Attorneys/Lawyers: Signing with Esq.= pretentious

[Anonymous]

Any idiot in this country can obtain a law degree. So, yes, it's pretentious on some many levels.

[Anonymous]

The first business card I received from my firm used Esq. after the name of an attorney to differentiate attorneys from others who worked at the firm. When the card was redesigned, the Esq. was dropped and Attorney at Law was added under the names of attorneys.

I would only use it if I needed to identify myself as an attorney and it was not otherwise obvious from the correspondence, which is to say that I never use it.

[Anonymous]

I use it for notices

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never use "Esquire" with my own name. It's not uncommon for attorneys to use it when addressing (especially formal) letters to another attorney, and my law school always uses it on fundraising letters. Sometimes attorneys with solo practices use it, kind of like a business name. IME (federal practice) attorneys don't use it when signing documents to be filed with the court.

Otherwise, it's a little pretentious. I would totally judge someone who used it outside of the legal context, like that SAHM who uses it with the PTA. That sounds like someone's a little anxious and defensive about being a SAHM.

This, exactly.

Signed,

PP, Esq.

[Anonymous]

My cousin practices law in a mid-size Southern city but because of her area of practice works all over the state including in some very rural county courthouses. In the field she practices in, all the females sign their paperwork with Esq or when calling the courts identify themselves as "Attorney Smith calling" since among the good ole boy network females are still considered to be the paralegals and secretaries, not the lawyers. She finds it ridiculous, but recognizes that it's necessary for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This must be regional - DH is attorney as is my aunt and both have email signatures with Esq. Maybe a NY thing?

or maybe you just hang out with pretentious people?
just kidding. but it does beg that retort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its an honorific, and it doesn't even necessarily mean someone is a lawyer.

Actually, it does indicate that you're a lawyer, and you can get in trouble for holding yourself out as a lawyer if you try to use it.

There are other less typical uses of it- an American Embassy employee adjudicating visas overseas technically is Esq. even if they didn't go to law school/pass bar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its an honorific, and it doesn't even necessarily mean someone is a lawyer.

Actually, it does indicate that you're a lawyer, and you can get in trouble for holding yourself out as a lawyer if you try to use it.

It means "gentleman." Not lawyer. So the first poster is correct.

[Anonymous]

My big law friend told me crap lawyers from small offices signed with esq to let people know they are a lawyer. Any big firm lawyer would not need to put that in their signature. Everyone already knows they are lawyers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JD=graduated from law school
Esq=passed the bar

This is what my DH who is an attorney explained to me. He does not use either in his email signature.

He's wrong, I'm sorry.
You can pass the bar exam but not be admitted to the bar.

Huh? How exactly? Not attend the swearing in? Failing the ethics test? Not every JD is an ESQ but all esq's are jd's ( unless they are from VA and did the whole apprenticeship but I don't think that happens much anymore.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JD=graduated from law school
Esq=passed the bar

This is what my DH who is an attorney explained to me. He does not use either in his email signature.

He's wrong, I'm sorry.
You can pass the bar exam but not be admitted to the bar.

Huh? How exactly? Not attend the swearing in? Failing the ethics test? Not every JD is an ESQ but all esq's are jd's ( unless they are from VA and did the whole apprenticeship but I don't think that happens much anymore.)

Even if you pass the bar, they can choose not to admit someone who they deem to be unfit.

[Anonymous]

I usually don't use it, but I have from time to time, specifically when writing somewhat threatening letters and emails ha. It gets the job done!

[Anonymous]

Most lawyers don't use it. I don't, my husband doesn't, my father doesn't. I worked in law firms and in the government. No one uses it. I do think that it is weird when someone does use it. It is like they haven't really been clued in about the etiquette of being a lawyer. Yes you CAN use it. But no one does. It is kind of like when a PHD goes by Doctor. Yes, they can. But it is kind of pretentious.

[Anonymous]

Hilariously pretentious.