Upon graduating from Allegheny College Joe served as a Naval Officer aboard the U.S.S. Strong (DD 758) as First Lieutenant and Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH) Officer during the Viet Nam War and the Pueblo Incident.  Subsequently Joe graduated from the University of South Carolina Law School as a member of the Order of Wig and Robe and joined the Horton Law Firm. 

Since 1975 Joe has been admitted to practice in the Courts of the State of South Carolina. He is also a member of the South Carolina Bankruptcy Association, and is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

Joe primarily represents successful closely held companies in business and commercial litigation and non litigation matters and also services out of state corporations in their South Carolina business affairs.