Kenneth West

Law Clerk Delaware County Court of Common Pleas

Year: 2008 - 2009

Description: Honorable Gregory Mallon. Performed duties such as research, drafting, editing, proofreading and verification of citations additionally, drafted working opinions pursuant to the Judge's direction.

Associate Pachtman, Douglass and Associates

Year: 1988 - 1990

Description: Researched legal issues and drafted memoranda regarding all aspects of the practice including criminal defense,personal injury, domestic relations, wills, estates, real estate, and consumer bankruptcy. Individually being responsible for the all phases of the criminal defense and bankruptcy practices.

Partner Douglass, West and Associates

Year: 1990 - Current

Description: Twenty one years experience as the managing partner for a general practice firm. Office responsibilities include the management of and accountability for all aspects of the firm, which encompass client relations, marketing of the firm and management of personnel. Practice has focused on negligence litigation, including automobile accidents and slip and falls, bankruptcy, wills and trusts, small business matters and real estate. Conduct Bankruptcy Hearings, Arbitrations and TrialsConsult with clients to prepare them for Hearings, Trial and ArbitrationsDevelop cases for hearings and/or or trial and handle all aspects of trying cases in court, as appropiate Responsible for legal research and the preparation of pleadings, motions, discovery, and routinely and effectively negotiating settlements with opposing counsel and/or claims adjustersManage rotating caseload of 100+ cases involving consumer bankruptcy filings (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13) and personal injury (automobile accident, slip and falls and wrongful death).

Assistant Public Defender, Motion/Hearing Division Delaware County Office of the Public Defender

Year: 2009 - 2014

Description: Individually handle defense at the initial phase of criminal prosecutions, i.e., the preliminary hearing stage. Responsibilities include legal research, reviewing case evidence, routinely meeting with defendants and district attorneys to effectively negotiate waiver agreements, developing cases for preliminary hearings and handle all aspects of those hearings in court, as appropriate.

Assistant Public Defender, Mental Health Division Delaware County Office of the Public Defender

Year: 2014 - Current

Description: Assigned as a trial team member of the Public Defender's Office to represent defendants within the newly created Mental Health Division of the Delaware County Court system. Defendant's with serious mental illness (SMI) diagnosis (schizophrenia, major mood disorder, psychoses NOS, borderline personality disorder) and those persons with co-occurring disorders (mental health and substance use disorder) which contributed to the criminal behavior have access to this the program. .