What Is The Proper Way to Address a Lawyer?

A professional knows how to address those in other professions, such as lawyers.

When meeting or writing a letter to a lawyer, knowing the proper way to address him is a sign of respect for his position. In the case of lawyers, the term "esquire" is frequently used as an honorific in letters, although not in person or on the phone. Whether addressing an envelope, a salutation, or greeting a lawyer in person, the proper protocol is simple to follow and remember.

Personal Greeting

The proper way to greet a lawyer either in person or on the phone is with the prefixes "Mr." or "Ms," depending on their sex and last name. For example, "Good morning, Ms. Wilcox."

Envelope

The front of the envelope to the lawyer should be addressed using his full name, a comma, and "Esquire" or the abbreviation "Esq." For example, "John Wilcox, Esq."

Inside Address

The inside address on a letter features the recipient's name and contact information, and comes below your letterhead and the date. Write the lawyer's full name in this section of your letter. Follow the name with "Esquire" as you did on the envelope, or type the lawyer's official title, such as "Attorney at Law," beneath his name.

Salutation

For a proper letter salutation, greet the lawyer using the appropriate prefix and his last name. For example, "Dear Ms. Wilcox."

References

• University of Northern Iowa: Standard Business Letter Format
• Advice With Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee: Addressing Envelope for Lawyer