Stanislaus County law firm competing against Jimmy Kimmel for national video award
A Turlock-founded personal injury law firm has been nominated for its first Webby Award — the “internet’s highest honor.”
Silva Injury Law received a nomination in the category of Scripted Video & Film for its YouTube Channel and is up against the likes of Jimmy Kimmel and Keke Palmer.
“We’re not trying to make commercials. We’re trying to build connection,” said Michael Joe Silva, founding attorney, in a press release. “We want people to recognize us and trust us before they ever need a lawyer. This nomination is a reflection of that.”
Silva said that in 2023, the firm was looking for a way to expand its branding and stand out in the injury law space. While many other firms opt for billboards and commercials with catchy jingles, he and a few other associates took inspiration from “The Office” and made a short video in the same mockumentary style.
That first video now has close to 2 million views. The channel has since expanded to include skits inspired by Harry Potter (“Harry Litigator”), Beetlejuice (“LegalJuice”) and other pop-culture media favorites. Its YouTube channel now has more than 294,000 subscribers and has accumulated more than 29 million views across 266 videos.
Through its creative arm, Silva Studios, the firm develops character-driven scripted content aimed at bringing humor, authenticity and trust to the industry. Silva said the law firm, has expanded, opening an office in Provo, Utah, where he now lives. The majority of the videos are now filmed in a studio there. Silva was born in Modesto and raised in Hilmar.
The Webby Awards is the premier international organization recognizing excellence on the internet, spanning video, websites, podcasts and more. In its 30th year, the awards received over 13,000 entries from more than 70 countries.
Silva Injury Law’s nomination ranks its work among the top 11% globally.
“We think we have a pretty good shot to win,” said Silva. “Just being nominated, that has been massive for us. When people think of lawyers, they think of ambulance chasers. They think of scumbags you can’t trust. And this gives us an opportunity to show that we’re like you. We love what you love. We’re real people. We like to have fun.”
Silva Injury Law is in the running for the Webby People’s Voice Award, which is determined by public vote. Voting is open through April 16 at wbby.co/57602N
“Nominees are raising the bar for creativity and innovation on the internet,” Webby Awards General Manager Nick Borenstein said in a press release. “It’s no small feat to stand out among nearly 13,000 entries.”
Winners will be announced April 21, and honored at the ceremony in New York City, where they will have a chance to deliver one of the Webby Awards’ iconic five-word speeches (think Kim Kardashian’s “Nude selfies till I die).
The awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
