Press Release

Washington, D.C. — Today, Lori Andrus was sworn in as the new president of the American Association for Justice (AAJ®) during its 2024 Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn. Andrus, a founding partner of Andrus Anderson LLP in San Francisco, specializes in class actions and complex litigation and is a national leader in the fight for equal pay.   

“Joining AAJ was the best decision I’ve made in my legal career, providing me with the relationships, resources, education, and leadership training to become a better advocate for my clients,” said Andrus. “Now, it is my honor as AAJ President to help other lawyers become successful in their practice, advocate for their clients, and make the world a better place. Because when lawyers have the resources and support needed to take on special interests and giant corporations, we are fighting to deliver justice for all.”    

Andrus spent her childhood in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana, Andrus’ family is one of the original Cajun families that settled in the area. She is the first woman in her family to become a lawyer. At the age of 13, she worked on her first political campaign, canvassing door-to-door alongside her mother, who ran for president of the school board. In her own words, politics, law, and the determined Cajun spirit are in her blood.  

Andrus has been a plaintiff’s lawyer her entire career, starting with a summer internship during law school. As an AAJ member, she was instrumental in growing the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus and serving as chair in 2013-2014. Andrus has chaired a number of AAJ committees and has been a member of the Board of Governors for ten years running. She has received the Distinguished Service Award, the Wiedmann Wysocki Award, and the Evergreen Fund Recognition Award. In addition to her AAJ service, Andrus has served on the Board of Governors for the Consumer Attorneys of California for over 20 years and as a member of the American Constitution Society, Public Justice, and the American Bar Association. She is a graduate of Emerge California, a nonprofit organization that trains women and minorities to be elected to public office.  In 2005, Andrus was a member of the Emerge California Advisory Council; she also lent her talents to Emerge America by serving on the Board of Directors and as its Secretary. Additionally, Andrus was appointed by the Mayor to the city’s Budget Advisory Committee.   

The AAJ officers joining Andrus include Immediate Past President Sean Domnick of Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; President-Elect Bruce Plaxen of Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. in Columbia, Md.; Vice President N. John Bey of Bey & Associates in Atlanta, Ga.; Secretary Marion Munley of Munley Law in Scranton, Pa.; Treasurer Christopher T. Nace of Paulson & Nace, PLLC in Washington, D.C.; and Parliamentarian Derrick Walker of Allen, Allen, Allen, & Allen in Richmond, Va.  

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The American Association for Justice works to safeguard rights, promote fairness, and strengthen access to civil justice—even when it means taking on the most powerful corporations.

AAJ’s vision is justice for all.