After a hiatus, Phi Delta Phi, an international, student-run, legal fraternity finds a home again at University of Dayton School of Law.

Phi Delta Phi boasts on its website that it is the oldest legal organization in continuous existence in the United States and that it formed nine years before the American Bar Association. It has 131 active chapters, called Inns, throughout the world. Admittance is limited to lawyers and law students; prominent members include Supreme Court justice William Rehnquist and President Theodore Roosevelt. 

UDSL student Elizabeth Roach reactivated Stewart Inn, the UDSL chapter named after Justice Potter Stewart, last year. It was originally installed in 1978 but went defunct sometime in the 1980’s. She said that she has memories of her parents, who are both lawyers practicing in the Columbus area, participating in the group when she was young. Her father is a past Province President. She also had the support of Professor Dale Searcy.

“Student initiatives made by people like Elizabeth bring things to the law school that wouldn’t otherwise be here, and I think it is worth my time as a faculty advisor to support that,” Searcy said. In terms of the unique value the organization adds to UDSL, he added that Phi Delta Phi “emphasizes service rather than social activities, and makes a professional contribution to students’ lives.”

“We are a very small group right now, and we are trying to build up our constituency,” Roach said. The group has about 20 members and their efforts have included making lunches for The Other Place shelter, holding a fundraiser, sponsoring a prominent speaker who was on the committee to change the Ohio Ethical Rules, and hosting a lecture by Professor Mickenberg about law on TV and in movies. The group also recently held initiation.
 
One of the biggest advantages to membership in Phi Delta Phi is networking with other law students and legal professionals. Roach said she has already had the opportunity to do this. She attended a province conclave last fall in Kentucky with officers from Inns throughout Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. A national conclave is being held this summer in Florida.

“The student bar association at the law school has been really helpful with funding, and Dean Shaw has also been very encouraging,” Roach said.  “Our immediate goal is to recruit more members and elect some leaders who will help the organization continue.”