By Alex Nash
This semester, students from the Pre-Law Club are attempting to charter a chapter of Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) to the undergraduate campus. PAD is the country’s largest legal fraternity, supporting law and pre-law students and connecting them to a wide range of people within the legal profession.
A social fraternity is likely what comes to mind when mentioning the term fraternity or sorority. These groups partake in the more traditional “frat” activities with the goal of social outreach, philanthropy and making connections. This is also the type of Greek life many associate with more negative aspects, such as hazing and partying.
Professional fraternities are a different category. Their main goal is to connect a wide network of students and alumni interested or involved in a certain career path. These fraternities are only similar in the aspect that both are on-campus chapters that all connect to a larger organization.
Mette Peluce ’27 is spearheading the effort to bring PAD to the undergraduate campus. She clarified the role of PAD as a professional society.
“PAD would not be introducing Greek life to LC,” Peluce said. “We want to strengthen the pre-law program, that’s our goal, through networking events, mixers, panels with alumni and strengthening our connection with the law school — who also have a PAD chapter.”
PAD would operate like any other student organization or club here on campus — student-run with a staff advisor for support.
“Our first step was getting approval from the school — through Student Engagement because we’re a student organization,” Peluce said. “We’re in the chartering process right now, which consists of submitting different documents and approvals to the executive office of PAD. Right now, we’re recruiting because there’s a minimum number of members (necessary for approval).”
The PAD chapter will continue to be separate from the Pre-Law Club, but the idea of bringing a chapter here was due to a visit to the club from members of the law campus chapter.
Lewis & Clark offers a program that allows students to complete their bachelor’s degree and then their law degree immediately afterward through LC’s Northwestern School of Law.
“We have this 3 and 3 program that is really cool, but a lot of people don’t end up going through with it. I think, in part, that’s because there are not a lot of pre-law resources on campus,” Peluce said. “At the end of the day, I want the pre-law concept to be very strong on campus. Something (where) people who are interested in it can seek out to set themselves up for the future,success in law school, finding internships and connecting themselves with people actively in the field.”
The undergraduate chapter held its first recruitment tabling event onNov. 11. Even if you did not get a chance to
sign up then, PAD is a great opportunity to expand on even an inkling of interest in pursuing a law degree. For more information, email the chapter at lcpad24@gmail.com.
This semester, students from the Pre-Law Club are attempting to charter a chapter of Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) to the undergraduate campus. PAD is the country’s largest legal fraternity, supporting law and pre-law students and connecting them to a wide range of people within the legal profession.
A social fraternity is likely what comes to mind when mentioning the term fraternity or sorority. These groups partake in the more traditional “frat” activities with the goal of social outreach, philanthropy and making connections. This is also the type of Greek life many associate with more negative aspects, such as hazing and partying.
Professional fraternities are a different category. Their main goal is to connect a wide network of students and alumni interested or involved in a certain career path. These fraternities are only similar in the aspect that both are on-campus chapters that all connect to a larger organization.
Mette Peluce ’27 is spearheading the effort to bring PAD to the undergraduate campus. She clarified the role of PAD as a professional society.
“PAD would not be introducing Greek life to LC,” said Peluce. “We want to strengthen the pre-law program, that’s our goal, through networking events, mixers, panels with alumni and strengthening our connection with the law school — who also have a PAD chapter.”
PAD would operate like any other student organization or club here on campus — student-run with a staff advisor for support.
“Our first step was getting approval from the school — through Student Engagement because we’re a student organization,” Peluce said. “We’re in the chartering process right now, which consists of submitting different documents and approvals to the executive office of PAD. Right now, we’re recruiting because there’s a minimum number of members (necessary for approval).”
The PAD chapter will continue to be separate from the Pre-Law Club, but the idea of bringing a chapter here was due to a visit to the club from members of the law campus chapter.
Lewis & Clark offers a pre-law program that allows students to complete their bachelor’s degree and then their law degree immediately afterward through LC’s Northwestern School of Law.
“We have this 3 and 3 program that is really cool, but a lot of people don’t end up going through with it. I think, in part, that’s because there are not a lot of pre-law resources on campus,” Peluce said. “At the end of the day, I want the pre-law concept to be very strong on campus. Something (where) people who are interested in it can seek out to set themselves up for the future, success in law school, finding internships and connecting themselves with people actively in the field.”
The undergraduate chapter held its first recruitment tabling event on Nov. 11. Even if you did not get a chance to sign up then, PAD is a great opportunity to expand on even an inkling of interest in pursuing a law degree. For more information, email the chapter at lcpad24@gmail.com.
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