Joe graduated from UCD with a BCL (Hons) in 1975 and qualified as a Solicitor in 1978 and practiced in Dublin until 1986 when he joined Ciaran.

He was appointed a Commissioner for Oaths in 1979 and was appointed a Notary Public for Donegal in 2006.

He undertook and completed the advanced course with Mediation Ireland in 2007.

Joe practices mainly in the areas of Conveyancing and Trust law.

He was awarded a Diploma in Notorial Law and Practice (Dip. Not. L.) by the Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland in 2016