History of
Phi Alpha Delta
The origin of Phi Alpha Delta
is unique in that it is the only law fraternity whose roots were nurtured
in a legal controversy. On November 4, 1897, the Supreme Court of Illinois
adopted a rule for admission to the Illinois Bar which seriously affected
many of the students then preparing for admission. To protect their
rights, they organized the "Law Student League." This league secured the
passage of an act by the Illinois Legislature which exempted the students
then studying for the bar from certain requirements of the rule. The
Illinois Supreme Court, however, refused to recognize these exemptions,
whereupon a test case was taken directly to the Supreme Court of Illinois
(see in re Application of Henry M. Day, et al, 181 ILL. 73). The League
was partially successful in this new undertaking.
The realization that more could be accomplished by a
unified group and the close association formed in this common struggle led
the members of the League to seek a way in which to preserve the
relationship thus formed. Accordingly, in 1898 they formed the Lambda
Epsilon Fraternity; Lambda standing for "law" and Epsilon for "equity."
The founders of Lambda Epsilon undoubtedly
meant to establish a law fraternity dedicated to promoting the
professional development of its members. Their zeal to ensure that this
new organization would remain true to its founding principles led them to
place severe restrictive procedures on expansion to other appropriate law
schools and to maintain a tight rein on the central government of the
fraternity.
In a short period of
time, it became apparent that the attraction for this type of organization
was of universal interest within the legal profession and that the new
organization should be reorganized to allow its benefits to become
available throughout the legal profession. Realizing this need, the
delegates to the convention held at the Colonial Tavern in South Haven,
Michigan, on July 16, 1902
unanimously adopted a resolution dissolving Lambda Epsilon. The next day,
the South Haven Articles were signed which were to become the foundation
of Phi Alpha Delta. A committee was appointed to suggest a method of
procedure. After several months of arduous work a meeting was held in
Chicago on November 8, 1902, and the Articles, Constitution, Ritual and
Rules governing the organization of were proposed and formally adopted
together with the name of "Phi Alpha Delta."
Within a month Blackstone, Story, Fuller,
Webster and Marshall Chapters were installed. By 1910, the roster had
increased to twenty-three in number.
Subsequently, Phi Alpha
Delta secure in its principles and purposes has weathered war and
depression and has proceeded along a steady, conservative policy of
expansion until at this writing there are chapters chartered at law
schools in the
United States, Canada, Puerto
Rico and Mexico, and 97 alumni chapters.
The Fraternity thus has far more active
chapters than does any other law fraternity in the world. The Fraternity
has initiated over 260,000 members into chapters at accredited schools
only.
In September of 1970 Phi Alpha Delta became
the first law fraternity to admit women. In 1972 Phi Delta Delta Law
Fraternity, the leading fraternity for women was, by joint action, merged
into Phi Alpha Delta and 5,000 leading women judges, attorneys and
educators became members of Phi Alpha Delta.
The Public Service Center was created in 1978
to conduct foundation-type activities for the Fraternity. Its principal
activity has been in the area of law related education. Since its
inception, the Center has provided an opportunity for the members to teach
young people about the law. Funded primarily through Federal grants, the
Center has achieved recognition for its effective programming.
The 1980 Convention
adopted a program of Pre-Law Chapters and in the Spring of 1981 the first
Pre-Law Chapter of the Fraternity was established at
Southwest Missouri State University. Today there are over 270 Pre-Law
chapters chartered.
The fraternity
continues to grow and expand its services, benefits and programs to
members all across the world.
