If you research the Scottish history of Clan Wilson, you will discover that their crest features a lion brandishing a large sword. The motto “Semper Vigilans,” meaning “always watchful,” is inscribed above the lion’s head. This means that for centuries, members of Clan Wilson have been recognized for their courage and readiness to defend others. With this in mind, it isn’t any wonder that father-and-son duo Kelly and Austin Wilson are second and third-generation attorneys here in Bedford County.
Austin said, “In 2004, James Webb published a book titled ‘Born Fighting.’ It describes the history of the Scots-Irish ethnic group. Webb describes what he considers to be their inherent characteristics, such as their sense of militarism, independence, and staunch opposition to adversaries. My great-great-grandfather, who was Scots-Irish, had 12 children — 10 were boys. My great-grandfather had six children, and five were boys. My grandfather had three children — all boys. And my father has three children. All are boys. Masculinity and fighting seem quite natural in our clan.”
These characteristics, firmly embedded in Kelly and Austin’s DNA, give them an edge when advocating for their clients. “The courtroom is a natural place to fight things out, and that’s why the practice of law — I believe — was my only career choice that made sense,” said Austin. “Lawyers are more or less problem solvers. Most people go a lifetime and never need a lawyer, but for those who do, having one is critical to them. Every day of every week, our law firm is engaged with people who made an appointment because of something critical that has happened in their life, and they don’t know what to do. As an attorney, these conflicts may sound routine, but that’s not what our clients are feeling.”
Wilson Law Firm was founded by Kelly’s father, attorney Ron Wilson, in 1959. “We have had a presence on the historic Bedford County square ever since that date,” Austin said. “My father followed my grandfather and my uncle Howard Wilson, who is the chancellor in Rutherford County, into this career. So, you could say the law has been in my blood since birth.”
The Wilsons are native to Bedford County. Kelly graduated from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) before pursuing a law degree at the University of Memphis. Austin also graduated from MTSU. He then attended the Nashville School of Law and graduated with honors. Kelly is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Bedford County Bar Association, the Tennessee Association for Justice, and the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Austin is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Bedford County Bar Association.
Hiring an attorney to represent you during a civil matter, bankruptcy proceedings, divorce, child custody disputes, adoptions, estate planning, or to fight for you after a job-related injury claim is one of the most important decisions you will make. Many times, clients have unrealistic ideas about their individual situation. They need an attorney who can answer the tough questions.
“A good attorney will prepare the client for the potential outcome in their first consultation. Setting correct expectations from the get-go is crucial to achieving their desired result. When that happens, clients will be thankful for the rest of their lives. Clients are not paying for a ‘yes-man’ for their dilemma. Having the right lawyer is half the battle. This has been our slogan since my father began practicing law in 1988,” Austin said. “It is essential that any client searching for an attorney choose one that is regularly appearing in front of the judge where their case will be heard. While the law is applied equally, the presentation and nuance of what each judge prefers are as different as night and day. A scolding from a judge in open court because of a lawyer’s lack of knowledge on how that judge conducts his court can be devastating.”
Kelly said, “The term ‘trial lawyer’ has changed dramatically since I began practicing law. Your status as a trial lawyer used to be measured by how many jury trials you had under your belt. It was not uncommon for lawyers to have several a year back in the 1980s and 1990s. But all that changed when mediation became mandatory in certain divorce proceedings and discretionary to trial judges in all other civil matters.”
According to Kelly, 24,588 active licensed attorneys are practicing in Tennessee, and there were only 13 civil jury trials in Davidson County last year. Bedford County had only one civil trial last year. He said, “That’s not to say we don’t have trials — it’s just that bench trials are much more common than civil trials. Civil trials range from ordinary traffic violations to domestic disputes, including divorce and custody disagreements. Our criminal defense cases range from misdemeanor DUI offenses up to first-degree murder.”
When you need counsel rooted in generations of vigilance and resolve, the Wilsons carry the same “Semper Vigilans” spirit their clan has honored for centuries. GN
