Afterwards, he was elected as a professor at the Law School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Antonis Manitakis was a student of Aristovoulos Manesis, whom he succeeded at the Constitutional law seat.

He served as a deputy chairman of the National Council of Radio and Television (1997–1999).

Since April 2014, he is the Dean of the School of Law in the Neapolis University in Cyprus In May 2012, Manitakis was appointed interim minister of interior to the Caretaker Cabinet of Panagiotis Pikrammenos.

On 21 June, after a suggestion made by the Democratic Left, it was announced that he would participate at the Government of Antonis Samaras as the minister of administrative reform and e-governance.