I started using Esq. on my professional email signature block simply because before I did so, I was usually assumed to be an assistant or paralegal.  I don't use it for the signature block on my professional letterhead, since my name is listed with the other attorneys, and therefore it's obvious that I am an attorney on that type of correspondence.  Additionally, I always use it when addressing correspondence to other attorneys, but never use it in my private life or in any other area of my professional life other than my email.  I would be interested to know if other women have resorted to this?

sintecho, thanks for looking into this and writing about it.  I too have wondered about this off and on over the last few years and this is just the sort of thing that I hoped Ms. JD would tackle -- who else could we turn to with such a question? :)

Last week, in fact, was the first time that I ever included Esq. in my signature block when I signed a set of corporate board minutes as the secretary for the meeting.  Using Esq. in the signature for this purpose is standard practice at my firm.  When I saw it next to my name in the signature block I felt like it was kinda cool.  Afterall, the names of the board members and officers that were at the meeting and that appear in the minutes had various endings like Ph.D, and M.D. after their names so I felt thankful that I could have something to add to the end of my name since it isn't standard practice to include J.D.

I do feel like Esquire has a male connotation but I am fine with it anyway, just as actresses seem to now prefer being called "actors".  You know, as time goes by, I think American English loses much of its specificity.  We seem to be using more and more general terms as opposed to words with fine distinctions.  Case in point, my German Au Pair learned British English growing up and is continuously confused by American English because we use general terms to apply to large categories where the same term has a more specific meaning in the U.K.  For example, it took her a long time to get over the fact that we use "student" to mean students at any grade from pre-school through post-graduate school.  I think she was taught to distinguish between students, pupils, apprentices, and colleagues -- or something like that. 

Sintecho, thanks for researching "esquire." Just last week my brother was asking if it was a simple synonym for "lawyer," and I wasn't sure of the answer. I agree with Peg that the masculine connotation/history of the term doesn't bother me. The analogy to actor/actress is just right--if I worked in Hollywood, I'd call myself an actor (not an actress). I like the term esquire, too.

When I first started and was being introduced to clients, several times another associate told me to add "Esq." to my signature for a certain email or letter to make clear that I was a lawyer rather than a new paralegal.  Whether they would have told a new male associate the same thing I don't know (I work in a 100% male practice group, at least in my office), but it was definitely less awkward than the "hi, I'm a new attorney here" line.

 I've also done it (particularly to certain older, male attorneys) when I felt someone was unclear of my role - I've gone so far as to tag it onto my signature line mid-email exchange, for example, when I'm not getting responses in a timely fashion.  My default position is to leave it off, however, unless I feel like I need it.

 I do leave it off anything where, if I were not an attorney, it would say so (e.g., letterhead says "paralegal" or "assistant" if you are not an attorney).