---
title: Joan Kessler
url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/joan-kessler
---

![Joan Kessler](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Kessler-Joan_2bffbd3194778f053190ca462b97a59a.jpg)

# Joan Kessler

Joan Kessler, a full-time mediator and arbitrator, received her Ph.D. in Communication before she attended law school. She was a jury consultant, Communications Professor and has practiced law for 30 years. Many of the communication strategies she taught and her extensive experience as a litigator enhance her mediation and arbitration practice. She specializes in employment, real estate, trust/estate, business, commercial, entertainment, and insurance cases. Email Ms. Kessler at [jkessler@kesslerandkessler.com.](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/mailto:jkessler@kesslerandkessler.com.) Ms. Kessler is on the American Arbitration Association (AAA) panel of arbitrators and mediators, the United States District Court panel of mediators and she mediates independently and arbitrates through AAA. See www.joanbkessler.com.

### Articles written by this author:

[![Pre-litigation mediation — a signal of weakness or a sign of strength?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Kessler-thinkstock-452093609_ccfbc54df15c575f6587933484cdc6ec.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2014-september/pre-litigation-mediation-a-signal-of-weakness-or-a-sign-of-strength "Pre-litigation mediation — a signal of weakness or a sign of strength?")

## [Pre-litigation mediation — a signal of weakness or a sign of strength?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2014-september/pre-litigation-mediation-a-signal-of-weakness-or-a-sign-of-strength "Pre-litigation mediation — a signal of weakness or a sign of strength?")

A look at the reasons to mediate earlier in the civil dispute process

[Joan Kessler](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/joan-kessler "Joan Kessler")

[2014 September](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2014-september)

## [Assessment tools in mediation](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-september/assessment-tools-in-mediation-2 "Assessment tools in mediation")

Assessing credibility of the plaintiff is integral to case evaluation in mediation or arbitration

[Joan Kessler](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/joan-kessler "Joan Kessler")

[2015 September](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-september)

## [Alternative Dispute Resolution](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2016-august/alternative-dispute-resolution-2 "Alternative Dispute Resolution")

A guide to dispute resolution from many of Southern California’s premier neutrals

[Joan Kessler](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/joan-kessler "Joan Kessler")

[2016 August](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2016-august)

## [Reflecting back on 10 years of Advocate’s ADR issue](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2016-august/reflecting-back-on-10-years-of-advocate-s-adr-issue "Reflecting back on 10 years of Advocate’s ADR issue")

A wonderful run at the tables!

[Joan Kessler](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/joan-kessler "Joan Kessler")

[2016 August](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2016-august)