About Benjamin
Benjamin Papa blends theological study and legal training in a career that moves between courtrooms, conference rooms and congregations. He began his academic path at Vanderbilt University, where he earned a B.A. in psychology. He later completed a Master of Divinity at Vanderbilt Divinity School and finished his legal education at The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law.
After law school Papa entered practice in Tennessee. His name appears on filings in state court and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. He is a member of the Tennessee bar and practices from Papa & Roberts, PLLC. Over the years he has built a practice that draws on both pastoral training and courtroom experience.
Mediation and dispute resolution occupy a large portion of his work. He is Rule 31-listed by the Tennessee Supreme Court as both a general civil mediator and a family mediator. He serves as a Parent Coordinator through the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, a role that places him in the middle of ongoing parenting-plan disputes. He is also certified as a church mediator through the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, a credential that reflects his interest in resolving conflicts that arise in religious communities.
Clients and colleagues describe him as methodical in intake, careful during joint sessions and deliberate when drafting settlement terms. He moves between roles: sometimes a neutral facilitator in mediation, sometimes an advocate in hearings, sometimes an adviser helping parties draft post-judgment agreements. Those varied roles make him a frequent presence in matters that combine family law, ecclesiastical concerns and community dispute resolution.
His portfolio includes both private practice and court-connected services. At Papa & Roberts, PLLC he handles mediations, parent coordination, and civil cases that are suitable for alternative dispute resolution. He maintains the certifications that allow him to accept court referrals and to be appointed in sensitive family matters. He is known for a steady, organized approach to case management and for attention to procedural detail.
Outside the office he has continued ties to theological education and community mediation circles. That background informs how he approaches contested family dynamics and church disputes. He is admitted to practice in Tennessee and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. He maintains an active practice at Papa & Roberts, PLLC concentrating on mediation, parent coordination and related civil matters.
