AAC litigation counsel is dedicated public servant
By: Sarah Perry
AAC Communications Coordinator
Wesley Manus, AAC’s newest litigation counsel, has proven himself in combat zones and now applies his broad range of experience as part of the voice for Arkansas’ 75 counties.
Since getting his first job at 15 — actually, two jobs at the same time — Manus has worked “in nearly every role imaginable” from food service to construction and from dishwasher to director while earning three graduate degrees along the way.
In the legal profession, Manus has experience as a litigator in private practice, law clerk in state court, legal extern in federal court, and a diverse set of practice-oriented internships, including at the Attorney General’s Office while in law school. He also served as the executive editor for UA Little Rock Law Review, where his legal research was selected for publication.
Before law school, Manus served for a decade in the U.S. Air Force, first as an enlisted member after high school and later as an intelligence officer. Already a seasoned intelligence analyst after four deployments, he vividly recalls being on leave after returning from overseas and waking up to the horrors of 9/11.
“Those moments underscored the significance of public service. Every part of our country came together in taking action. It instilled a strong sense of purpose in my role as a military member and teammate,” said Manus.
After another overseas deployment, Manus focused inward and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in political science and earned his commission in the Air Force. He served in Ramstein Germany while directing operations throughout Europe and Africa — earning Air Force Plans Officer of the Year — before moving to Washington, D.C., to work in the Pentagon. Along the way, he earned a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Oklahoma. He would later attend the William H. Bowen School of Law and the Clinton School of Public Service.
Manus has traveled to 44 counties and lived in five of them, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, kayaking in lochs of the Scottish Highlands, skiing the Alps, visiting the Great Wall, and trekking to Machu Picchu along the way. He said the most interesting places he has lived are Bangladesh and Germany.
Manus said the same calling to service that inspired him to join the military has driven him throughout his life.
“Public service has been a theme throughout my professional and academic career. Even my private roles have interfaced with public service in some way, whether as a defense contractor, a political campaign manager, or in private legal practice. My academic pursuits have similarly led and followed my public service career. I’ve been blessed with many opportunities to learn and grow as a public servant and apply the things learned along the way,” he said.
Between his career in the U.S. Air Force and now, Manus managed Leslie Rutledge’s first successful attorney general campaign in 2014 and served as the emergency preparedness director at UAMS.
Since joining the association in August, Manus has worked on both state and federal cases. On the state side, he has defended counties and county departments in automobile accident lawsuits. In federal court, he works almost exclusively on civil rights cases.
“AAC is a fantastic place to work. We have top-notch professionals in all specialties, and I am honored to be part of the team. We support all 75 counties, and I enjoy our strong connection to every part of my home state,” he said.
In his free time, Manus and his daughter, Evelyn, 7, enjoy all the wonderful things the Natural State has to offer, including swimming, hiking, camping, and fishing. They also enjoy attending church, traveling, visiting science museums and zoos, painting, reading, playing video games, and cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks together. They are currently planning their next trip together.
