Who we are
Juan Sonny Palacios Jr.
Attorney Sonny Palacios has had an impressive career as a community leader, elected official, and attorney. He established himself as a successful lawyer in South Texas and served for years as a member of the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District Board.
Sonny, a fourth-generation Texan, was born in Edinburg, Texas in 1971. He is a proud product of the Edinburg public school system. Growing up, he worked in the fields with his father picking honeydew melons, broccoli, and cabbage.
Sonny is a highly motivated individual working early mornings, going to school, working afternoons, and doing it all over again the next day. He graduated from Edinburg High School in 1990 and continued on to college at the University of Texas-Pan American, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1996.
Sonny has a deep interest in law and in helping others, so he decided to pursue his law degree at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas. He graduated with his Juris Doctorate degree, Cum Laude in 2002. After law school, Sonny started his own private practice in his hometown of Edinburg.
Sonny has three daughters: Suzanne Mereille graduated from University of Connecticut, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Arts in English and is currently pursuing her Juris Doctorate at the University of Colorado Law School. Jane Elise graduated dual degree from the University of Texas - Austin from the College of Natural Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and the College of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. Braiden Reign will be attending the University of Mississippi, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
Sonny is an active member of the community and has current membership and past positions to the following organizations and recognitions:
United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
State Bar of Texas
Texas Bar College
Federal Bar Association
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Hidalgo County Bar Association
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Edinburg CISD School Board, 2010-2018
Top 50 Verdicts in Texas - 2016
Recognized by the Texas House of Representatives
Recognized by the Texas Senate
Practice Areas: State and Federal Criminal Defense, School & Education Law, Technology.
Patricia Palacios Love
Attorney Patricia Palacios-Love was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas, and is the youngest of seven children. A fourth-generation Texas native, she comes from a family with deep roots in the Rio Grande Valley. Patricia was the first woman on her paternal side to attend law school, following in the footsteps of her brother, Juan “Sonny” Palacios, Jr., by enrolling at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law.
After graduating in 2004, Patricia returned to Edinburg, where she established a private practice specializing in Family Law, Criminal Defense, and Personal Injury Litigation. Since 2013, she has also served as counsel to Bonilla & Chapa. Known for her dedication to contested family law matters, Patricia brings both legal skill and personal understanding to her practice.
Her passion for family law is rooted in the family she helped build. Patricia has been married to Carl J. Love—whom she began dating in 1996—since 2005. Together they have two sons, Colton and Luke. Patricia understands firsthand the challenges of marriage and parenting and believes this experience gives her a unique perspective and a deep sense of compassion for the clients she represents. Patricia has earned the reputation of a fighter who protects her client’s interests and prides herself on preparing her cases and love of legal research.
In addition to her roles as a devoted attorney and mother, Patricia remains active in her community. She is an active member of the community and has current membership and past positions to the following organizations:
State Bar of Texas
Hidalgo County Bar Association
President of the Board of Directors for the West Meadows II Association
Parent & Family Relations Think Tank of Texas Tech University
Board of Directors for CASA of Hidalgo County, 2017-2019
Edinburg CISD Sabercat Basketball Booster Club, 2024-2025
Kicker Committee for the Robert Vela High School graduating classes of 2025 and 2026
Practice Areas: Family, Criminal Law
Jose Muñoz Jr.
Attorney Jose Muñoz Jr. was born in McAllen, Texas in 1993. The youngest of three, he comes from a family deeply rooted in the border town of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. His father migrated to this country in search of a better life and greater opportunities for his children.
Jose is a product of the Edinburg public school system. He is a first-generation college graduate having received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from The University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley.
After a year of working with the Edinburg School district as a coach, Jose decided to attend the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an attorney. He graduated with his Juris Doctor Degree, Magna Cum Laude in 2022.
Jose is married to his high school sweetheart, Robbie Reyna Munoz. Jose and Robbie have the privilege of being parents to three beautiful children, Camila Jae, Jose Julian, and Cristian Caleb. In his spare time, he enjoys watching baseball, playing golf, and having family gatherings with a nice South Texas BBQ.
Jose is an active member of the community and has current membership to the following organizations:
State Bar of Texas
Hidalgo County Bar Association
Hidalgo County Young Lawyers Association
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Edinburg Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Edinburg, Class 36
Practice Areas: Auto Accident Cases, Personal Injury Claims, and State Criminal Law.
Alonso Armendariz Jr.
Alonso Armendariz Jr. is a rising legal professional serving as an Attorney at PLM Law Group in Edinburg, Texas. He plays a key role in supporting the firm’s fellow attorneys in delivering effective legal representation to clients throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
Following his graduation from Rio Grande City High School, Alonso attended the Texas A&M-Kingsville, College of Arts and Sciences earning his Bachelors of Science Criminology degree. A dedicated student of the law, Alonso recently passed the Texas Bar Examination and is admitted into the State Bar of Texas. He is a member of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law Class of 2026 at Texas Southern University in Houston, where he has earned his Juris Doctor degree.
Alonso brings a strong work ethic and local perspective to his position. Originally from Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas, he is deeply connected to the South Texas community he serves. His practical experience as a legal assistant, combined with his ongoing legal education, equips him to assist effectively in various areas of civil litigation, client advocacy, and day-to-day firm operations.
At PLM Law Group, Alonso is recognized for his reliability, attention to detail, and commitment to supporting strong team results. He is proud to contribute to the firm’s mission of providing high-quality, responsive legal services to individuals and businesses in the region.
We are excited to have Alonso as part of our team as he advances in his legal career and looks forward to his continued growth and contributions to the firm and the South Texas community.
State Bar of Texas
Hidalgo County Young Lawyers Association
Practice Areas: Criminal, Family, Litigation: Personal Injury
Sommer Vanhook
Sommer Gene VanHook is a dedicated legal professional based in Edinburg, Texas, with a strong foundation in the Rio Grande Valley community. She serves as an Attorney at PLM and Associates, where she supports attorneys in providing high-quality legal services to clients across South Texas.
A proud alumna of Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences earning a Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences (Class of 2019), Sommer then pursued her passion for law. She is a member of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law Class of 2026 at Texas Southern University in Houston, where she, as Valedictorian, earned her Juris Doctor degree. She successfully passed the Texas Bar Examination and is admitted into the State Bar of Texas.
Sommer brings practical experience from her role as a legal assistant, combined with rigorous legal training, to her work in areas such as civil litigation and client advocacy. Her background reflects a commitment to justice, hard work, and community service—values shaped by her roots in Edinburg, where she graduated from Robert Vela High School (Class of 2015).
Outside the office and classroom, Sommer is a loving mother of Kayce Garrett and Nina Love who enjoys spending time with her children, including cheering on her son in little league baseball. She is known for her resilience, attention to detail, and enthusiasm for the legal field.
At our firm, Sommer contributes her energy, local knowledge, and growing expertise to help deliver effective and compassionate representation to our clients. We are proud to have her as part of our team as she advances in her legal career.
State Bar of Texas
Hidalgo County Young Lawyers Association
Practice Areas: Family, Criminal Law, Litigation: Personal Injury