The Official Constitution of WAPLA

Adopted at Charter Meeting, November, 1979
Amended: November, 1990
Amended: November, 1994
Amended: November, 1995
Amended: November, 1997

ARTICLE I. Name

The organization shall be known as the "Western Association of Pre-Law Advisors."

ARTICLE II. Purpose

The purpose of the organization shall be:

  1. To enhance the skills of pre-law advisors;
  2. To advocate the interests of undergraduate students and institutions in the counseling and admissions processes leading to law related careers; and
  3. To promote communication between pre-law advisors, individual law school admissions officers, and Law School Admissions Council, the Educational Testing Service, and other law-related organizations. These purposes will be accomplished through periodic meetings, through training of new pre-law advisors, and through such other means as the organization may devise.

ARTICLE III. Membership

  1. Members shall be pre-law advisors in accredited colleges (both two and four year) or universities.
  2. Each member shall have one vote.
  3. Associate Membership without voting privileges, shall extend to appropriate individuals from law schools, other educational institutions, and attorneys.

ARTICLE IV. Officers

  1. The officers shall be President, Secretary, and Treasurer. When as hereinafter provided, there exists a President-Elect different from; the above, the incumbent shall also be an officer of the Association.
  2. Except for the President, the officers shall be elected biennially by a simple majority of the voting members present at the time of election. The election to the office of the President shall occur in the year prior to the expiration of the term of the incumbent President, resulting in a President-Elect. The term of President shall be for three years.
  3. Nominations shall be made by the Executive Committee. Consent must be obtained from the nominees. Members will be notified as to the slate of nominees with the announcement of the scheduled meeting. Additional nominations with the consent of the nominee, may be made from the floor at the time of the scheduled meeting. All officers may be reelected.
  4. The term of office shall extend from the conclusion date of the scheduled meeting.
  5. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association. He/she shall appoint the chairpersons of all committees, both standing and ad hoc, and shall supervise the work and activities of the various committees.
  6. The Secretary shall keep a record of proceedings of all organization and Executive Committee meetings. He/she shall perform such additional duties as may be assigned by the President or Executive Committee.
  7. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection and disbursement of the funds of the organization, including the billing and collection of dues. He/she shall maintain the official membership list and keep an accurate record of all monies received and paid out. An audited report shall be prepared upon the written request of any three members of the Executive Committee. This report shall then be presented to the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V. Committee

  1. Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall be composed of the following: a. The President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer; b. The immediate past-President, and the President-Elect; c. Each pre-law advisor assigned coordination responsibilities at an institution hosting the annual visits of the law school admissions officers sponsored by the Association. These individuals shall be known as "site supervisors"; the series of annual visits shall be known as the "WAPLA Caravan"; d. No more than three additional members each from a different college or university, elected for a two-year term. The Executive Committee shall determine the number of members to be elected each year. Nominations may be made by the Executive Committee or by individual members at the time of the election. Nominations should be made with consideration for geographical distribution and diversity of types of schools represented in the Association.
  2. The Executive Committee shall be chaired by the President.
  3. The Executive Committee shall select a member of law school faculty to serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee as a liaison with law schools.
  4. The Executive Committee shall have the power to create ad hoc advisory committees whose membership, charge, and duration shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
  5. The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint a replacement to complete the unexpired term of any officer or Executive Committee members who vacates his/her position for any reason. When there exists a President-Elect, however, that officer shall assume the duties of President should the office of President become vacant.
  6. The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint the editor of the WAPLA Newsletter. The term of office shall be two years.
  7. The Executive Committee shall select a member of WAPLA as the Designated Member of the Pre-Law Advisor's National Council. The term of office shall be two years.

ARTICLE VI. Ratification

The Constitution shall become effective immediately at the close of the Charter meeting adopting the same by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting.

ARTICLE VII. Amendments

  1. The Constitution may be amended only at business meetings of the organization by a two-thirds affirmative vote of those members present and voting.
  2. Proposed amendments may be considered only if they have been mailed to each member of the organization at least thirty days prior to the scheduled meeting.
  3. The Executive Committee or its designee shall be responsible for timely distribution of proposed amendments.