About Caryn Rivett
Caryn Rivett West took a fairly traditional path into the law. She earned a B.A. in Philosophy and English from the State University of New York College at Geneseo in 1995 and completed her J.D. at Washington & Lee University in 1999. Those academic choices set a steady pace for a career that moves between private practice, court work and trust administration.
Early on West spent a year as a judicial law clerk for the Norfolk Circuit Court in 2002. The clerkship placed her inside courtroom procedure and judicial decision-making. She moved into private practice the following year as an associate at Saunders Barlow Babineau Riddick in 2003, then became a partner two years later at Clarke Dolph Rapaport hull & Brunick, PCL.
Her career took a turn toward fiduciary work in 2016 when she joined AMG National Trust Bank as a trust officer. That role demanded a different pace and skill set. It involved direct management of client accounts and an operational view of trust administration rather than the case-by-case litigation or counseling that characterizes many law firm roles.
In 2019 West returned to law firm practice and joined Parks Zeigler, PLLC as a partner. At Parks Zeigler she brought together the strands of her work: courtroom experience, transactional trust work and client counseling. Colleagues and clients have noted her AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell and a 10.0 score on Avvo, professional recognitions that appear on her record.
Beyond her day-to-day practice, West has a visible presence in local professional organizations. She has been a member of the Virginia State Bar since 2002. She served as president of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association from 2018 to 2019 and chaired the association’s Young Lawyers Section from 2007 to 2009. Since 2018 she has held leadership roles on the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association Foundation, including serving as treasurer and director.
Her community work extends to elder and estate issues. She has been on the board of the Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council since 2018 and joined the Norfolk Commission on Aging and Long-Term Care in 2019. She also chairs the Pro-Bono Committee of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association, a role that ties professional obligation to access to legal services.
West’s path shows a mix of courtroom, bank and firm roles. That range informs how she approaches client matters. She practices at Parks Zeigler, PLLC, where her work covers trust and estate matters, probate and elder law.
