Stefanie Gail West

I received both my B.A., summa cum laude, and my law degree from the University of California at Berkeley. I spent my last year of law school studying at Harvard Law School, and graduated at the top of my class.

Prior to entering the private practice of law, I was the first Planned Giving Officer at U.C. Berkeley’s Law School. In this position, I helped the school’s most prestigious donors with their bequests and other estate gifts to the University.

My current practice is exclusively estate planning, including Wills, Trusts, Probate and Medi-Cal planning. I have helped hundreds of Bay Area families with their estates and trusts. I also regularly assists clients without long term care insurance who need skilled nursing care to become qualified for Medi-Cal.

I am a Board Member of the Contra Costa County Bar Association Elder Law Committee.  

I served as the Chair of the City of Lafayette's Senior Services Commission. As Chair, I worked to prevent elder fraud and abuse and to bring services to seniors in my community. I also served on the Contra Costa Advisory Council on Aging.

I believe that young children should be taught strong money skills and how to save for a “rainy day.” I volunteered with Junior Achievement to teach financial literacy to elementary and middle school students. I am also a frequent speaker at parent groups, where we discusses ways parents can teach their children the basics about money.