MAPLA 2026 Conference “Gateway to New Frontiers in Prelaw Advising” September 17-19, 2026.
Conference Host:
MAPLA is excited to partner with Saint Louis University School of Law (SLU) as the official MAPLA 2026 Conference host.
SLU is located in beautiful downtown St. Louis, MO steps away from the iconic St. Louis Gateway Arch! Conference programming will take place between September 17 – 19, 2026.
Below are Planning FAQs, 2026 Conference Hotel (Hotel Saint Louis) details, and information on submitting Conference Programming Proposals. Details on registration, attendee scholarship, sponsorships and more will be announced in May 2026. Please check back for additional information!
Planning FAQs
- When will conference programming occur over the conference dates? The Conference will officially open on Thursday, September 17 with a Welcome Reception event at the Hotel Saint Louis in the evening between 6:00 – 10:00 pm (event times TBA). There will be a full day of conference programming on Friday, September 18 and partial day of programming on Saturday, September 19 (programming will conclude by 3:30 pm). Exact programming times will be announced in summer 2026.
- If I can only budget for two hotel nights, what nights should I stay? We encourage traveling to St. Louis on Thursday, September 17 and minimum hotel accommodations for Thursday and Friday nights with travel departure on Saturday late afternoon/early evening. Hotel details below.
- Will food be provided with the Conference? Yes, there will be an early evening reception with food on Thursday night. In addition, breakfast and lunch are included with the Conference registration fee for Friday and Saturday.
- Will MAPLA be offering Conference Scholarships for attendees? Yes, Conference scholarship applications with eligibility criteria will open in May with registration details. The deadline to apply for scholarships will be in early June.
- My organization would like to sponsor the Conference, how do I learn more? We welcome the opportunity to partner with law schools, businesses, and other entities to sponsor the 2026 Conference. Sponsor details will be announced in May 2026. You may also email conference@mapla.org for questions.
Below is information regarding the 2026 Conference Hotel (Hotel Saint Louis), Conference Proposals (open now!), and basic logistics for planning. Registration, Scholarship, Sponsorship details and more will be announced in May 2026. Please check back for additional information !
Questions? Email conference@mapla.org
Conference Hotel:
HOTEL SAINT LOUIS
Hotel Saint Louis will be the designated hotel for the 2026 MAPLA Conference “Gateway to New Frontiers in Pre-Law Advising”. Hotel Saint Louis is located in the heart of downtown St. Louis, MO within walking distance of our 2026 conference host the Saint Louis University School of Law. The Conference will officially open at Hotel Saint Louis on Thursday, September 17 with a Welcome Reception and conference check-in.
MAPLA has arranged a conference rate of $159.00 per night. Below please find details regarding the 2026 Conference Block, including link to reserving under the conference rate.
- Conference Hotel: Hotel Saint Louis, Autograph Collection, 705 Olive St., a Marriott Autograph Collection property.
- Conference Rate: $159.00 USD per night
Last Day to Book Group Rate for Hotel: Wednesday, September 2, 2026, subject to remaining availability. Please note, the St. Louis Cardinals will have a home series against the Washington Nationals during our conference dates. Be sure to book early as hotel availability downtown may become limited.
Call for Conference Proposals!
MAPLA welcomes proposals from both new and veteran prelaw advisors as well as law school representatives at the annual conference each year. The 2026 MAPLA Conference “Gateway to New Frontiers in Pre-Law Advising” reflects the continually changing landscape of law admissions, prelaw advising, and higher education. It also reflects the emerging topics and new challenges relevant to the current generation of student and applicant populations. While all conference session proposals will be considered, we encourage session proposals that incorporate and reflect this theme where possible.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind as You Develop Your Proposal:
Session Structure: Conference sessions are typically 50-75 minute sessions, often featuring 2-4 speakers. We encourage panel sessions to include prelaw advisors.
Proposal Topics: Proposals are encouraged on all topics relevant for pre-law advisors. Proposals reflecting the Conference theme in areas related to the following are particularly encouraged:
- Innovative tools, programs, resources and strategies for navigating new and emerging topics and challenges in all aspects of prelaw advising, including:
- Law Admissions
- Undergraduate Education & Teaching
- Higher Education Landscape
- Funding & Institutional Support
- Student Programming & Resources
- Legal Profession and Legal Education
- New Tools & Technology
- Topics to enhance professional development.
Submitting Your Proposal:
Session Proposals are due by June 1, 2026. The Conference Programming Committee will make reasonable efforts to make programming decisions by: June 22, 2026.
Proposal Questions?
If you have an idea for a conference proposal, but are unsure how to proceed, the Conference Program Committee is happy to offer you advice on how to develop your idea into a proposal. If you would like assistance or have any general questions regarding conference proposals, please contact conference@mapla.org.
Want to join the Sponsor community?
Stay tuned for details on sponsoring our 2026 Conference available in May 2026!
Mark your calendars now to Meet Us in St. Louis this Fall 2026!
Questions? Email conference@mapla.org