Joel is a practicing advocate who has been a member of the Cape Bar and mediating and arbitrating since 1984. Joel has 14 reported decisions in the law reports, including reviews, retrenchment, unfair dismissal, legitimate expectation, illegal strikes and constructive dismissal.

He trained as a mediator at the Independent Mediation Service of South Africa (IMSSA) in 1986 and conducted 75 mediations, and in 1997 trained as an arbitrator. From 1996 to 2001, he served as a part-time Commissioner at the CCMA and conducted 65 arbitrations, with three reported cases. As a member of Tokiso, he has arbitrated over 80 labour cases and conducted disciplinary hearings.

Joel is a member of the Land Reform Mediation Panel, Department of Land Affairs, and has conducted over 100 mediations in land reform, mainly dealing with compensation for properties dispossessed under Apartheid in Simonstown, Constantia, Claremont and Malmesbury. He has 10 reported decisions in land claims, including three in the Constitutional Court.

He has conducted a matter involving children and the Hague Convention, and was invited to deliver a webinar on Community mediation for the NIVAARAN-Mediators of the Supreme Court of India Bar.