About Jennifer
Jennifer Witherspoon built a career that bridges law enforcement and legal practice. She earned a B.S. in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from City University in 1996. She later completed a J.D. at the University of Illinois Chicago John Marshall Law School in 2006.
Her early work centered on investigations and corrections. She served as a special investigator at the Lake County State Lawyer Office, where she handled fact-finding and case development. At the Lake County Sheriff Office she held multiple roles over the years, including Chief of Corrections and EEOC Officer. In 2018 she took on in-house counsel duties for the sheriff’s office, advising on employment and operational matters.
Those positions shaped the practical side of her legal skill set. She managed corrections operations and the staff that keep those facilities running. She conducted internal investigations into workplace issues and handled discrimination and employment complaints that required careful review and procedural compliance. Her background gives her familiarity with the intersection of criminal justice systems and administrative law.
She holds an EEOC Investigator certification from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and completed mediation training at Northwestern University. Those credentials support work that moves beyond litigation. She has handled investigative fact-finding, administrative complaint processing, and negotiated resolution through mediation.
In private practice she is listed as the lawyer at J.Witherspoon Legal & Mediation Services. Her office is located at 32 N. West St. She provides counsel that draws on public-sector experience, offering services to individuals and public safety entities who need assistance with employment investigations, policy review, and dispute resolution.
Colleagues and clients report that her practice style is direct and practical. She applies procedures used in government investigations to help structure fact-gathering in civil and employment matters. Her mediation training informs a preference for resolving disputes where possible, while preserving the option of formal legal action when necessary.
Outside the office she retains memberships in professional organizations related to her fields of practice. She continues to work in Illinois and keeps one foot in public-sector issues through consulting and advice to agencies. She now focuses her practice on mediation, employment investigations and advising public safety agencies.
