| ON-LINE GUIDE TO FORMS OF ADDRESS * * * BLOG: Robert HIckey Answers Questions From On-Line Users * * * VIDEO of Robert Hickey * * * About the book: HONOR & RESPECT Abbess, Christian Orthodox Abbot, Christian Orthodox Accountant Acting Official Adjutant General Admiral, Rear Alderman Archbishop, Catholic Archbishop, Christian Orthodox Archdeacon, Episcopal Archimandrite Architect Archpriest Ambassador to the U.S. from a foreign country Ambassador of the U.S. American Indian Chief Assemblyman U.S., State / or Assemblywoman Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice of a State Supreme Court Attorney Attorney General Australian Officials Baron, Baroness British Officials, Royalty, Nobility Brother, Catholic Brother, Christian Orthodox Bishop, Catholic Bishop, Christian Orthodox Bishop, Episcopal Board Member Boy Brigadier General Canadian Officials Candidate Captain, USA, USAF, USMC Cardinal Chairman Federal Reserve Chaplain in the Armed Services Chaplain of Congress Chargé d’Affaires Chief Executive Officer Chief Judge Chief Justice, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice, of a State Supreme Court Chief of Police Chief of Staff Chief Operating Officer Child Clergy & Religious Officials Colonel, Kentucky Colonel, USA, USAF, or USMC Congressman, U.S. Congresswoman, U.S. Consul and or Consul General Commissioner Corporate Executive Councilman Councilwoman Counselor (Diplomat) Countess Couples Curator Dalai Lama Deacon Dean, academic Dean, clergy Deceased Persons Delegate, U.S., State Dentist Deputy Chief of Mission Deputy Marshal Designate, Elect, Pro Tempore Diplomats District Attorney Doctor of Dentistry Doctor of Medicine Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Doctor of Osteopathy Doctor, Other Disciplines Doctorate Earl Elect, Designate Pro Tempore Eminence Etiquette Excellency First, Second, Third_, etc._ First Lady, Spouse of the President of the United States First Lady, Member of Her White House Staff First Lady, Spouse of a Governor or Lt. Gov. First Lieutenant Flag Protocol Former Officials Geshe General USA, USAF, USMC Girl Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Lt., Spouse Governor, Tribal Council Governor, U.S. State Governor, U.S. State Spouse of Governor's Staff, Member of Governors, Board of Honorable, The Honourable, The Indian Chief Introductions Invitations Writing & Addressing Invitations Military: Writing & Addressing Judge of US City or US Count Judge, US Federal Junior, Senior, I, II, III, etc. Justice, Associate Federal Supreme Court Justice, Associate State Supreme Court King Knight Late, The (deceased persons) Lawyer Lieutenant Lieutenant Colonel, USA, USAF, USMC Lieutenant General, USA, USAF, USMC Lieutenant Governor Major USA, USAF, USMC Major General, USA, USAF, USMC Man, business Man, social Marquess or Marchioness Married Women Marshal for a Judicial District, U.S. Mayor of a U.S. City Medic Minister, Protestant Clergy Miss Monk, Christian Orthodox Monsignor Most Reverend, The Mother Superior Mr. Mrs. Mr. & Mrs. / Couples Ms. Name Tags Nobility, British Nobility, Other Nun, Catholic Nun, Orthodox Nurse Officer, Police Pastor, Christian Clergy Patriarch, Christian Orthodox Patriarch, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople People with Two Titles Petty Officer Physician PhD Place Cards Police Chief Police Officer Pope, Catholic Pope, Coptic Postmaster General Post-Nominal Abbreviations Presbyter, Orthodox President, corporate President of College or University President of a US State Assembly President of the U.S.A. President of the U.S.A., former (President of the U.S.) Member of The White House Staff President of the U.S., spouse of President-elect of the U.S. Priest, Catholic Priest, Christian Orthodox Prime Minister Professionals & Academics Professor Pro Tempore, Elect, Designate Queen Rabbi Ranger, Texas Representative, U.S., Federal Representative, U.S., State Resident Commissioner Retired Officers Armed Servicese Reverend, The Right Reverend, The School Board Member Second Lieutenant Secretary, U.S. Department, Member of the Cabinet Secretary of Defense, U.S. Secretary General of the U.N. Senator, U.S., Federal Senator, U.S., State Senator, Canadian Senior, Junior, I, II, III, etc. Senior Judge Sergeant Sergeant at Arms Sheriff Sister, Catholic Solicitor General Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Specialist Spouse of the President of the U.S. Spouse of the Vice President of the U.S. Surgeon General Texas Ranger The Honorable Tribal Officials US Federal Officials US State Officials US Municipal Officials Venerable, The Veterinarian Very Reverend, The Vice President of the U.S. Spouse of the Vice President of the U.S. Vice President-elect of the U.S. Viscount and/or Viscountess Warrant Officer Widow White House Staff Woman, business Woman, social How to Address an Attorney or LawyerIn the United StatesEnvelope: (Full Name), Esq. Name of Firm (Address) Letter salutation: Dear Mr./Ms. (surname):NOTE: Individuals with a Juris Doctor, JD, working in academia will use the academic post-nominal abbreviation for their degree(s) and in the classroom be addressed as Dr. (Name) like their academic colleagues. But practicing attorneys, who may also hold a JD, most frequently use the forms listed above: Esq., Mr. and Ms. FYI, here is what's come in to the Blog that relates to this office/rank. For recent questions sent in, check out Robert Hickey's Blog. For specific offices/ranks, check out Robert Hickey's On-Line Guide. How Do I Write My Name as an Attorney? I am not sure if I should show my name on publications as Kenneth L. Millard, Jr. followed by "Esq., Dr." or "Dr., Esq." or just "Esq." Any help would be appreciated. **-- Kenneth L. Millard, Jr.**Dear Mr. Millard: The most traditional form for a practicing attorney would be ... e.g., on letterhead: Kenneth L. Millard, Jr., Esq. If you are the author of a article that's published in a academic journal, then using your specific academic degree is pertinent and traditional: Kenneth L. Millard, Jr., J.D. I have not encountered any practicing attorneys who request to be addressed as: Dr. Kenneth L. Millard, Jr. or in conversation as Dr. Millard Dr. would definitely not be used after the name in any circumstance. -- Robert Hickey May I use Dr. as a Post-Nominal Abbreviation? I have a Doctor of Laws from a law school. Is it proper for me to use "Dr." after my name in additon to J.D.? Is the order: Kevin Greenhutt, J.D., Dr. Or should I use: Kevin Greenhutt, Esq., Dr. Thank you for your assistance. **-- Kevin Greenhutt Greenhutt, Macy, Cline, & Heffner**Dear Mr. Greenhutt: The rule is to use either an honorific before the name or a post-nominal abbreviation after the name .... But not both. More often the question comes from M.D.'s who all use "Dr." so they are Kevin Greenhutt, M.D. ..... officially on a letter to his office Dr. Kevin Greenhutt .... socially on a letter to his home In no circumstance would Dr. appear after your name. Usually I observe that attorneys in academia specify J.D. ... Kevin Greenhutt, J.D. ... so they are are using a form parallel to their academic colleagues who are specific as to their degrees ... Ph.D., D.M., **D.Div.**etc. Most practicing attorneys use Esq. Kevin Greenhutt, Esq. But definitely not both J.D. and Esq. FYI, your question is answered in my book on page 161. -- Robert Hickey How to use Esq. with Academic Post Nominals ? I cannot find a reliable source that addresses the use of Esq. along with academic credentials. I received a JD/MBA in 2004 and I am licensed to practice in both Georgia and Florida. As most attorneys admitted to practice in my jurisdictions do not have graduate business credentials, I think there is a competitive advantage if my clients and prospective clients know that I have and MBA in addition to my law licenses. What is the proper way for me to include these post nominals on my business cards, letterhead and email signature block? **-- Gordon L. Pendleton, Atlanta, Georgia**Dear CAM: I include a chapter on courtesy titles and post-nominal abbreviations in my book. I think there is no mention of it for the following reason: JD and MBA are academic post-nominal abbreviations. There are rules for the ordering of post nominals and their use after names. Esq. is a courtesy title ... so it has more in common with other courtesy titles as The Honorable or The Reverend. The rule with courtesy titles is ... while an elected official such as United States Senator may have a JD or an MBA ... academic degrees are not used with courtesy titles. So it always: The Honorable Saxby Chambliss And it is never The Honorable Saxby Chambliss, Esq or The Honorable Saxby Chambliss, JD Most attorneys in the US in practice use Esq. Those in academia are more likely to use JD. Would you consider the more academic approach? Gordon L. Pendleton, JD, MBA -- Robert Hickey Many many thanks for your prompt response and sage guidance. I will definitely add your book to my library. -- Gordon L. Pendleton, Atlanta, Georgia Can You Address an Retired Attorney as Dr. ? Since a non-practicing lawyer (i.e., no longer licensed) is no longer entitled to use Esquire, may we use Dr. to address her (since her academic rank is J.D.)? Thanks! **-- Rod**Dear Rod: Those holding a doctorate in academia or research typically are addressed as Dr. (Name). So, a current or former professor of law might be addressed as **Dr. (Name)**socially or in academic settings. All the other professors at the university will be doing the same. Outside those arenas (except for the personal preference of an individual here and there) only those in healthcare predictably use Dr. as an honorific. But ... may you address a retired lawyer as Dr. (Name)? I have not encountered an attorney who requested to be addressed as Dr. (Name). But once I said I had not met an adult woman in business today who directed others to address her as Miss (Name), since I observe the standard in business has shifted to Ms.as the default honorific. But this year I met two adult unmarried women in business who prefer to be addressed asMiss (Name) . It does not mean the default honorific in business is not Ms. ... but it means there is variety out there. So personal preference trumps any general guideline based on what is most typical. -- Robert Hickey When Does a Law Professor Use Esq.? When Does a Law Professor Use JD? When does one become an esquire, and when does that status end? What about law professors who might not keep their licenses active? Is the "Esq." credential acquired upon receiving a law degree, or does it not take effect until they have been admitted to a state bar? -- D.Y.U. APR, Stetson University College of Law, Tampa, FL Dear D.Y.U.: USE OF JD vs. Esq. Today one when graduates from law school, one is typically granted a Juris Doctor or JD. An graduate from a law school could use: (Full Name), JD But typically practicing attorneys use the traditional form for practicing attorneys in the US: (Full Name), Esq. A professor who practices is entitled to use either when pertinent. JD's who are academics (teach at a university) tend to use JD .... following the tradition within academia to use their academic degrees. A professor might well use Esq. on his law firm's letterhead. A retired attorney, would no longer have letterhead and business card proclaiming their 'open for business' status ... is unlikely to be in Esq. in retirement. If you are sending personal correspondence (a holiday card or anything social) to a law professor or a practicing attorney -- or to either when retired ... they are simply: Mr./Ms. (Name) Post nominals are not used on social correspondence. -- Robert Hickey All information on www.formsofaddress.info is copyright © 2011 by Robert Hickey.The Protocol School of Washington® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.Honor & Respect is dedicated to Dorothea Johnson, Founder of The Protocol School of Washington® |
