Meet Neal Dickert

Neal Dickert is a registered circuit court mediator in South Carolina and is registered as a mediator and arbitrator in Georgia for civil and domestic cases. Neal is an expert in the area of mediation and has an extensive career spanning both sides of the bench. 

For over a decade he served as a trial judge in the Superior Court in the state of Georgia, where he presided over literally thousands of criminal, civil, and domestic cases.

He served as the Chair of the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education, the body responsible to oversee the planning of legal education for the Georgia Judiciary.

Schedule now

Neal's experience

Neal Dickert spent much of his career with the distinguished firm Hull Barrett with offices in Augusta and Evans, Georgia, and Aiken, South Carolina, where he practiced as a trial lawyer and mediator working in all state and federal courts in Georgia and South Carolina.  In recent years, he has devoted his practice exclusively to mediation and arbitration.  Neal is well versed in mediating cases across many legal areas including personal injury, employment disputes, workers’ compensation, premises liability, construction litigation, contractual disputes, medical and other professional malpractice, ERISA, and domestic disputes.  He has also tried as a lawyer cases in these areas and presided as a judge in such disputes.

Since 2012, Best Lawyers in America has continuously recognized and listed Neal in its publication in the area of mediation. In 2017, Neal received the Justice Robert Benham Award from the State Bar of Georgia for lifetime achievement in community service. Neal has also received a designation of “Super Lawyer” from Thomson Reuters since 2021.

Neal is the author of a popular evidence book among trial lawyers, named the Georgia Handbook on Foundations and Objections which has been updated annually since 2003. Neal has also authored several articles for the American Bar Association’s Judicial division publication called The Judges’ Journal, the Georgia Bar Journal, and many other periodicals. He frequently lectures at continuing legal education programs in Georgia and South Carolina, as well as other states.

Neal received his law degree from the University of South Carolina and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar (1974) and Georgia Bar (1975).

Neal Dickert is a US Army and Vietnam veteran.  He served in the US Army as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Medical Service Corps, from 1969 to 1971. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Vietnam Service Medal.

Neal Dickert's Accomplishments

Speeches

“Mediation of the Emotionally Charged Case;” Dispute Resolution for Trial and Non-Trial Lawyers CLE; Augusta, GA; May 3, 2013.

“Privileges and Documentary Evidence in the Electronic Age;” Georgia State Bar Mid Year Meeting; Atlanta, GA; January 10, 2013.

Gary Christy Memorial Georgia Trial Skills Clinic Faculty Mentor; Athens, GA; June 2009, 2011, and 2013.

“Ethics in Mediation;” Insurance Law Section Annual meeting; St. Simons Island, Georgia; October, 2017.

“Methods of Alternative Dispute Procedures;” Dispute Resolution for Trial and Non-Trial Lawyers CLE; Augusta, Georgia; May, 2018

Pulications

Georgia Handbook on Foundations and Objections, Thomson-West, 2003.
(updated annually)

“Reflections of a Former Trial Judge: Looking through the Rear View Mirror.”
Judges’ Journal  Vol 56, no. 2,
Spring 2017, p. 26

“From the Bar to the Bench and Back,”
The Primerus 180, Fall 2011

“Divorce in Times of Recession and Declining Valuation.” Calendar Call General Practice and Trial Section State Bar of Georgia. Vol. XVI, No.1. Summer 2009: p.7-9

“Avoiding Judicial Arrogance: A Personal Essay.” Judges Journal. Vol. 44, No. 1. Winter 2005: p.21

“From the Bar to the Bench: Reflections of a Rookie Judge.” Georgia Bar Journal. Vol. 4, No. 6. 1999

“Opening Statements” Verdict Magazine. Vol. 26, No. 3. 2001: p. 14

Honors and Awards

The Best Lawyers in America®
Mediation & Appellate Practice

Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Paul C. Harris Fellow of Rotary International

Justice Robert Benham Award
Lifetime achievement award for Community Service 2017

 “Super Lawyer”
Thomson Reuters