ADR Courses | Joe Manual Attorney At Law

Joe began his career in 1978 and is one of Tennessee's most experienced civil trial lawyers. He has maintained an active trial practice in Tennessee & Georgia throughout his career. In recognition of his outstanding trial skills, he was first certified in 1995 by The National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Advocate and as a Civil Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on CLE & Specialization in 1996.

An early proponent of ADR, he 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 50 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 2016, he created the “Rule 31 Quick Finder”, a topical index to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31; Appendix A; and the Code of Professional Responsibility Canon 2.4. Find the key Rules governing Mediation in Tennessee in one place in a pdf. searchable format. Since it is in pdf. format, it is readily accessible from your cellular phone, tablet or laptop. [Currently unavailable because it is being revised to include recent changes].

In 2025, Joe was the Co-Creator of The Mediation Classroom providing On Demand Continuing Mediator Education for Tennessee Rule 31 Neutrals. It is approved by the Tennessee Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission for mediator continuing education renewal requirements. This on line platform offers multiple courses utilizing a “Learning Conversation” format. These 1.0 hour classes provide a convenient, comfortable way for Tennessee Rule 31 Listed Mediators to meet their continuing mediation education requirements in a manner that works best for their schedule.

All the classes offered by The Mediation Classroom are approved for Continuing Mediator Education including Mediator Ethics and Continuing Legal Education for members of the Tennessee Bar. The completed courses are automatically reported to the appropriate continuing education body.

JOE E. MANUEL

Professional Vitae

Education

Memphis State University: 1975, B.A

University of Tennessee, College of Law: 1978, J.D.

Private Practice in Chattanooga, TN

1978-1993: Leitner, Warner, Moffitt, et al, Attorneys-at-Law

1993-96: Of Counsel to Nelson, McMahan, Noblett, Special Counsel for City of Chattanooga

1996-1999: Manuel & James, PLLC, Attorneys-at-Law

2000-Present: Joe E. Manuel, Attorney-at-Law

Court Admissions

Tennessee

Admitted to practice by the Tennessee Supreme Court: September 30, 1978

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee: April 23, 1979

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee: October 3, 1983

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee: June 2005

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit: December 10, 1984

Georgia

Superior Court for Conasauga Judicial Circuit: Fall 1979

Georgia Court of Appeals: January 4, 1980

Georgia Supreme Court: January 4, 1980

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia: January 4, 1980

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: January 21, 1980

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit: December 16, 1985

Trial Specialist

Tennessee Certified Civil Trial Specialist by Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization (1996-2015). * The Commission no longer issues certification for specialities.

National Board of Trial Advocacy

Certified Civil Trial Advocate: 1995

Recertified in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020 & 2025

NBTA Board of Examiners: Authored Commercial Litigation Question for National Examination in July 1998 and July 2001. The 2001 Commercial Litigation Question was selected for inclusion in the Examination Manual published by the NBTA to assist applicants sitting for the Civil Trial Advocate Examination.

Major Publications

Senior Author, The Tennessee Alternative Dispute Resolution Handbook, Manuel & Vital, (The Harrison Co. 1997, Supp. 1999)

Manuel & Richards, Economic Loss in Strict Liability---Beyond the Realm of 402A, 16 Mem. St. L. Rev. 315 (1986)

Manuel & James, Tennessee’s Theories of Misrepresentation, 22 Mem. St. L. Rev. (1992).

On Line Continuing Legal Education Courses

Created “The ADR Professor Series” of courses focused upon Alternative Dispute Resolution issues. These courses are approved for Continuing Legal Education credit in Tennessee and other states. They are available on the Internet at www.lawyerslearn.com. To see a listing of the courses on the lawyerslearn web site, click on the button “ADR Professor Series”:

Tennessee Mediation Ethics (2000)

Lawyers in Mediation Ethics 101 & 102 (2001)

Employment Law Arbitration in a Nutshell (2002)

Introduction to Arbitration (2002)

The Uniform Mediation Act (2003)

Ethics Tennessee Lawyer Neutrals (2005)

Lawyer-Mediator-Snitch? The Ethics of Mediator Testimony (2006)

Inconvenient Signatures---The War over Nursing Home Arbitration (2009)

Federal Mediation Privilege---Iron Curtain or Transparent Veil ? (2010)

Electronic Applications

In 2016, he created the “Rule 31 Quick Finder”, a topical index to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31; Appendix A; and the Code of Professional Responsibility Canon 2.4. Find the key Rules governing Mediation in Tennessee in one place in a pdf. searchable format. Since it is in pdf. Format, it is readily accessible from your cellular phone, tablet or laptop.

ARBITRATION

American Arbitration Association

Arbitrator Training I, II, III, Atlanta, March, 1992 (13) hours;

AAA Construction Arbitrator Training, Nashville, Nov. 1996 (6.50) hours;

AAA Commercial Arbitrator Training, Nashville, June 1999 (4.75) hours;

AAA Arbitrator Update 2001;

AAA Commercial Arbitrator II Training, Atlanta, June, 2002 (9.25)

ACE 001- Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards, Nov. 2004

American Arbitration Association Commercial, Construction and Employment Panels.

Arbitrator experience ranging from simple, one day arbitrations to multi-day complex commercial, construction or employment issues. Both single arbitrator and panel experience. Served as Arbitrator in more than 50 Arbitrations.

Court Arbitration Program

Approved Arbitrator, Federal Arbitration Program U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 2003

MEDIATION

AAA Basic Training, Atlanta, Nov. 1991 (13) hours

Erickson Mediation Institute Mediator Training (40) hours, August, 1993

Assistant Trainer, AAA Mediator Training, Dalton, GA, Nov. 1994

Family Crossover Training (25 hours) (2009)

Mediation Designations

Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed Mediator, 1997

Certified Mediator, Federal Mediation Program, U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Tennessee, 1997

Approved Neutral, U.S. District Court for Middle District of Tennessee, 1998

Registered Neutral Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution (Oct. 2001-Dec. 2002)

Organizations

Tennessee Bar Association

State Bar of Georgia

Chattanooga Bar Association:

Board of Governors 1991/92

Treasurer, 2013

Public Service

Board of Appeals State of Tennessee, Department Human Resources

(State Preferred Employee Disciplinary Appeals) (2020-2026)

City of Chattanooga Board of Zoning Appeals (2013-Present)

Vice-Chairman 2016/2017