Attorney Biography
Joel E. Cohen is a licensed Arizona, Arkansas, District of Columbia (DC), Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, S. Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas attorney, mediator, and notary who previously worked as a journalist, political advocate, and college instructor. As a journalist, he worked for newspaper outlets in Dallas, Boston, and Los Angeles, reported on radio in St. Louis and Boston, and worked at a St. Louis television station. As a political advocate, he lobbied members of the U.S. Congress, and engaged in many sensitive discussions with a variety of foreign dignitaries, including Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ambassadors, and Consuls General, to discuss foreign policy issues of concern. He also gained experience in community relations, and was responsible for building bridges with leaders of a variety of communities in Los Angeles. As an adjunct instructor, he taught U.S. Government and Medical Law & Ethics at Westwood College-Dallas, as well as Introduction to Paralegal Studies and Constitutional Law at Everest College-Dallas. He has mediated cases dating back to 1998.
Attorney Cohen's formal education includes a B.A. in Sociology and a B.A. in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis (junior year abroad at Tel Aviv University), and an M.A. in International Relations and International Communications from Boston University. His legal education includes a J.D. from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, the LL.M. (Master's) from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, and two advanced dispute resolution (mediation) certificates from each of the latter universities. Both mediation programs, along with Mr. Cohen's negotiation experience in Los Angeles, have prepared him to mediate cases that concern domestic relations (family law), health care, sports law, employment disputes, religious institution differences, education, and international law disputes.
Mr. Cohen is a current or former member of the American Bar Association, American Political Science Association, Dallas Bar Association, National Notary Association, Texas Employment Lawyers' Association, Tennessee Employment Lawyers' Association, and State Bar of Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, S. Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas, and admitted to federal court in the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas, and the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi.
Mr. Cohen is married with twin daughters. He enjoys his free time managing/playing soccer for Maccabi Dallas, playing soccer for Maccabi USA's Masters team, refereeing soccer games, playing tennis, playing the alto saxophone, and spending time with his parents, wife, and daughters.