Michael West is a graduate of Springfield College where he also earned a Master’s degree in Education. In addition, he holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Attorney West has worked in various administrative positions, including Assistant Dean of Students and Assistant to the Chancellor, at UMass-Amherst from 1966 until 1979. While in law school, Attorney West was Chief of Staff to the Joint Legislative Committee on Education in the Massachusetts Legislature and a Deputy Chief Secretary to the Governor.
Attorney West’s legal practice, until the formation of McLucas & West in April of 2001, was primarily a plaintiff personal injury practice handling building construction cases, products liability, medical malpractice litigation, toxic exposure matters, fire cases and motor vehicle litigation. His cases have included a $3.4 million dollar jury award and a number of settlements in excess of $1 million on behalf of his clients, and have required him to argue cases before both the Massachusetts Apeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court.
Attorney West is a member of the Board of Trustees of Springfield College and has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jobs for Bay State Graduates, Inc. (a school to work program involving at-risk high school students) for the last Fourteen (14) years. He has also chaired a number of Massachusetts Bar Association Committees and has been a Hearing Officer for the Board of Bar Overseers.
Since the establishment of McLucas & West, Attorney West has diversified his practice to add a variety of defense work. His clients in this area have included UNICCO Service Company, Simon Property Group, and Equity Office Properties. Attorney West has lectured for the Massachusetts Bar Association, MCLE and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys on trial and litigation tactics and techniques. He has been a member of the Massachusetts bar since 1983, and is also a member of the Bar of the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.