Biography

Joy D. McMillen has a diverse legal practice which includes labor and employment, education and school law, fire protection district law, and general litigation. Joy represents public and private employers and businesses in federal and state court litigation, including class action lawsuits. She has vigorously represented clients in litigation with Fortune 500 companies, and she also represents employers in administrative agency actions and investigations, including wage and hour audits, workplace safety investigations, and investigations into discrimination complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.

Additionally, Joy counsels clients regarding a vast array of employment and governance issues including, without limitation, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and other federal and state anti-discrimination laws and whistleblower and retaliation protection acts. She routinely advises clients on day-to-day personnel matters including, without limitation, personnel policies, employee handbook review, reductions in force, severance agreements, employment contracts, vendor agreements, independent contractor agreements, restrictive covenants, covenants not to compete, and worker misclassification.

Joy also represents public and private employers (management) in collective bargaining, the arbitration of grievances and resolution of charges brought under collective bargaining agreements and applicable federal and state labor laws.

Joy’s current and past clients include Missouri public school districts, Missouri fire protection districts, private schools in metropolitan St. Louis, and a broad variety of Missouri-based businesses, entrepreneurs, and not-for-profit entities. 

Joy is a featured speaker and publisher of employment-related articles in continuing legal education courses sponsored by the Missouri Bar Association. She is AV® Preeminent™ rated with Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

Outside of work, Joy is an avid runner, hiker, and cyclist, and simply loves the outdoors, especially when accompanied by her ever faithful golden retriever! Joy lives in West St. Louis County with her husband John.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Saint Louis University School of Law (J.D., 1994)
    • St. Louis University Law Journal
    • Regional Moot Court Board
    • Recipient of Best Brief Award in Moot Court Competition
  • Southeast Missouri State University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1989)

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • Missouri Bar Association
  • Illinois Bar Association
  • General Counsel, Missouri Association of Fire Protection Districts

Admissions

  • Missouri Bar
  • Illinois Bar
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit