Born and raised on a farm near Anamosa, Iowa, Joel grew up the son of a farmer and a nurse. From an early age, he learned the value of hard work, responsibility, and perseverance through the demands of farm life. Those early experiences shaped his approach to advocacy, teamwork, and problem-solving, giving him a deep understanding of the challenges faced by hardworking families.
After graduating from Anamosa High School, Joel attended the University of Iowa, initially pursuing a degree in broadcast journalism. To gain journalism experience and earn some spending money in college, Joel authored freelance articles for a local newspaper. After his junior year of college, he accepted an internship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. It was here that Joel first experienced the legal system, working with prosecutors who handled felony cases in the District of Columbia. This experience sparked his interest in the law and led him to attend the University of Iowa College of Law, where he graduated with honors. During his final year, Joel served as Articles Editor for the Journal of Corporation Law, reviewing and editing scholarly submissions.
Following law school, Joel moved to Bakersfield, California, to begin his legal career handling personal injury, business litigation, employment law, and criminal defense cases. These early experiences helped him develop courtroom skills quickly, preparing him to manage complex personal injury matters. Over time, Joel’s focus shifted exclusively to personal injury, wrongful death, and civil rights cases, representing clients throughout California and working with legal teams in Iowa, Washington, Nevada, and Arizona.
Joel’s combination of sharp litigation skills and a deep sense of purpose has led to numerous life-changing outcomes for clients nationwide and established him as a fair, determined trial attorney committed to advocating for those in need. Grounded in his upbringing in a close-knit, hardworking Iowa community, Joel connects authentically with everyday families facing sudden, life-altering challenges, a quality that has been central to his success as an attorney. His trial work includes landmark results, such as a record-setting $35 million verdict in an Iowa motor vehicle collision.
In December 2024, Joel achieved a milestone that had long been a professional goal: he was sworn in to the Iowa State Bar and became a licensed attorney in Iowa. This second bar admission extends his ability to represent clients in his home state, bringing the full resources and trial experience of Rodriguez &
Associates to families across multiple states. Joel describes the achievement as his career coming full circle, allowing him to serve the community that shaped his work ethic and values.
Throughout his career, Joel has received numerous professional recognitions. He was voted a favorite in The Bakersfield Californian’s 2024 and 2025 Best of Bakersfield Readers’ Choice Poll “Best Personal Injury Lawyer” category, received the “2023 Trailblazer Award” by the African American Network of Kern County, named a Pinnacle Lifetime Member by Continental Who’s Who, and recognized as a Distinguished Professional by Expert Network in 2017. TopVerdict.com honored him for securing one of the top 50 civil settlements in California in 2016, and he has been recognized multiple times by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys for client satisfaction. Joel has also been nominated numerous times for Best Attorney in the Bakersfield Californian Best of Kern awards.
Beyond his legal practice, Joel is deeply committed to the Bakersfield community. Since 2024, he has helped lead Blue Court Runners, which is the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective for the CSU Bakersfield men’s basketball team. He also served as President of the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunner Scholarship Fund, helping raise nearly $1 million annually to support student-athletes. Joel participated in a fundraising initiative, CSU Bakersfield’s Runners On The Rise campaign, which raised nearly $55 million to enhance student opportunities and programs at CSU Bakersfield. Joel and his wife, Connie, have contributed generously to CSU Bakersfield to expand educational opportunities for students. He also served on the Bakersfield Christian High School Board of Directors and remains an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Joel balances his professional and philanthropic commitments with family life and personal interests. He enjoys attending sporting events at the University of Iowa and CSU Bakersfield, exercising, and spending quality time with his wife, Connie, and their three children, Connor, Jilian, and Valentina.
