Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN), a statewide consortium of independent legal aid programs dedicated to ensuring equal access to justice for low-income Pennsylvanians, has named Meredith Rapkin as its new Executive Director effective December 2, 2024. The PLAN Search Committee, comprised of board members, project directors, staff, and client representatives, led a rigorous national search in partnership with Koya Partners | Diversified Search Group, a search firm that specializes in placing CEOs in mission-driven roles.

“On behalf of the Search committee and the Board, we are extremely excited to have Meredith bring her expertise and passion to PLAN, Inc.” said Regina Foley, PLAN Board President. “Meredith was the clear choice to shepherd PLAN, Inc. into the future given her strong nonprofit management and leadership experience, her understanding of the nuances of compliance, partnerships and strategic planning and her commitment to ensuring equal justice for all.”

Rapkin is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over two decades of experience in legal aid organizations. She  currently serves as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, where she oversees all aspects of the organization including compliance, fundraising, financial management, program planning, and strategic visioning. Throughout her career, Rapkin has demonstrated a deep commitment to centering and uplifting the voices of marginalized communities, particularly low-wage and immigrant workers.

Rapkin will succeed James P. DeAngelo, Esq., Interim Executive Director and past board president of PLAN. “I am delighted that Meredith Rapkin has been selected to serve as the next leader of PLAN. For the last year, I have had the honor and privilege to serve as PLAN's Interim Executive Director and to work with its outstanding staff. Given Meredith's longstanding commitment to ensuring access to justice for communities in greatest need, I am confident that she is the right person to lead PLAN into the future.”

As the former Executive Director of Justice at Work Pennsylvania, an organization within the PLAN network, Rapkin led the organization's successful efforts to expand its services and become a leader in providing legal aid to low-wage and immigrant workers in Pennsylvania. During her 12-year tenure, she achieved significant organizational growth, increasing the budget from $600,000 to $2.2 million. Key to that success was Rapkin’s design and implementation of an organizational re-branding effort that positioned the organization for greater impact and visibility.

“I am honored to have been selected for this incredible role, and I am excited to join the amazing PLAN team. I am especially looking forward to working alongside the inspirational leaders and partners in this diverse community of PLAN stakeholders - most especially our clients who will be my true north as we collectively chart a path forward for PLAN."    

Rapkin brings an extensive knowledge of Pennsylvania's legal aid landscape as well as a deep passion for supporting marginalized communities and solving complex issues. She has consistently driven growth and success in legal aid organizations through exceptional program management, board development, and fundraising. She has cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders throughout the PLAN Network.

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

About Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network

Since 1973, the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN) has been dedicated to ensuring equal access to justice for low-income Pennsylvanians. As the strategic leader and coordinator for eight independent regional legal aid programs and six specialized legal aid programs, PLAN makes the delivery of free legal services possible across the state. PLAN’s vision is to create a society where every low-income individual and family in Pennsylvania can access the full spectrum of civil legal services and remedies. Through a client-centered approach, PLAN supports a compassionate and coordinated legal aid delivery system. This system offers essential legal information, advice, and representation on critical issues affecting basic needs, including food, shelter, employment, consumer issues, healthcare, and family safety.