Chief of Staff and Chief Diversity Officer, Office of Cook County State’s Attorney, Kimberly M. Foxx (Chicago)
Jennifer Ballard Croft is dedicated to providing women of color with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate law school and thrive in the legal profession. She currently serves as Chief of Staff and Chief Diversity Officer for Cook County State’s Attorney, Kimberly M. Foxx.
Prior to entering public service, Jennifer was a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP where she focused her practice on supporting employers, human resources and in-house legal counsel with all aspects of workforce management. Her clients included large and small businesses, trade and professional associations, and state and local government organizations. Jennifer is experienced in all aspects of employment law, from day-to-day advice to complex employment litigation, as well as traditional labor law matters, including advising and representing employers during union organizing efforts, collective bargaining negotiations, strike preparation, grievance and labor arbitrations, and administrative hearings before the National Labor Relations Board.
Jennifer’s commitment to her clients and to the legal system landed her on the “Super Lawyers Rising Stars” list for five consecutive years (2012-2016). In 2015 and 2016, Jennifer was named to the “Emerging Leaders” list by Leading Lawyers Magazine, a distinction earned by less than 2% of all attorneys licensed to practice in Illinois. Additionally, in 2009, Jennifer was recognized as one of the Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Executive & Emerging Leaders by DiversityMBA Magazine.
In 2016, Jennifer was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court’s Committee on Character and Fitness. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Bar Foundation and the Center for Conflict Resolution. Additionally, Jennifer sits on the Leadership Advisory Board of City Church Chicago. Additionally, in 2016, WVON 1690AM and Ariel Investments named Jennifer to their “40 Under 40 Game Changers” list.
Jennifer earned her B.A. magna cum laude in Economics at Spelman College. She received her law degree with a certificate in Health Law from Loyola University School of Law.