The Midwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors (MAPLA) Strategic Plan for 2026–2030 establishes a comprehensive framework to guide the MAPLA Board of Directors in fulfilling its role as the primary regional partner and authority for pre-law advisors across twelve Midwestern states. Developed through the work of a dedicated MAPLA Strategic Planning Committee, this updated plan directly builds upon the foundation of the 2021-2025 strategic plan to effectively address evolving institutional landscapes and legal education trends over the past five years. To ensure the strategy grounded itself in the realities of the field, the committee conducted a rigorous SWOT analysis based on organizational data and administered a strategic planning survey that captured key insights from both current MAPLA members and non-member advisors across two-year and four-year institutions.
To operationalize these findings, the strategic plan outlines targeted initiatives to expand member engagement, reduce financial barriers, and embed equity into every facet of the organization. MAPLA will expand outreach to non-member advisors in the Law School Admission Council database, form a Big Ten Academic Alliance subgroup, and launch a specialized task force to support two-year community college advisors. Recognizing that university budget limitations frequently restrict professional development, the board will establish a dedicated Conference Scholarship Fund and provide members with customizable Institutional Advocacy Toolkits to demonstrate the value of MAPLA attendance to campus leadership. Concurrently, MAPLA will advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across the region by expanding the Racheter DEI Award, promoting subsidies for Minority-Serving Institutions, and partnering with organizations serving underrepresented communities.
In addition to expanding access, the plan enhances core educational offerings while safeguarding the integrity of the profession. MAPLA will implement a standardized New Pre-Law Training curriculum paired with peer mentorship, deliver monthly webinars in partnership with MALSA, explore resuming regional drive-in events, and expand its digital resource repository. Finally, as non-institutional commercial entities expand, MAPLA will publish an official position statement defining the unique ethical standards and scope of campus-based advisors. Together, these coordinated actions will direct the ongoing work of the MAPLA board, ensuring the association remains the premier regional authority empowering Midwest pre-law advisors to guide the next generation of legal professionals.
Erin Reichelt, Chair
MAPLA Strategic Planning Committee