Women's History Month Highlight- Michelle Mangum-Merendino

After graduating from Hull-Daisetta at 16, Michelle Mangum-Merendino worked her way through college, earning a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

She worked as a tax manager for Clear Channel prior to graduating Summa Cum Laude (top 1%) from South Texas College of Law. She was the editor of the Law Review and worked on preparing federal and state appeals.

Mangum-Merendino has been a Liberty County resident since 1979 and has led a successful private law practice since 2002. Her legal career encompasses both civil and criminal law. She has extensive trial experience and has handled hundreds of cases across Texas in federal, state, county and municipal courtrooms. Most often, Mangum-Merendino practices in Liberty and Chambers counties.

Throughout her 30-year career, Mangum-Merendino’s work ethic and diverse experience have cultivated a vast legal foundation, including juvenile law, family law, child protective services litigation, criminal defense, mental health, will and estate probates, torts, real estate and bankruptcy.

She has tried cases in 18 Texas counties and has served as President and Vice President of the Liberty County Bar Association. Mangum-Merendino has handled thousands of cases throughout her career, carrying more than 50 to a jury verdict.

Mangum-Merendino has been married to her husband, Jared, for 31 years. He is a 26-year veteran math teacher at Hardin High School. They are lifelong residents of Hardin and Liberty counties. Together, they share three wonderful children, Dani, Kendall and Isabelle and two sweet grandbabies.