It is interesting that an estate lawyer with a nursing background like Sean Green, CEO, and lawyer of Summit Legal Group, is there to assist you.

Green has been practicing law for more than ten years as a lawyer and associate from two law firms. Currently, he has led Summit Legal Group for more than five years already.

Also, we think his nursing career is worth-mentioning because, during those years, he was able to assist clients with complex mental and psychological issues. 

For us, such experience is a plus since attending wills can be stressful, and knowing that an expert can easily relate to us on an emotional level is reassuring.

Meanwhile, our client experience survey reveals that Sean is thorough about the crucial details to clients and very personable. His team is also known for having a speedy response from the start to signing day.

It is noteworthy that Summit Legal Group has also won the Business Excellence Award of ThreeBestRated for five straight years. Knowing this makes any of their clients confident concerning the quality of their service.

Regarding fees, they offer flat rates instead of hourly, which is a money-saver since you will only pay for what you need. But, unlike other law firms, it does not have a breakdown of its fees, making it less easy for clients to know on the get-go.

And if you are planning to visit, we assure you would have zero problems with parking, as their parking space is spacious.

However, there is a hindrance worth mentioning. For instance, Sean Green can be busy and difficult to hire for service since he is the head of the company and is in demand for his law experience.

If you want an estate lawyer with decades of experience who has been a part of UCalgary, Chadwick Newcombe of Kahane Law Office is a perfect choice.

As a litigation lawyer with a general civil advocacy practice of more than two decades, Newcombe has successfully represented clients in various commercial litigation disputes. He has appeared at all court levels, including the Supreme Court.

Furthermore, he has served in many roles at the University of Calgary. In addition to being a professor and skill evaluator, Newcombe has been the longest-serving coach for the university’s competitive moot teams.

Knowing he has been the professor of some Calgary lawyers tells so much about his level of knowledge. And being aware of it is more than reassuring for Newcombe’s clients.

On the subject of his law firm, what made it stand out among others is it has Spanish-speaking lawyers. So if you are comfortable discussing your needs in the said language, this is a plus factor.

Another great deal the company offers is its discount for military and veteran officers in specific areas of law. Also, we appreciate that they offer flat rates for their services.

But, we would like to point out a few things which we found pretty iffy. First, Newcombe can be difficult to book at times because of his busy schedule in law practice and his role in the Student‘s Union Review Board of UCalgary.

Next, our digging into the law firm’s customer service shows several cases of late or lack of response from clients looking for an appointment. Hopefully, they could solve this issue quickly to avoid any inconvenience on the clients’ part.

Years of experience are not everything, but it says a lot about consistency and expertise. And an estate lawyer with four decades of experience can bring a lot to the table.

Harrison is a senior legal adviser from West Legal with more than 40 years of experience in law. Passing both the Manitoba and Alberta Bar, his field of expertise revolves around wills, estate, and residential real estate.

We think knowing that a lawyer has been honed over time and is adept in the field is reassuring to many potential clients.

Another great thing West Legal is known for is having a flat rate for fees and customer service that is quick to respond. 

We also found that they have a two-hour free parking time, which lessens the worries of visiting clients who may spend more time in their office.

However, the breakdown of the rates on their website made them stand out on this list. We think this is a clever feature since clients can conveniently know and plan their budget based on what legal services they will get.

Still, choosing Harrison and West Legal may have some slight downsides you may consider. For example, as the company has the same parking area as nearby establishments, parking can struggle during busy hours, around noon to 3 PM. 

Professional recognitions help anyone to stand out in their league. So, if you think that awards are important, you will like Charles Osuji as your estate lawyer.

Before his admission to the Alberta Bar in 2014, he passed the Nigerian Bar in 2010. Later in 2017, he became a partner and is now the CEO of Osuji & Smith Lawyers.

Osuji’s area of expertise is broad: litigation, business law, personal injury, wills and estates, foreclosures, employment law, family law, and real estate.

What made him stand out for us is how he and the law firm received numerous awards (28 and 12, respectively) despite leading the company in just a few years. Osuji’s latest award is the Best Lawyer award from Ones to Watch in 2022.

Even so, Osuji’s relationship with his clients is as applauding as the number of his awards. Most of the ones we talked to stated that he and his team guided them every step and made them “feel like a person” and not just a client.

And if you want to support a company that gives back to the community, Osuji & Smith volunteers to help 12 organizations in Alberta. Calgary Immigrant Women Association (CIWA) is one of the institutions where they extended their expertise in law.

But, we would like to remind you that Charles Osuji can be challenging to book because of his several commitments as CEO and popularity among other estate lawyers. Still, the other lawyers in the firm are as reliable as his in quality.

Also, parking during peak hours can be difficult as their parking area is small. However, this issue is not a significant head-scratcher, as business establishments nearby have parking areas that you can use.

Sharing your thoughts in your native language is relieving because you are confident that the communication will be crystal clear. And if you are more comfortable speaking Russian, Anna Dunaeva of DLegal Law Office is a perfect choice.

Anna Dunaeva is one of the few estate lawyers in Calgary who is fluent in Russian and can assist you in legal matters in this language.

Moreover, she has been practicing law for almost 20 years and has been a legal advisor for several corporations before establishing the law firm in 2017. Although the law firm is younger than the others on our list, we think Dunaeva’s experience compensates for the lack of years.

Apart from giving the same-day response, Dunaeva is known by her clients for having a caring attitude and guiding them to every nook and cranny in preparing and writing their will.

Like West Legal, DLegal has a breakdown of their fees available on their website, giving more convenience to clients.

Another great thing is that DLegal steps forward in helping the local community. For example, we discovered that they aid the Jewish Family Services Calgary through educational seminars to share their knowledge in law.

And if you are planning to visit the firm, parking would be breezy because the Fish Creek Executive Centre has a spacious parking area. Also, you can enjoy the other amenities that other establishments in the center have.

However, remember that the DLegal has only one lawyer and may be unable to accommodate clients if they are overbooked. We also like that the firm is honest with clients when they cannot assist them.