West was born in Canada,[1] and practiced law in Toronto in a government position before moving to California in 1899.

[3] After moving to the US, West served in the Army as a legal officer for the Quartermaster General in the Philippines during the Spanish–American War.

[5] In 1904, he was involved in attachment litigation with respect to the assets of Wah Chung Lung, Tee Mee Toy, and Dick Williams, a group of merchants in San Francisco.

[6][7] In 1918, he appeared before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, representing the Illinois Surety Company.

[14] In 1925, West sponsored a bill that would have allowed the state legislature to amend laws passed under California's initiative and referendum process.