One of us believes that you must pass the state bar to use the honorific and it is illegal to use it if you're not a licensed attorney. As commonly used in the United States, the difference between J.D. and Esq.Is the ability to practice law. Skip the courtesy title and put "Esquire" after the name, using its abbreviated form, "Esq. " ("Robert Jones, Esq." or "Cynthia Adams, Esq. An attorney at law is someone who is licensed to act as a lawyer, counselor, barrister, solicitor, etc. Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about attorney titles, including "attorney," "lawyer" and "esquire. Use "the Undersigned," "Judge of District Court," or "Judge John Doe" instead. KC: (abbreviation for King's Counsel) is used postnominally in written addresses for a judge or barrister who has been made a King's Counsel (KC).