Attorney/Mediator/President and Founder, DRC Inc.

Joe Paulk began his career as a trial attorney in 1983. As lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials, he acquired extensive and valuable courtroom experience before launching Dispute Resolution Consultants in 1993.

Paulk holds specialized mediation training through Harvard University, Pepperdine University and the American Law Institute, and is a founding member of the dispute resolution section of the Oklahoma Bar Association. Besides being a mediator with a success rate of better than 90 percent, Paulk is also a national speaker, an adjunct professor of law and the author of numerous published articles on issues such as negotiation and mediation.

Areas of Expertise

  • Business and Employment
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Personal Injury
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Negligence
  • Real Estate

Education

  • University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, AR
    Juris Doctor, 1982
  • Washington & Lee University School of Law, Lexington, AR
    Juris Doctorate Program, 1981
  • University of Arkansas College of Business, Fayetteville, AR
    Bachelor of Science — Banking & Finance, 1978

Specialized Dispute Resolution Education and Training

  • Advanced Mediation Training, 2007
    American College of Civil Trial Mediators, Colorado Springs, Co
  • Medication Advocacy Skills - Speaker, 2006
    Oklahoma Bar Association, Tulsa, OK
  • Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is - Speaker, 2004
    Oklahoma Bar Association, Tulsa, OK
  • Observations On Successful Business and Commercial Mediations, 2004
    Oklahoma Bar Association, Tulsa, OK
  • Honey We Shrunk The Judge:Expectations Of All Parties To The ADR Process- Speaker, 2003
    American Inns of Court, Tulsa, OK
  • What is Mediation? - Speaker, 2003
    Tulsa Association of Petroleum Landmen, Tulsa, OK
  • Learning How To Hammer - Negotiating To Win - Facilitated CLE Seminar, 2002 & 2003
    Dispute Resolution Consultants Inc., Muskogee, OK
    Dispute Resolution Consultants Inc., Broken Arrow, OK
    Dispute Resolution Consultants Inc., Broken Arrow, OK
  • Advanced Mediation Training, 2002
    American College of Civil Trial Mediators, Ashville, North Carolina
  • Family and Divorce Mediation Training, 2001
    The Mediation Institute, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Program of Instruction for Lawyers - Advanced Negotiations, 1998
    Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
  • Advanced Mediation Training, 1997
    Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
  • Program of Instruction for Lawyers - Negotiations, 1996
    Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
  • Adjunct Settlement Judge Training, 1995
    Northern District Federal Court, Tulsa, OK
  • Advanced Mediation/Arbitration Training, 1994
    American Law Institute, New York, NY
  • Basic Mediation Training, 1993
    The Mediation Institute, Oklahoma City, OK

 Bar Admissions/Approved Appointments

  • Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court
  • Admitted to practice before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Admitted to practice before the Eastern, Northern and Western Federal District Courts
  • Adjunct Federal Settlement Judge, Northern District Federal Court
  • Approved Panel Member of Mediators, Western District Federal Court

Teaching Positions

Law School

  • University of Tulsa School of Law, 2006 - Present
    Mediation
  • University of Tulsa School of Law, 2000 – Present
    Client Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiations (with emphasis on negotiations)
  • University of Arkansas School of Law, 2000
    Mediation

Seminar/Workshop

  • Civil & Commercial Mediation Seminar Leader, 2002 (40 hrs) and 2003 (40 hours)
  • Learning to Hammer — Negotiating to Win Seminar Leader, 2002

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

  • Litigation Section, Current
  • Dispute Resolution Section, Current

Oklahoma Bar Association

  • Dispute Resolution Committee, Vice Chairman, 2001-2003
  • Appointed by the President of the Oklahoma Bar Association to participate
    as a Special Task Force member on Lawyer Advertising & Solicitation
  • Regular speaker for the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Continuing Legal Education Seminars, 1989 – Present (Speech Topics include: Masters in Trial Technique, Tort Reform and Legal Ethics)

Oklahoma Bar Foundation

  • Fellow

Tulsa County Bar Association

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (founding member), 1992 - Present
  • Professional Responsibility Committee, 1993 – 2005
  • Court Operations Committee, 1992-1996
  • Liaison between Tulsa County Court Operations and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 1995-1996

American Board of Trial Advocates

  • Advocate, 1994 - Present

American College of Civil Trial Mediators

  • Editorial Board, 2006
  • Board of Directors, 1999-2002
  • Fellow, 1997

American Inn of Court

  • W. Lee Johnson Chapter — Barrister

Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution

  • National Co-Chair of Court Sector, 1995-1997
  • Sustaining Member

Tulsa Technology Foundation

  • Board of Directors, 1999 -2003

National Registry of Who’s Who

  • Selected Life Member, 1999

National Speakers Association

  • Member, 2002

American Society of Trial Consultants

  • Member, 2002 – Present

Published Works

Publication

Date

Title

Tulsa Lawyer

Jan. 2007

Four Legged Stress Reliever

Tulsa Lawyer

Mar. 2007

Stand Up Straight- Your Mother was Right

Tulsa Lawyer

Dec. 2007

The Power of First Impressions

Tulsa Lawyer

Nov. 2004

Witness Preparation & How It Can Help You!

The Journal Record - Featured

Oct. 2003

Paulk Marks Decade of Dispute Resolution

Tulsa Lawyer

Oct. 2003

Putting It All Together

Tulsa Lawyer

Feb. 2003

Focus Groups/Mock Trials — Dressed for Success

Tulsa Lawyer

Dec. 2002

Lawyering and Leadership

Tulsa Lawyer

Oct. 2002

Negotiating Ethics

Tulsa Lawyer

Sept. 2002

I Knew Better! Attorney/Client Negotiations

Tulsa Lawyer

Aug. 2001

Persuasive Communication in Negotiation

Tulsa Law Journal

Vol. 36, No. 4, Summer 2001

Essay — Why Mediation Works

Tulsa Law Journal

Vol. 35, No. 2, Winter 2000

Practitioner's Guide — So You Want to Be a Mediator?

Tulsa Lawyer

April 2000

Avoid These Common Mediation Pitfalls

Oklahoma Family

Feb. 2000

Mediation: A Better Mouse Trap

Tulsa Lawyer

Dec. 1999

The Best and Worst Negotiation Techniques