Weyburn lawyer Stephen Schuck has taken over Don Horner’s law firm, and began setting up his new law practice on Wednesday.
Don and Diane Horner will be retiring after a three-month transition period, as they will be helping Schuck “learn the ropes” of running a business. Don joined Kim Thorson as a partner in 1998, and Thorson retired from practice in 2012.
Up until now, Schuck was an associate at the NSWB law firm, where his father, Tom, was a partner. He had convocated from law school in 2014, and came to NSWB to article.
“I’m really excited to take over, and I’m excited to meet all of Don and Diane’s clients,” said Schuck.
The deal came about as Don and Diane Horner had “virtual drinks” with friends, Tom and Marilyn Schuck, and Don happened to mention he was thinking of retiring from his law practice.
A little while later he heard from Stephen, who inquired about the possibility of buying his practice if he was really going to retire.
Don called his former partner, Kim Thorson, to tell him he was going to be retiring, and said with a chuckle, “He thought I was much too young to retire. He was 80 when he retired.”
Don knows that Stephen is a hard worker, as he worked on service rigs in the oilpatch for many years, usually every summer while attending law school.
“He worked on rigs in the patch, so he knows what real work is all about,” he said.
“Our son Andrew worked there too, so I know how hard it was, getting up when it was -40 out to pull chains,” said Don.
Schuck noted he is one of three sons of Tom, and all of them had law degrees. As an associate, he noted he has worked in many areas of law, including corporate law, real estate, wills and estates, family law, oil and gas, and added, “You name it, I’ve done it.”
He will be assisted in setting up in the new law office by his wife Armanda, who works as a manager for SaskTel and is currently on maternity leave.
“When you start a new business venture, there are all kinds of things that are needed,” noted Don, everything from new letterheads to a new sign on the building on Fifth Street, a former school board office.
A part of the transition will be finishing up files he has already been working on, added Don, in addition to helping Stephen in setting up and running a new business.
“It’s great when a young person looks at staying in the community. There is a shortage of lawyers here, so we’re really delighted,” said Diane.
“That’s one of the challenges for our profession,” added Stephen, as he noted it can be difficult getting new lawyers willing to come to a smaller centre like Weyburn instead of practicing in a larger urban community.
He is quite involved in the community, as he serves as chairman of the Weyburn Group Homes Society, and is a vice-president of the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce. He is a coach for the Weyburn MMA Club, as he helps coach five and six-year-olds in the martial arts.
He and wife Armanda, who were married in 2018, are expecting their first child on May 23.
