Osgoode Inn has a long and storied tradition. The Inn was chartered in 1896, and is the first chapter of Phi Delta Phi established outside the United States.

The founders of Osgoode Inn had petitioned for the Constitution to be amended to permit the installation of a law school chapter outside the United States at the Fourth National Convention. The petition was granted and the Osgoode Inn was granted its charter.

On January 4, 1896, being a stormy winter night (as the story goes), members of the Daniels Inn at the University of Buffalo rode on the Toronto, Hamilton Buffalo RR to Toronto and attended at old Osgoode Hall to initiate the new members of the Osgoode Inn. It is reported that the members were those "whom we can welcome as friends and companions anywhere and everywhere..."

In May, 1897, in response to a further petition from Osgoode Inn, the word "National" was replaced with the word "International." From this initial foray into being an international organization Phi Delta Phi has now expanded across North America, Central America and Europe.

In 1929, the Osgoode Inn alumni formed the Phi Delta Phi (Ontario) Society Barristers Inn which exists to advise and mentor Phi Delta Phi members across Canada.

With the changes to legal education, Osgoode Hall Law School became part of York University in 1965. Under the memorandum of understanding between the Law Society of Upper Canada and York University, the continuation of the Osgoode Inn was specifically acknowledged and recognized.

Since the date of its inception, Osgoode Inn has been a mainstay of Phi Delta Phi. Its banquets have hosted distinguished guests from the legislature, bench and bar. Among a few of those have been the Rt. Hon. John Turner, the Rt. Hon Bob Rae, Lt. Gov Lincoln Alexander, Q.C., Roy McMurtry, OC OOnt, Louise Arbour CC, GOQ, Ian Binnie CC, FRSC, Mr. Justice Archie Campbell, Paul Lamek, Q.C., Brian Greenspan, Q.C., Eddie Greenspan, Q.C., Past Deans Marilyn Pilkington, Peter Hogg, and Patrick Monahan and Associate Dean R. J. Gray.

With the assistance of Phi Delta Phi (Ontario) Society, Phi Delta Phi seeks to revitalize Osgoode Inn to its former position of prominence. If interested email president@phideltaphicanada.ca.