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David West
August 2009
By Stacy
Rupprecht Butler
David West has
been selected
as the
Outstanding Pro Bono
Attorney of
the Month for August.
A member of
SALA’s Volunteer
Lawyers
Program for twelve
years, Mr.
West provides pro
bono legal
assistance
to clients
in the areas
of guardianship,
real property
and wills. He is
always eager
to help out when
called upon by
VLP staff.
Recently, Mr.
West began to
assist with
the Minor Guardianship
Project where
he supervises law students as they meet with unrepresented
clients at
their guardianship hearings in Probate Court. The VLP is
grateful to
Mr. West for
his long time dedication
to the program and for his willingness to
assist clients
when called upon by program staff. The VLP’s monthly award is a
distinct
honor: of the 1240 attorneys who volunteer their time with VLP,
only 12
receive the
VLP’s Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney award each year.
Q & A with
David West:
Where are
you from?
I was born in
Muncie, Indiana (yes, I’m originally a “Hoosier”). My family
moved
to Tucson in
1951; I’ve been here ever since. I’m one of those “old‑timers”
who
can tell you
about Tucson “back when.”
Where did
you go to college and law school?
I graduated
from the University of Arizona with a major in accounting in
1967
and graduated
from University of Arizona College of Law in 1970.
What is the
history of your practice of law?
When I started
law school I was going to be a “tax attorney.” However, law
school was
such an educational experience I discovered great interest in
many areas of
the law. I credit Dean Charles Ares with creating a challenging
educational
environment that opened my eyes and mind to the opportunities
and
responsibilities of the legal profession. I was hired as an
associate in the
law firm
Whitehill, Berger, Meehan and Gin in 1970 and was given the
freedom
to handle many
different types of matters. That varied exposure has been
invaluable
through the years. My practice has evolved into the areas of
estate
planning,
probate, guardianships/conservatorships, some elder law issues
as
well as
litigation in those areas.
Things you
do when not working or volunteering your legal services?
I enjoy riding a
bike and I play with the guitar (acoustic). I am active in Christ
Church United
Methodist and a member of a small praise band at the church.
I was involved as
a volunteer in youth work with my wife for many years and
recently
volunteered as a Big Brother. I also chaired a committee through my
church to build a
house for Habitat for Humanity (that is one of my prouder
accomplishments)
Why do you
volunteer with VLP?
The legal
profession is an honorable profession offering each of us the
opportunity to
“make a difference.” We have that power, that opportunity.
Some become
involved in politics, some in various community organizations,
some in religious
and charitable organizations. It is our obligation to be involved.
VLP is more than
an obligation, however; it is a rewarding experience to be in
service by
providing legal services to individuals and families who have no
other
access to legal
services.
Who are the
persons you most admire?
Besides Abraham
Lincoln, my parents and grandfather. I spent many days
as a small boy
with my grandfather on his farm near Muncie where he was my
friend and my
mentor. He attempted to teach me that expletives were never
appropriate; the
only acceptable words to use when angry or frustrated are
“raspberries” and
“strawberries”. I sometimes forget that lesson but, after the
fact, I can still
hear him admonishing me. I was so fortunate to grow up in a
two parent
household where both parents loved me and participated in all my
activities. Their
interest and involvement gave me a sense of pride and self‑worth
that I have
carried through the years.
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Past Pima
County Monthly Award Winners
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