Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.) is pleased to announce the appointment of Meredith Rapkin as its new Executive Director, effective December 2, 2024.

Meredith’s career exemplifies a deep dedication to improving the lives of individuals and families through access to high-quality legal aid. As PLAN, Inc.’s Executive Director, Meredith will lead efforts to strengthen Pennsylvania’s statewide legal aid network and enhance its ability to provide meaningful support to those in need.

“I’m thrilled to join PLAN, Inc. and continue building on its commitment to advancing justice,” Meredith said. “Our work is about making sure we provide the highest quality legal help to the Pennsylvanians who need us.”

Before joining PLAN, Inc., Meredith served as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade as Executive Director of Justice at Work, a legal aid organization within the PLAN Network that helps low-wage and immigrant workers in Pennsylvania access legal support and services.

Across these roles, Meredith has embraced a collaborative, innovative approach and shown relentless determination to ensure legal systems serve everyone as fairly as possible. She is known for her compassion, straightforward leadership, and tenacity in developing holistic solutions that uplift marginalized communities and remove barriers to justice.

“Our coordinated approach to delivering services creates an incredible opportunity for our Network to drive meaningful change, expand access, and support systemic improvements throughout Pennsylvania,” Meredith said. Under her guidance, PLAN, Inc. will continue to champion the principles of justice and equity and strengthen its role as a vital resource for the legal aid organizations and clients they serve.

Meredith earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Temple University.