After his father's death and his own admission to the Virginia bar in 1917, Flood began a legal practice in
Appomattox, Virginia.
World War I He also took over what remained of the family plantation. During
World War I, Flood served from March 29, 1918, until his discharge July 18, 1919, as a private in Company A, Three Hundred and Fifth Engineers,
Eightieth Division.
Early political career Appomattox County voters elected Flood
Commonwealth attorney in 1919, a position once held by his elder half-brother Henry D. Flood. He was re-elected multiple times and served until November 8, 1932. Also, upon returning to Virginia, Flood became a member of the unofficial
Byrd Organization created by his nephew
Harry F. Byrd upon the demise of Sen.
Thomas Staples Martin. Joel Flood also served as an assistant to Governor
E. Lee Trinkle of Virginia from 1922 to 1926, and as special assistant to the
Attorney General of Virginia from April 1, 1928, to July 1, 1932.
Congress Elected to Congress as a
Democrat to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Henry St. George Tucker, he served from November 8, 1932, to March 3, 1933 (in the Seventy-second Congress). The seat was eliminated due to restructuring after the 1930 census. Flood was not a candidate for election to the Seventy-third Congress, but returned to his legal practice and agricultural pursuits. He also served as a delegate to the
Democratic National Convention in 1936. He was appointed assistant United States attorney for the
Western District of Virginia and served from June 1, 1939, to January 28, 1940. Virginia legislators elected him as a judge of the fifth judicial circuit of Virginia in January 1940, in which capacity he served until his death. ==Death and legacy==