Divorce Mediation | Joe Manual Attorney At Law

An early proponent of ADR, Joe received his first mediation training in 1991 from the American Arbitration Association. He became an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association in 1992 and has served as an Arbitrator (a private judge) in more than 70 cases. And, he was one of the Speakers at the first ADR Seminar sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association in 1994. When Tennessee created court annexed Alternative Dispute Resolution, he became a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed Mediator in 1997 and completed additional training in 2008 to also become Listed as a Family Mediator.

Joe is one of Tennessee’s most prolific writers and lecturers upon Alternative Dispute Resolution. He is the Senior Author of the Tennessee Alternative Dispute Resolution Handbook (The Harrison Co. 1997). He is the creator and Editor of the Tennessee Mediation Pocket Guide (2000). By 1999, he was writing “Internet” Continuing Legal Education Courses on Mediation & Arbitration and these courses became known as the “ADR Professor Series”. And, Joe became the "ADR Professor".

In 2011, he created the “Tennessee ADR Finder” for the iPhone; iPad; or iTouch. (Available from the Apple App Store). This “App” is a topical index to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 (Alternative Dispute Resolution Rule) with full text access.

In 2025, Joe joined with another Mediator, Samantha Lunn, to create an on line platform offering on demand, video Continuing Mediator Education Courses approved for Tennessee Rule 31 Continuing Mediator Education requirements. They christened this online platform---The Mediation Classroom.

The Mediation Classroom experience is unique. Our format is a “learning conversation” with Joe (a/k/a The ADR Professor) & Samantha (4 Bridges Mediation) discussing and commenting upon the guiding principles of Mediation in Tennessee embodied in Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 and the general concepts applicable to Mediation anywhere. It is a fast paced conversation that combines the presentation of the pertinent Rules, mediation concepts and their experiences as Mediators and insights from years as litigators.