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Our Misson

Our Vision

The Pre-Law Advisors National Council (PLANC) seeks to create an informed, inclusive, and supportive network of college and university pre-law advisors while promoting collaboration, ideation, and best practices by the regional associations of pre-law advisors.

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Our Mission

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The Pre-Law Advisors National Council's (PLANC) mission is to serve as a resource for the regional associations and provide support for the common interests of pre-law advisors by facilitating and advocating for shared goals and interests at the national level.  PLANC derives its strength and its membership from its regional associations and is committed to their success. PLANC promotes ideas, resources, and best practices in pre-law advising across the country, while encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusion in the pre-law advising profession.

Regional Associations

REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Since its inception in 1975, MAPLA has served as an effective vehicle for communication among professionals involved in pre-law advising and in the law school admissions process. MAPLA members advise students in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

MAPLA logo
NAPLA Logo

NAPLA is the oldest and largest of the six regional pre-law advising associations. Founded in 1973, it was incorporated in 1984.

Our Association, with a membership of approximately 400, includes undergraduate pre-law advisors from schools in the northeast and throughout the nation, along with representatives from most ABA-approved law schools in the country.

PCAPLA 

Pacific Coast Association of Pre-Law Advisors

PCAPLA’s mission is to improve the skills of pre-law advisors, to advocate for the interests of students in the law school counseling and admissions process, and to connect pre-law advisors and law school admission representatives

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SAPLA
SAPLA Logo White Background

SAPLA  membership is open to pre-law advisors from community colleges, four- year colleges and universities, and law school representatives.

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While SAPLA was originally comprised of pre-law advisors in Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, membership is now open to all regardless of residence.

The Southwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors (SWAPLA) is a professional support organization serving both faculty and staff of colleges and universities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

SWAPLA Logo
WAPLA logo

​WAPLA is a professional non-profit organization that provides professional development, networking, and leadership for our diverse membership.

PLANC AT-LARGE MEMBERS

PLANC Board

Meet the PLANC Board

Martha Kirby Headshot

Chair (2023-2025)

Martha Kirby 

The University of Iowa

Director, Law School Readiness Program,
Department of Political Science

 

Phone: 319-335-2347
martha-kirby@uiowa.edu

Michael Vitlip Headshot

Immediate Past Chair

Michael Vitlip

Franklin & Marshall College

Director of Legal and STEM Professions Advising
Office of Student & Post-Graduate Development

Maya Russell Headshot

Chair-Elect

Maya Russell

Furman University

Pre-Law Advisor, Office of Pre-Professional Advising

Don Racheter Headshot

Treasurer (2023-2025)

Don Racheter

Purdue University

Lecturer and Mock Trial Team Coach

Phone: 641-780-5259
racheter@gmail.com

Veronica Joiner Headshot

Communication Coordinator (2022-2024)

Veronica Joiner

University of Cincinnati

Sr. Academic Advisor
Pre-Professional Advising Center

 

Kevin Freeman Headshot

2024 Conference Chair

Kevin Freeman

The Ohio State University

Program Director, Pre-Law Services

Phone: 614-247-7821
Freeman.259@osu.edu

Rita Ralston Headshot

2024 Conference Programming Chair

Rita Ralston

Boston University

Pre-Law Academic Advisor, Pre-Professional Advising Office

Phone: 617-353-4867
rcallaha@bu.edu

Larry Hayman Headshot

MAPLA President

Larry Hayman

Ohio University

Director of Legal Engagement & Pre-Law Program

Phone: 740-974-3685
hayman@ohio.edu

Erin Reichelt Headshot

MAPLA Designated Member

Erin Reichelt

University of Minnesota 

Associate Director for Pre-Law Services

Lauren Dropkin Headshot

NAPLA President

Lauren Dropkin

Brandeis University

Senior Assistant Director of  Career Services, Pre-Law Advisor

Alexander Jablonski Headshot

NAPLA Designated Member

Alexander Jablonski

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Miguel Moran-Lanie Headshot

PCAPLA President

Miguel Moran-Lanier

University of California, Santa Barbara

Pre-Law Advisor

Susanne Mahoney Filback Headshot

PCAPLA Designated Member

Susanne Mahoney Filback

Pomona College

Associate Director, Preprofessional Programs & Pre-Law Advisor

Mark Brown Headshot

SAPLA President

Mark Brown

University of South Carolina

Pre-Law Advisor and Pre-Graduate School Advisor, Office of Pre-Professional Advising

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SAPLA Designated Member

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Ana Alvarez Headshot

SWAPLA President

Ana Alvarez

University of Texas at San Antonio

Assistant Director and Pre-Law Advisor, Institute for Law and Public Affairs

Phone: 210-458-2990
ana.alvarez@utsa.edu

Lori Williams-Dekalb

SWAPLA Designated Member

Lori Williams-Dekalb

University of Oklahoma 

Pre-Law Academic Advisor

Coming Soon

Chris Shortell Headshot

WAPLA President

Chris Shortell 

Portland State University

Associate Professor, Political Science-Urban & Public Affairs, Portland State University

Mary Nadarski Headshot

WAPLA Designated Member

Mary Nadarski

Arizona State University

Director, Futures Center

Teria Thornton Headshot

AccessLex Liaison 

Teria Thornton

AccessLex Institute 

Pre-Law and Diversity Initiatives Director, AccessLex Institute

Lynda Cevallos Headshot

CLEO Liaison

Lynda Cevallos

Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO)

Director, Pre-Law Educational Activities, Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO)

Phone: 202-828-6107
lcevallos@cleoinc.org

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LSAC Liaison

Kyle McEntee

Law School Admissions Council

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

PLANC Coming Soon Logo

LSAC Liaison

Katya Valesek

Law School Admissions Council

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

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NALP Liaison

Donna Gerson

National Association for Law Placement

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

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