If you are a lawyer, do you put Esq. after your name?

[Anonymous]

Only okay if your name is Bill S Preston.

[Anonymous]

I know a bunch who add Esq. to their names as part of their signature lines in outlook.. baloney

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually think it is very helpful.

It lets people know that not only are you a lawyer, but you are also a pretentious prick.

LOL!!!

+1 I agree---great comment!!!

[Anonymous]

Is this the same as putting PhD after your name on a business card. I never used to do that because I previously worked in a place where almost everyone had a PhD. Now I'm one of the only ones with a doctorate where I work now so when they asked me what I wanted on my business card I had them put a comma and PhD after my name but I don't feel comfortable about it. Should I get new business cards without the title?

[Anonymous]

No, and I cringe when other attorneys write letters to me addressed with Esq.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the same as putting PhD after your name on a business card. I never used to do that because I previously worked in a place where almost everyone had a PhD. Now I'm one of the only ones with a doctorate where I work now so when they asked me what I wanted on my business card I had them put a comma and PhD after my name but I don't feel comfortable about it. Should I get new business cards without the title?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There have been a few DCUM threads on this already. It's actually technically incorrect to use esq. yourself. It's a term of respect or honor towards another person, not to be used by a person for him or herself.

This.

Yep.

The worst I saw was a former President of the NJ Bar when I was a member there, who thought law was not being recognized properly as a profession, and used to call himself (in writing), Dr. John Jones, Esq. (since the J.D. degree is a Juris Doctor). I am protecting him by not using his real name (not sure why), but oh, lord, what a pretentious git.

My business card (when I was in private practice) said:

John Jones
Attorney at Law


Lol, I know the bar president you're referencing, and he certainly was pretentious as all get out!

No Esq., No "Dr.", etc. If someone else put me on a program for something they might refer to me as "John Jones, Esq." but I didn't do it referring to myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh hell no. Not even when writing letters to other attorneys. I will use their titles (trial attorney, senior counsel, etc.) if they have one under the name in the address block but not esq.

On a separate but related note, I find it annoyingly pretentious when a Ph.D. styles him/herself Dr. And beyond infuriating when a medical doctor introduces him/herself as Dr. Smith but calls me by my first name. What is it with advanced degrees that make people so assholic?

We got an esq. on a wedding invitation. I sh*t you not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this the same as putting PhD after your name on a business card. I never used to do that because I previously worked in a place where almost everyone had a PhD. Now I'm one of the only ones with a doctorate where I work now so when they asked me what I wanted on my business card I had them put a comma and PhD after my name but I don't feel comfortable about it. Should I get new business cards without the title?

Yes.

Why? I work in an industry where there is a mix of MDs, PhDs, etc. and everyone with a graduate or professional degree signs with their degree.

[Anonymous]

My card says Sally Smith, JD

Esq would be douchey. I've heard people say that you can call yourself Esq only if you've passed the bar and otherwise use JD, but there was no way I was putting that on my card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can refer to yourself as esq only if you are a shitlawyer

This is what I find. I work in the health field and get a lot of e-mails and calls from attorneys. I can always tell teh ambulance chasers, because not only do they put , Esq - but it is swirly font.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh hell no. Not even when writing letters to other attorneys. I will use their titles (trial attorney, senior counsel, etc.) if they have one under the name in the address block but not esq.

On a separate but related note, I find it annoyingly pretentious when a Ph.D. styles him/herself Dr. And beyond infuriating when a medical doctor introduces him/herself as Dr. Smith but calls me by my first name. What is it with advanced degrees that make people so assholic?

We got an esq. on a wedding invitation. I sh*t you not.

We did, too! Crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My card says Sally Smith, JD

Esq would be douchey. I've heard people say that you can call yourself Esq only if you've passed the bar and otherwise use JD, but there was no way I was putting that on my card.

I actually think adding JD is on par with Esq. What is up with you folks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My card says Sally Smith, JD

Esq would be douchey. I've heard people say that you can call yourself Esq only if you've passed the bar and otherwise use JD, but there was no way I was putting that on my card.

Why not simply Attorney at Law or whatever your title? JD indicates you graduated from law school, but not necessarily barred. Esquire indicates you are licensed to practice law. However, there is no need to place Esq behind your name if you are actually practicing, as it would be indicated in your title.

[Anonymous]

yeah, JD is up there with referring to yourself as Esq, except JD makes it look like you either failed to pass the bar or got disbarred for misconduct.

Also is a shitlawyer thing to do.