Phi Delta Phi
Phi Delta Phi () is an international legal honor society and the oldest legal organization in continuous existence in the United States. Phi Delta Phi was originally a professional fraternity but became an honor society in 2012. The fraternity was founded at the University of Michigan in 1869 "to promote a higher standard of professional ethics". History Phi Delta Phi Fraternity was founded in the law department of the University of Michigan by John M. Howard of the class of 1871. Howard was a graduate of Monmouth College and member of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI). His initial intent was to found a chapter of FIJI at the University, but he did not follow through with the plan because of the large number of chapters already in place on the campus. Howard instead turned his efforts toward founding a fraternity devoted purely to students of the legal profession. Phi Delta Phi Inns have occasionally leased or owned residential buildings or secured meeting spaces, often adjacent to law libraries. Even during WWII, when law school admissions enrollments virtually ceased, all the Fraternity's inns remained active on a restricted basis. Thus, according to Baird's 20th, the fraternity sprang back to full strength "almost