And John Edwards is Changing His Name to "Atticus Finch"

David Weigel | July 14, 2006

The Association of Trial Lawyers has a problem: People don't like trial lawyers. They have a solution: Stop calling themselves trial lawyers.

To spiff up its image, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America is considering changing its name to the American Association for Justice.

"You asked us to fight back against the attacks on the civil justice system. We are now doing that - with a national public education and communications campaign to educate the public on the value of the civil justice system and the lawyers that work in it," wrote ATLA president Ken Suggs to members last month.

Suggs said he was proud to be a trial lawyer. "But the name of our association must be about what we do, not who our members are," he wrote.

Points, at least, for not taking the sucker's way out and just plopping "Freedom" into the org's name.