What letters go after your name if you're a lawyer?
Asked by: Maudie Casper III | Last update: February 23, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (55 votes)
The most common letters after a lawyer's name are Esq. (Esquire), indicating they are licensed to practice law, and J.D. (Juris Doctor) for their law degree, though you usually use one or the other, not both, with Esq. being the standard professional courtesy in the U.S.. Other letters can denote advanced degrees like LL.M. (Master of Laws) or certifications in specific legal areas.
What letters come after a lawyer's name?
The Use of Esquire By Lawyers Today
In the U.S. today, the presence of Esquire or Esq. after a person's name in documentation has a straightforward, professional meaning that signifies the following: The person has graduated from law school. They have passed the bar exam in at least one state.
What do you put after your name if you're a lawyer?
A lawyer adding "Esquire" after their name signifies that they are authorized to practice law. For example, seeing "John Smith, Esq." means that John Smith is a qualified lawyer.
What do lawyers get after their name?
In California, in order to practice law and thus be allowed to use the unofficial “Esq.” designation, a person must pass a three-day, 18-hour written Bar Exam as well as pass a separate ethics exam and meet several other qualifications.
What goes after the name of a lawyer?
Another distinction you may see when searching for a lawyer is the suffix attached to a name: “J.D.” or “Esq.” J.D. stands for juris doctorate and indicates that a person has obtained a law degree. “Esq.” stands for “Esquire” and indicates that a person is licensed by their state bar association to practice law.
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Do lawyers get a title like Dr.?
It requires at least three academic years of full-time study. While the JD is a doctoral degree in the US, lawyers usually use the suffix "Esq."
What's higher, a PhD or JD?
Is a JD Equivalent to a PhD? No, a JD is not equivalent to a PhD. PhDs require research, independent study, and thesis components that JDs do not. While PhD holders are considered doctors, JD holders are not.
What's higher, an attorney or a lawyer?
Now that we've cleared things up, here's the bottom line: an attorney has more legal power than a non-licensed lawyer. While both may have studied the same material in law school, only one is qualified to actively practice law, represent clients, and offer legal advice.
How do lawyers write their names?
Write the person using a standard courtesy title (“Mr. Robert Jones” or “Ms. Cynthia Adams”) Skip the courtesy title and put “Esquire” after the name, using its abbreviated form, “Esq.” (“Robert Jones, Esq.” or “Cynthia Adams, Esq.”)
Is there an abbreviation for lawyer?
The most common lawyer abbreviations are Esq. (Esquire) for a formal title after a name, and Atty. for attorney in general use, though you'll also see academic suffixes like J.D. (Juris Doctor). Esq. denotes a licensed lawyer, while J.D. signifies a law degree, and both indicate legal qualification, often used interchangeably with "lawyer" or "attorney" in everyday speech.
Do lawyers put JD after their name?
Yes: If you've graduated law school but haven't passed the bar, you're a JD, not an Esq. If you've passed the bar, you're an Esq., and you don't need to say “JD” too—adding both is like putting “MD” and “Doctor” next to your name.
What's the best lawyer title to have?
A “Corporate Law Advisor” title is ideal for attorneys specializing in business law and corporate governance. This title conveys that you have in-depth expertise in handling legal matters for businesses, such as contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance.
What is slang for a lawyer?
Common slang for lawyers includes derogatory terms like shyster, mouthpiece, ambulance chaser, and pettifogger, while more neutral or positive colloquialisms are legal eagle, counsel, or simply attorney. These terms can range from deeply insulting to familiar, depending on context and tone.
What initials go after a lawyer?
Traditionally, lawyers call themselves “Esquire” after passing the Bar Exam and being admitted to their state's Bar Association. They might start writing “Esq.” or “Esquire” after their name in official or legal documents.
Do all lawyers have a JD?
A JD is the required degree for lawyers who want to practice, while other “doctor of law” degrees are typically for those pursuing academic research or teaching.
Is Kim Kardashian a lawyer or attorney?
No, Kim Kardashian is not yet a lawyer or attorney; she is still working towards passing the California Bar Exam, having recently failed it again in late 2025, despite completing her legal studies through an apprenticeship program and passing the \"baby bar\" in 2021. She consistently expresses her commitment to becoming a licensed attorney, viewing her setbacks as motivation to keep studying for the full bar exam.
What type of lawyer pays more?
The highest-paid lawyers are often in specialized fields like Patent Law, requiring science/engineering backgrounds, and Corporate Law, especially those advising major firms, plus Securities & Antitrust Lawyers, Medical Malpractice, and Intellectual Property (IP) Law, where high stakes and complex regulations drive huge incomes, particularly in BigLaw or in-house roles with bonuses.
What is a lawyer who hasn't passed the bar?
A lawyer who hasn't passed the bar exam and obtained a license can't legally argue a case or negotiate with the court. Additionally, only a licensed attorney can offer legal advice to clients.
What is the highest degree in law?
The highest academic degree in law is typically the Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D. or J.S.D.), a research-focused doctorate for aspiring legal scholars, professors, and judges, equivalent to a Ph.D. in other fields, pursued after a Juris Doctor (J.D.). While the J.D. is the standard professional degree needed to practice law in the U.S., the S.J.D. (or J.S.D./ LL.D. in some places) offers the most advanced scholarly legal education.
Is law school harder than PhD?
What's more difficult, earning a PhD or attending law school? A PhD in most fields is more time consuming and requires a person make an actual original contribution to the body of “what is known.” Law on the other hand requires mastery of a huge body of knowledge over a period of three years.
What is a top lawyer called?
Top lawyers are called by various terms, often reflecting their firm rank like Senior Partner/Managing Partner, specialized titles like Senior Counsel/Silk (for senior barristers), or recognized designations like Super Lawyer, indicating high peer and client respect, with some also known informally as High-Profile Attorneys.
What do you call a new lawyer?
In most law firms, as a new lawyer, you would be called an "associate." After some significant period of time, you would be eligible to become a "partner" in the law firm. Generally speaking, partners have an ownership interest in the law firm and collectively they act to manage the law firm.
What do attorneys put after their name?
The word “Esquire,” often shortened to “Esq.,” works as a courtesy title in the legal world. Many people see it after a lawyer's name, yet few know where it comes from or why attorneys use it. The title carries a long history that stretches back centuries.