'Texas Law Hawk' among several Texas Tech law grads with mascots, personas

The Internet sensation "Texas Law Hawk" attorney earned his "talons of justice" in Lubbock.

Bryan Wilson, a Fort Worth attorney who has received increased attention in recent days for his online commercials, is a 2013 graduate of the Texas Tech School of Law.

He's one of several Tech law grads who get public attention thanks in part to their over-the-top mascots and personas. There's also Brian Loncar, the DFW-based "Strong Arm" attorney, and Lubbock-based attorney Davis Smith, known as "The Gorilla," among others.

Both Smith and Wilson said memorable personas and commercials can help attract clients.

For Wilson, the attention of his recent "Texas Law Hawk" commercials comes as he's getting started in the business.

Last week, as news organizations such as Huffington Post were starting to write blurbs about his commercials, he told A-J Media he developed his 'law hawk' persona, in part, as a student at Tech.

Explaining his reasoning behind the commercials, Wilson said he wanted to go for something unique and memorable with college appeal.

"I just kind of thought nobody else is doing anything like this," he said. "I thought about what people in college might like."

He wants viewers to think, "Oh, this guy is funny and memorable. I'll hire him."

Beyond his high-volume catchphrases like "Due process? Do Wheelies!" and "Talons of justice!" he also wants potential clients and the public to be informed by his ads.

One of the two ads on his website warns people about consenting to police requests for breath tests on "no refusal" weekends, arguing the equipment isn't perfect.

"That's why you don't blow," Wilson says in the ads.

Another ad is about unwarranted police searches, and how people should respond (and how he will respond by breaking down doors).

"I want them to teach lessons," he said of the ads.

Wilson recalled shooting the commercials in August - or as he put it, "the hottest week of the hottest month in the hottest state in the union" - and posting them recently.

By Sunday evening, the third commercial he posted on YouTube had more than 500,000 views.

So far, Wilson said he's pleased with the attention.

As for Smith, he said he benefits from attention he gets from the nickname he earned on the jiu jitsu mat.

"When your name is Davis Smith, you've got to have a gorilla to stand out," he said with a chuckle.

A black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, Smith offered to show how he earned his nickname when asked by the A-J how he became known as "The Gorilla."

"You sign a waiver and put on a gi and I'll show you," he said.

To comment on this story:

adam.young@lubbockonline.com  

• 766-8725

Twitter: @AYoungReporter