“What should I call my lawyer?” No, don’t give us an answer that will violate our family-friendly content policy. The real issue is whether you should address your attorney as “Dr.”, as opposed to “Mr./Ms./Mrs.” or “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.” The primary educational degree for lawyers in the United States is the Juris Doctor (JD), but for all the things lawyers are called, “Doctor” is low on the list. Why is that?

The Juris Doctor is that revered, feared, and often misunderstood result of the three-year trek through the thorny thickets of legal academia. It is degree so steeped in intellectual rigor that it could make even the most seasoned law professor’s wig fly off in admiration—or so they tell you on your first day. But let’s cut to the chase: if it’s such a big deal, why do lawyers tend to treat the “Dr.” title as a scarlet letter, rather than as a badge of honor?

In the early 19th century, Harvard University decided that law should be studied not in some dark alleyway with dusty tomes, but in the hallowed halls of academia. They rolled out the LLB, or Bachelor of Laws, to be handed out to fresh-faced undergrads who aspired to the noble legal profession. By the time we get to the 20th century, however, things started to change—albeit slowly because we’re talking about academia, after all.

Did a Missing Constitutional Amendment Take Away the Citizenship of All Lawyers?

In 1902, the brainiacs at Harvard Law School figured, “Hey, why not make this thing a graduate degree?” The idea was a wee bit too revolutionary for the university higher-ups, who promptly nixed the idea. It wasn’t until the University of Chicago Law School bestowed the first JD degree in 1903 that the wheels of change began to creak forward. We’re still talking about academia, though, so don’t get too excited. It would take several more decades and a nudge from the American Bar Association (ABA) in the 1960s for most American law schools to finally upgrade the LLB to a JD.

Despite all this upgrading and fancy rebranding, American lawyers were still told to hold back on the “Doctor” label. The ABA issued an opinion in 1938 that it was a bit too flashy for lawyers to flaunt their degrees on letterheads or business cards. Back then, they still held to the quaint concept that the profession should be dignified in all ways. Drawing attention to oneself through advertising or flamboyant titles only served to diminish the profession’s reputation.

Clearly, times have changed, and now you can’t spit without hitting a billboard with a gaudy excitement to sue the pants off anyone who has offended you. In 1969, the ABA realized it probably needed to let go of its lofty ideal that lawyers would not aspire to be flashy or narcissistic. It begrudgingly admitted that maybe, just maybe, lawyers could call themselves “Doctor” in certain circles—like in countries where it’s already a thing, or on academic occasions where everyone else is busy one-upping each other with their own doctorates.

Even with the ABA’s grudging approval, some naysayers argue that law school doesn’t have the same “oomph” as a PhD. A JD doesn’t require a dissertation or grand defense of some earth-shattering new idea about torts or contract law. All it requires is that the would-be lawyer be willing to sell his or her soul. While this may be true, others argue that law school is three years of intensive research, grueling exams, and more caffeine-fueled all-nighters than any self-respecting doctoral student would ever admit to. And let’s not forget, other terminal degree holders, like those with an EdD (Doctor of Education), don’t always have to jump through those particular hoops, yet they get to strut around with “Dr.” in front of their names without a second thought.

So, should JD holders embrace their inner “Doctor” and start correcting everyone who doesn’t address them as such? Perhaps. Attorneys are licensed by the states, and each state has its own rules. None of them speak directly to the issue, so it is essentially a matter of individual choice.

Maybe it’s time to revisit this discussion and perhaps even give those tireless JD graduates the title they’ve earned—if for no other reason than for the novelty of calling a lawyer something that isn’t insulting.

---