Esquire or not esquire?

Referring to the Tulkinghorn item in the 27 September issue, perhaps the lady in question is an American lawyer?

In the US, the title Esquire is customarily applied to lawyers and never to non-lawyers.

I have had various irate lady US lawyers protest to me because I refuse to use the title Esquire after their names, pleading that my British background prevented me from such a solecism.

I then attempted to solve the problem by never using the title Esquire in the US but then found myself offending the male lawyers who expected the title.

At that point I had to pretend not to be an American lawyer but plead British ignorance.

Iain C Baillie, Ladas & Parry, 52-54 High Holborn, London WC1V 6RR