He received his B.A. in Japanese from Brigham Young University, an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia, and his J.D. from Duke Law School. Prior to joining the Alabama Law faculty, Professor Joyner taught on the faculty of the University of Warwick School of Law in the United Kingdom. During Michaelmas Term 2005, he was also a Senior Associate Member of St. Antony's College, Oxford University.