Matt Manning '12
Champion of Justice
May 1, 2020
Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Matthew Manning '12 was blessed to be raised by and around servant leaders, who poured into and nurtured him, providing for him an example of service he has since sought to emulate.
After graduating from W.C. Akins High School in Austin in 2004, Matt began his studies at Howard University in Washington, D.C., focused on attending law school. During his time in D.C., he interned on Capitol Hill and became immersed in politics, developing a desire to serve others through legal practice, particularly in the area of civil rights.
In 2009, Matt entered The University of Toledo College of Law on a full scholarship. He served as president of the Black Law Students Association. He was also active in advocacy competitions, completed course work in civil rights, and attended Texas Tech School of Law as a visiting student in his final year of law school.
Matt moved to Corpus Christi, known as the "Sparkling City by the Sea," in 2013, serving as an assistant city attorney for the City of Corpus Christi, prosecuting Class C offenses. Shortly after that, he moved to the Nueces County District Attorney's Office, where he served as an assistant district attorney before joining current District Attorney Mark Gonzalez in his law office as his associate.
Matt championed the rights of citizens in private practice as a criminal defense attorney — earning the nickname "Manning of the People" — before re-joining the District Attorney's Office as first assistant district attorney in January 2017. He helped District Attorney Gonzalez in his nationally recognized endeavors to reform local criminal justice practices, ushering in several progressive policy changes and programs like "Cite & Release" and the inaugural expunction clinic. During his tenure, Matt tried over a dozen high-profile homicide and media cases.
Matt began serving as District 12 director for the Board of Directors of the Texas Young Lawyers Association last year. In December 2019, he transitioned to a new position as an attorney with the venerable Corpus Christi law firm, Webb Cason, P.C., where he maintains a personal injury practice, represents the rights of the criminally accused, and fights for those whose civil rights have been violated.
Matt is a 2016 graduate of LeadershipSBOT, a diversity leadership program by the State Bar of Texas. He strives to lead through service, as exemplified by his prior service as a volunteer teacher for those taking the U.S. citizenship examination. He is also a member on several boards, including the Coastal Bend Food Bank, Love Tennis & Education, and Corpus Christi Young Lawyers Association.
Matt earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science from Howard University and his juris doctor from The University of Toledo College of Law.
Q&A with Matt Manning
How did you find your way to Toledo Law for your education?
I made my way to Toledo Law because I had the great fortune of meeting Ms. Barbara
Greely, assistant director of law admissions, at a law school fair at Howard University,
where I attended undergrad. Ms. Greely was extraordinarily kind and inviting and explained
the law school application process masterfully. I took her advice, submitted a free
application, received a full scholarship, and the rest is history. I owe so much to
Ms. Greely's kindness and assistance that day.
Do you have a favorite memory from attending Toledo Law?
I have two favorite memories, actually. The first is when I had the opportunity to
compete in the final round of the Charles W. Fornoff Appellate Advocacy Competition.
It was positively exhilarating to argue before U.S. district judges and a Michigan
Supreme Court justice as a first-year student, and it further cemented my zeal to
become a standout courtroom advocate. The second memory is my time as the president
of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), and in particular, the "Taste of the
Diaspora" luncheon we had in 2011. I found great friendship and mentorship in BLSA
and found a lifelong chosen family, many of whom have continued to be great resources
throughout my career.
How did Toledo Law prepare you for your career?
Toledo Law prepared me by having a strong focus on practical education. I've had the
opportunity to practice alongside people from schools across the country, and many
of them complain about how their schools didn't teach them how to "lawyer." This is
important because, for all the time spent in law school discussing the philosophical
underpinnings of the law and often ethereal concepts, we ultimately need to know how
to competently and effectively represent clients. Toledo found the perfect balance
between teaching us the philosophy and black letter law and teaching us how to use
it, particularly through its clinical offerings.
What were the turning points in your career that led you to where you are now?
The turning points in my career all hinged on my commitment to myself that I would
(1) never be afraid to take a well-calculated risk, and (2) that I would never run away from an opportunity to grow. The first turning point came when I left the
District Attorney's Office the first time to go to criminal defense practice. It required
me to stretch out and learn a new skill set, but it was hugely formative and boosted
my confidence as a lawyer immensely. After a few years of defense practice, the lawyer
I was working for got elected district attorney in my county, so I re-joined the District
Attorney's Office as his first assistant. I was 30 years old when I accepted the job
to manage 45 lawyers and 35+ staff, but I was unafraid. By then, I'd tried countless
cases and was unafraid of hard work and hard-fought battles. After three highly successful
years back at the District Attorney's Office, I accepted another life-changing opportunity
and joined my current firm in December of 2019. At every juncture of my career, I
have taken risks and sought to learn and experience all I could. That steadfast commitment
to progress has paid dividends time and time again.
What is the most challenging aspect of your work, and how does your legal education
and training help you?
The most challenging aspect of my work now is being an "experienced baby lawyer."
I say that tongue in cheek, but that's the truth of where I am now because I am learning
a brand-new area of the law for me — personal injury — despite nearly a decade of
practice in the criminal realm. I am also practicing civil rights law, which has been
a passion of mine since before attending law school. That, too, has a learning curve.
Notwithstanding the newness of some areas of my practice, my legal education and experience
give me great confidence in tackling these new challenges. Learning to "think like
a lawyer" has helped me confidently and effectively tackle any new challenge I'm faced
with.
What have you found most satisfying about your career?
It's cliché, but the most satisfying thing about my career has truly been being able
to help people, particularly those who cannot help themselves. Those that society
forgets or overlooks. Those with little political or economic power — the accused,
the downtrodden, the down and out, the victimized, the "untouchables." My entire career
has been anchored on raising my voice as loudly as possible for those without one
and fighting doggedly for their rights, freedom, and justice. The beautiful thing
is that satisfaction can be found on both sides of the bar, both in the criminal realm
and otherwise. I am immensely grateful to have had the tools and opportunities to
help so many folks in their time of need.
Do you have any suggestions for current law students or new lawyers who might be interested
in pursuing this practice area or career path?
There are a few suggestions I'd offer: First, read ALL you can and watch all the CLEs
(continuing legal education) you can on practice areas you're interested in. There's
more information out there than you could ever wade through, but you have to go find
it! Second, take EVERY opportunity you can to grow, even if it's not necessarily in
the practice area you're passionate about. Some of the most useful practice experiences
I've had were in areas I don't normally practice, like family law and child protective
services. Third, reach out to industry-leading lawyers in the area you want to practice.
I have years of experience, and I very frequently send out "Request for a Call" emails
to luminaries I want to connect with and gain insight from. Every single time I've
reached out, the other lawyer has returned my call/email and been willing to share
their insight. Mentorship is invaluable.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my better half and three sons, aged 10, 2, and 4 months,
and all my family. Family and fatherhood are the most important things to me, and
making my boys great people and men of consequence my most important task. I am also
a musician, so I enjoy writing and recording music in the very limited spare time
I have. I try to read as much as possible and spend as much time at the beach as I
can! (I live in Corpus Christi, Texas, so we're surrounded by water.)
What are you passionate about?
I'm passionate about social justice and holding America to her promises to all of
her citizens. I think lawyers have the greatest platform to be agents of change as
compared to those in virtually any other occupation. Innumerable ancestors fought,
bled, and died for me even to have the opportunity to shoulder this burden, so it's
one I don't take lightly. I am also passionate about being the absolute best lawyer
I can and growing every day of my practice. I want my name to strike fear in and evoke
respect from my adversaries and give my clients unshakable confidence.
How has COVID-19 has impacted your practice and world of work?
Thankfully, COVID-19 has merely changed the way our firm practices without completely
grinding us to a halt. Depositions and mediations are now done via two-way conferencing
platforms like Zoom rather than in person. We are still able to confer with opposing
counsel and have been successful in continuing to secure great resolutions for our
clients. I'm immensely appreciative of the ability to work from home, which allows
me to continue zealously advocating for clients while spending a great deal of time
with my family.
Is there anything else you would like alumni to know about you?
I don't know it all, and my journey hasn't always been easy. But at every step of
the way, I trusted my instincts, worked tirelessly, and never let fear derail me from my goals. I also did not get here on my own. My family, friends,
colleagues, and others poured into me at every stage of my journey. If ever I can
be of ANY help to you at all, do not hesitate to reach out to me. That's not an invitation;
it's an order!