Meet Jo T. Wetherill
Jo joined Quinn, Johnson, Henderson, Pretorius & Cerulo in August of 1997, after graduating from the University of Iowa Law School with distinction in May of 1997. Her husband, Grant Wetherill, was born and raised in the Peoria area, so they targeted the Peoria area as an ideal location to develop their careers. Jo joined QJHPC because she was interested in litigation and working with a firm that prioritized quality of work and ethics in the practice of law.
Jo has remained with QJHPC for the past 13 years, with the exception of a brief period during which she clerked for Third District Appellate Justice Mary McDade, who was elected to that position when she was a partner with the firm. While clerking at the Third District Appellate Court provided Jo with unique insight into the considerations of the Appellate Court and process, she returned to Quinn having realized that her true calling is litigation and trial work.
Jo was raised on a livestock and grain farm in a small town in northwest Iowa, the fourth of five children. Growing up in a small community, Jo had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, including basketball, volleyball, track, speech, debate, band and mock trial. Through the experiences her activities provided, she learned a strong sense of gaining a competitive edge through hard work and dedication. She also learned to appreciate the lessons of sportsmanship and competing at the highest level with integrity. Throughout her legal career, Jo has found these to be invaluable qualities in maintaining credibility with her colleagues.
Jo has had several mentors throughout her life, who have provided impeccable examples for the development of her own character and work ethic. From a young age, her parents provided her with a solid foundation for making strong and considered decisions. Jo’s father was the youngest of 14 children, and while he did not have the opportunity to fulfill his own dream of a law degree, he worked very hard and made many sacrifices to expand the opportunities for his own children. When Jo joined QJHPC, she began working with Brad Dunham. Brad was truly devoted to the zealous advocacy of his clients, and was guided by a very strong sense of work ethic and high quality work product. Through working with Brad, Jo learned how to utilize the tools available in the litigation process to systematically build the strongest case for her clients. She believes the personal guidance of her parents, and the example set by Brad Dunham, were both instrumental in making her the lawyer she is today.
Jo married Grant, an engineer with CAT, in October of 1996. They have two children: Brooke (8) and Mitchell (5). Jo and her family enjoy spending their free time engaging in outdoor activities such as softball and T-ball for the children, and biking, hiking and swimming for the whole family. During the colder months, the Wetherills are involved with school-related activities, traveling, and getting together with extended family and friends.
When posed with the question of what she would do if she had to turn back time and choose her career again, Jo responded that she would choose the same path . She truly enjoys the litigation process, and her practice lends itself to meeting a lot of people and learning about a variety of interesting things. She feels blessed to be practicing with a firm that supports her individual goals, and in a community that appreciates the civility that allows the practice of law to be personally fulfilling.
