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."