Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International (ΦΑΔ or P.A.D.) is a professional fraternity composed of pre-law and law students, legal educators, attorneys, judges, and government officials.[1] It is one of the largest professional law fraternities in the United States.[2]
Organization and government
Under the Fraternity Policy Manual and By-Laws of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International, the supreme governing body of the Fraternity is the International Chapter in Convention Assembled.[3][4] The International Chapter is composed of up to two delegates (and alternates) from each active law school and alumni chapter, up to two alumni members-at-large from each district, each District Justice, each International Officer, and each former Supreme or International Justice in attendance. Conventions are convened once every two years, usually in August.
Between conventions, the Fraternity is governed by an International Executive Board (I.E.B.) composed of the International Justice, the International Vice Justice, the International Secretary, the International Treasurer, the International Marshall, and 4 Members-at-Large. An International Tribunal, composed of the Chief Tribune and two Associate Tribunes, holds judicial authority within the Fraternity. All 12 International Officers are elected at Biennial Conventions.
For organizational purposes, the Fraternity is geographically divided into thirty-three districts covering North America. For each district, the International Justice, with the advice and consent of the I.E.B., appoints a District Justice to serve as Regional Coordinator and work with Law School and Alumni Chapters within their district. Each District Justice may have one or more Assistant District Justice(s) to assist them. District Justices are appointed in volunteer positions.
Application for membership to Phi Alpha Delta is available to undergraduate students, law school students, lawyers, judges, and politicians.[5][6]
History
Formed in Chicago in 1987 their short-lived predecessor Lambda Epsilon informally served law students until November 8, 1902, when the group was reorganized into Phi Alpha Delta.[7]
Phi Alpha Delta was founded to promote professional competency and achievement within the legal profession. Today, P.A.D. is one of the world's largest law fraternity, with 206 law school chapters, 99 alum chapters, and 316 pre-law chapters in the United States (including Puerto Rico), Canada, and Mexico.[8]
P.A.D. was the first law fraternity to admit members of all races, creeds, colors, religions, and national origins.[9]
In September 1970, Phi Alpha Delta became the first law fraternity to admit women. In 1972, Phi Delta Delta Law Fraternity for women was, by joint action, merged into Phi Alpha Delta.[10][11] P.A.D. is the only law fraternity to admit undergraduate students interested in law.[11] P.A.D. also sponsors an annual International Pre-Law Conference and Mock Trial Competition.[citation needed] P.A.D. is the only law fraternity to receive federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice for its Law-Related Education program.[citation needed]
P.A.D. hosts a "Senior Transition Program" aimed to help undergraduate seniors transition from the life of undergraduate studies to law school.[12]
Prominent members of the fraternity
- U.S. Presidents
- William H. Taft (1909–1913)
- Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921)
- Warren G. Harding (1921–1923)
- Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)
- Jimmy Carter (1977–1981)
- Bill Clinton (1993–2001)
- Joe Biden (2021–present)
- U.S. Supreme Court Justices
- William H. Taft (1921–1930)
- Tom C. Clark (1949–1967), served as Supreme Vice Justice of the Fraternity[13][14]
- Warren E. Burger (1969–1986)
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1993–2020)
- Stephen G. Breyer (1994–2022)
- Samuel Alito (2006–present)
- Sonia Sotomayor (2009–present)
- Elena Kagan (2010–present)[14]
References
- ^ "In the Law Schools", Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, April 25, 1995. Law Bulletin Publishing Company (Chicago, 1995)
- ^ Law, Anderson & Boback Family (2018-11-21). "Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity in the Chicago Legal Community". Medium. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
- ^ "Fraternity Policy Manual of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International, amended January 5, 2019" (PDF).
- ^ "International By-Laws, adopted August 5, 2016" (PDF).
- ^ "Eligibility Information - Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International".
- ^ "Fact Sheet - Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International" (PDF). www.pad.org. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
- ^ Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. I-19. ISBN 978-0963715906.
- ^ York, Kenneth H. (1952). "Legal Fraternities" (PDF). Michigan Law Review. 50 (7). The Michigan Law Review Association: 1047–56. doi:10.2307/1284939. JSTOR 1284939. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "Phi Alpha Delta History". pad.org. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Phi Alpha Delta History
- ^ a b Laura Duncan, "Happy Birthday, P.A.D.s", Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, November 13, 1992. Law Bulletin Publishing Company (Chicago, 1992)
- ^ "About Phi Alpha Delta". Phi Alpha Delta. Archived from the original on 2013-04-15.
- ^ Judice, C. Raymond (2000). Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International: The History Continues (PDF).
- ^ a b "Prominent P.A.D. Members". Phi Alpha Delta. May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- Directory of Membership 2006 - Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International, Harris Connect, Inc. 2006.
- In re Application of Henry M. Day, et al., 181 ILL. 73, 54 N.E. 646, 1899 Ill. LEXIS 3011 (1899).
- Judice, C. Raymond, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity: A History, 1968.
- The Political Graveyard website
External links
- Guide to the University of Chicago, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity Records 1955-1961 at the University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center
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