[blindlaw] dumb question

[Patrick H Stiehm]

The term derives from the word squire. When one was in training to become
a knight you first became a squire or sort of apprentice. Even if an
individual never became a knight he was still entitled to use the
designation of squire and was considered a "gentleman" with all that that
meant during feudal times. Later the title designated a member of the
minor gentry particularly in rural areas of England. Given the status of
the law as a "learned profession" it became a designation that applied to
attorneys and it morphed from the plain old squire to the more
contemporary Esquire. Nowadays, at least in the United States, it is to
the best of my knowledge, only used by attorneys of either sex. I know a
number of our female colleagues avoid the use of the term because it was
exclusively male at one time, even though it has lost that connotation in
contemporary society. I think it's also fair to say that it is used with
less frequency than years ago and is to an extent somewhat archaic.
Patrick Stiehm
Stiehm Law Office
Alexandria, Virginia
703-360-1089 (Voice)
703-935-8266 (Fax)
Email address: stiehm.law at verizon.net

 
On Fri, 1 Apr 2011 14:51:04 -0500 Kevin Athey <badboyblind at gmail.com>
writes:
> Pleasde clarify something for me.   What does the title Esquire 
> mean?
> Thanks,
> Kevin Athey
> 
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> for blindlaw:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/stiehm.law%40ju
no.com
> 
 
 
Stiehm Law Office
Alexandria, Virginia
703-360-1089 (Voice)
703-935-8266 (Fax)
Email address: stiehm.law at verizon.net
____________________________________________________________
Groupon.com Official Site
1 huge daily deal on the best stuff to do in your city. Try it today!
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4d964e1ae10c4dda14st04vuc