Members of an academic fraternity for undergraduate students interested in law careers are focused on building the group’s membership and offering exciting professional opportunities this semester.
Phi Alpha Delta unites campus undergraduates considering pursuing a law degree after graduation. The program focuses on educating about and preparing students for applying to law school, but all students interested in law are welcome to attend.
In past years, enrollment in the group has dropped. This semester, the group is striving to develop an active presence on campus, and branch out of Walker Center into all of the undergraduate schools.
Students pay a one-time membership fee to attend events hosted by the organization.
The organization has five core members, but Keith Magill, adjunct professor of political science and Phi Alpha Delta adviser, said he hopes events planned for this semester will attract new applicants to the organization.
“We have a lot of cool things in the works for this semester, and we’d love to get more people involved with us, from all sides of the campus,” Magill said. “The best way to get involved is to come to a Phi Alpha Delta meeting or event and see what we’re about.”
Some of these events are geared toward preparing for the Law School Admission Test. The LSAT is administered four times a year and is required for law school applications. Phi Alpha Delta plans to continue bringing in tutors from Kaplan, a premier test preparation center, to work with members one-on-one to prepare. The organization also hosts guest lecturers involved in different aspects of the field, from lawyers to court judges. These professionals share valuable insights and tips with students.
There are also plans to organize social events with students at the OCU School of Law, in order for undergraduates to network with possible mentors in the law school process.
These resources are what set the fraternity apart, from other organizations, said Taylor Tyler, philosophy/political science senior and president of Phi Alpha Delta.
“For anyone interested in studying law, this is an amazing opportunity,” Tyler said. “It gives you the chance to network with professionals already in the field. Membership also guarantees you discounts on test services and other essentials for applying to law school. ”
Kristen Ranna, entertainment business and pre-law senior, joined the fraternity to gain experience in the law side of her major.
“I joined because my major requires me to take pre-law courses,” Ranna said. “After I started going to the meetings, I found it was a really great mix of people. I get a lot of the art side of my major, and I really wanted to branch out into this other side.”
Previous meetings this year have consisted mainly of planning and communicating information about the new organization. The meetings soon will expand into discussions of law and real-world application of what the students are learning in class.
The meetings are at 7:20 p.m. Mondays in Room 158 in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences. More information on Phi Alpha Delta can be found on the organization’s OrgSync page, or by contacting Keith Magill at kdmagill@okcu.edu.
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