This morning I was renewing a couple of subscriptions at work, and I noticed that the ATLA, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America had changed its name to the American Association for Justice. Their web address is still www.atla.org, though they are referring to themselves as the AAJ instead of the ATLA now.

One can't help but think this is a name change of the most cynical kind, to camouflage the true nature of the organization. I mean, now they're all of a sudden simply a pro-"justice" organization? The old name is descriptive, and accurate. The new name is a bland, feel-good moniker no doubt arrived at via focus groups and public opinion surveys.

When I looked for information about the name change on their website, I clicked on a link marked FAQs On the Recent Name Change, but when I clicked on it, I got a login page and the note: You are being prompted for a user name and password because ... you are attempting to access a page that is reserved for AAJ members only. Why all the secrecy? 

And, just for the record, I don't have anything against trial lawyers. Nobody likes frivolous lawsuits of course, and the  Missing Pants Case in DC is a good example of one, but I also realize litigation is sometime the only recourse some folks have. I just think the name change seems a bit shady.