinney law students, about his experiences growing up on the South Side of Chicago and how those experiences shaped his current identity. With the help and support of his mother, and many others along the way, McMillian ended up IU McKinney. Upon graduating from IU McKinney, McMillian clerked for his valued mentor, and now friend, former Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan. Sometime after the completion of his clerkship and subsequent employment, McMillian continued his career at Barnes & Thornburg LLP where he began as an associate and eventually made partner.
Reflecting on his time as a law clerk for Justice Sullivan and his time as an attorney working in “big law,” McMillian discussed the intersectionality of race and the legal profession. Often finding himself being the only African American in a room of white attorneys, McMillian used that realization to work hard and ensure that he did everything in his power to advance his career and remain happy. This desire for happiness coupled with his passion for cars and motorcycles eventually led him to his current employer.
In addition to sharing his experiences, McMillian also provided the audience with important tips that would lead to a successful career and verbal reassurance that attending law school was the correct decision. Namely, McMillian stressed the importance of networking and reaching out to current attorneys as well as other law students. McMillian made clear that many of the advances in his career were not simply a result of his hard work, but also due to the connections that he made while working hard. He also advised current law students about the changes in the legal market as a result of COVID-19 and the endless opportunities that come with a J.D. such as teaching and politics.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the event happen. And a special thank you to Jimmie McMillian for taking the time to come and speak with us.
If you would like to submit content or write an article for the Law Student Division, please email Kara Sikorski at ksikorski@indybar.org.
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