Although this not a legal question it is one that comes up often so I decided to address it in my blog.

Esquire (abbreviated Esq.) originally was a social rank title above that of mere gentleman, allowed, for example, to the sons of the nobles and the gentry who did not possess any other title. On this basis, a gentleman was designated Mr (‘mister’ before his name), whereas an Esquire was designated ‘Esq.’ (without a nominal prefix) after his name. A very late example of this distinction is in the list of subscribers to The History of Elton, by the Rev. Rose Fuller Whistler, published in 1882, which clearly distinguishes between subscribers designated “Mr” and those designated “Esquire” — of higher social position; though old-fashioned, “Esq.” remains widely used in upper-class circles.

In the United States, there are no native titled gentry or nobility. The suffix “Esq.” has no legal meaning (except in some states), and may, in theory, be adopted by anyone, (given its meaning, any man). In practice, it is used almost exclusively by lawyers (of both sexes), and so it generally may be assumed that, when “Esq.” appears on business cards or stationery, the man or woman so identified is a member of the bar.

That “esquire” may be used to indicate that an individual is a lawyer is a remnant of the British practice, in which barristers claimed the status “Esquire” and solicitors used the term “Gentleman”. In the United States, though a lawyer may choose to specialize in litigation or other types of law, there are no licensing or bar membership distinctions between the equivalent roles of barrister and solicitor.

How To Use The Title ‘Esquire’ Properly

I want to put this right up front so that any newly minted lawyers reading this don’t commit a major faux pas: when actually speaking in business or social situations use the title Esquire only when addressing others, never yourself. Even lawyers, though generally a pretentious bunch, would consider it way over the top you walked up to them at a meeting and said “Hi, I’m Unini Chioma, Esquire.” If you are introducing yourself and you feel it is necessary to communicate that you are a lawyer, it’s sufficient to say, “I’m Unini Chioma, Attorney” or, “I’m Unini Chioma, Attorney At-Law.”

Make sure the person who you address as ‘Esquire’ is in fact a licensed attorney. Your classmates at law school aren’t Esquires yet. They have to pass the bar and be sworn in first.

If the term is used all in speech, it is probably best confined to very formal contexts and generally only when introducing a person. It would sound very foolish to keep referring to someone as an esquire several times throughout a conversation.

Another important rule: just like ‘Mr’. or ‘Mrs.’, ‘Esquire’ is a title. Therefore it is inappropriate to say “Mrs. Unini Chioma, Esquire” or add other title such as “Mrs.Unini Chioma, Esquire, SAN.”

The safest approach is probably to not use Esquire in speech at all. The term is most often employed as an honorific used in written communication. Here things can get a little complicated: When writing to another lawyer, you will generally use Esquire or Esq. in their physical address. However, you would still address them as Mr. or Mrs. following the salutation.

Here is an example:

Unini Chioma, Esq.

56 Big Firm Road

Wuze, Abuja 03458

Dear Mrs. Unini Chioma,

I am contacting you in response to your letter of June the 5th….

Though you wouldn’t refer to yourself as Esquire in speech, it is perfectly fine to use the title Esquire in your own signature block, such as the one you put at the end of an email (‘Attorney’, and ‘Barrister-At-Law’ work for that as well). Often firm practice governs how signature blocks are done, so look to guidance within your own firm or office. Adding the term Esquire is a very useful way for people reading your email to tell that a lawyer wrote it rather than a paralegal or other office staff, so more often that not you want Esquire or equivalent appended to your signature.

Esquire in the UK

In Britan, the word esquire does not carry the same professional meaning it does here, rather it is used as a very formal address for a man or a woman in lieu of ‘Mr.’, ‘Mrs.’ or some other title. If you wander across the pond, no one is going to think you are talking about a lawyer when you say ‘esquire.’ They are just going to think you are strange and old-fashioned.

On behalf of Thenigerialawyer.com, I apologize for playing Emily Post for a minute, but hopefully this information will help you avoid any embarrassing mishaps down the road. Now for those totally new to the law school world, here’s how you earn the title of ‘Esquire’:

Becoming an Esquire

If you’d like to earn the right to be called an Esquire, there are just 3 simple steps:

1. Finish your law Degree .

2. Enroll for law School.

3. Pass the Bar Exam . Some are a lot harder than others, but with intense study you can pass.

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