Their family immigrated to the U.S. from Barbados,[6] with Sherrilyn's and Gwen's fathers, who were brothers, both becoming African Methodist Episcopal ministers.

[2] Her first job out of law school was a one-year fellowship with the American Civil Liberties Union in New York.

[8] She then served as assistant counsel at the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund, litigating Voting Rights Act cases including the landmark Houston Lawyers' Association v. Attorney General of Texas.

[14] She is the Steven and Maureen Klinsky Visiting Professor of Practice for Leadership and Progress at Harvard Law School, 2023-2024.

[15] Ifill regularly appears in the media for her expertise on topics like affirmative action,[16][17] policing,[18] judicial nominees,[19] and the Supreme Court.

[23][24][25][26][27] In June 2023, Ifill was appointed Howard Law School's inaugural Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Esq.

[33] She was selected as the New York State Bar Association 2023 Gold Medal Award recipient, which cited her history as a "tireless warrior for civil rights".