How To Write Esquire After A Name . After your name, use it (jean doe, esq.) on your business cards, on stationery and in the signature block at the end of a letter or email. That's over the top, even for a lawyer. How to Address a Woman in a Business Letter 7 Steps from www.wikihow.com How to use esquire or esq. In the uk where the term originated it historically denoted a man (never a woman) of a certain social rank (above a gentleman and below a knight). So, john smith esq, instead of mr john smith.