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Lawyer and Attorney Email Signature Templates

A lawyer's email signature should carry your name, your title and practice area, your firm, your direct line, the states where you're admitted, and a short confidentiality notice if your firm uses one. It isn't the signature block on a court filing, which has rules of its own, covered further down.

Below are four templates filled in for a partner at a firm, each with its own copy-paste HTML. Every one says which states Hannah is admitted in, and two end with a short confidentiality notice, the length the checklist below recommends. They render live on this page, so what you see is what a client sees.

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Copy-paste HTML · Works in Gmail, Outlook and Apple Mail · No sign-up needed

Copy-paste HTML

Four templates, with copy-paste HTML

These are real HTML tables. Copy one and paste it straight into Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail, and it renders reliably in all three. They’re free to use, with no sign-up and no attribution required.

Where a template has a social row, it shows all four networks so you can see how the row sits. Every part is optional in the Editor, and the checklist below covers what’s worth keeping for this role.

Counsel

Professional
Use this template
View HTML source
<!-- esigna editable signature -->
<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="460" style="width:460px;border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;color:#1f2328;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:14px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" width="322" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-right:20px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="322" style="width:322px;"><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:22px;vertical-align:middle;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;line-height:0;"><span style="font-size:24px;line-height:30px;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-weight:400;color:#1f2328;">Hannah Brooks</span><span style="font-size:13px;line-height:22px;font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#6b6f76;">, Esq.</span></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Georgia, serif;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#6b6f76;">Partner, Employment Litigation</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:13px;line-height:19px;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#6d2e36;">Ashford Kane LLP</span></td></tr></table></td><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><img src="https://esigna.app/templates/logos/lawyer-fa722646b6.png" alt="Ashford Kane LLP logo" width="42" height="42" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:42px;height:42px;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:11px;line-height:13px;color:#6b6f76;"></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="460" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:14px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="460" style="width:460px;"><tr><td width="460" style="width:460px;border-top:3px double #6d2e36;font-size:0;line-height:0;">&nbsp;</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:14px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-right:36px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Georgia, serif;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#1f2328;"><a href="mailto:hbrooks@ashfordkane.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#1f2328;">hbrooks@ashfordkane.com</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#6d2e36;"><a href="https://ashfordkane.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#6d2e36;">ashfordkane.com</a></span></td></tr></table></td><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#1f2328;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="tel:2125550164" style="text-decoration:none;color:#1f2328;">(212) 555-0164</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:14px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:16px;font-family:Georgia, serif;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#1f2328;">250 Park Avenue South, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10003</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:16px;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-style:italic;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#6b6f76;">Admitted in New York and New Jersey</span></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:9px;line-height:13px;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#6b6f76;">This message may contain privileged or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete it.</span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

Charter

Professional
Use this template
View HTML source
<!-- esigna editable signature -->
<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="500" style="width:500px;border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;color:#252b2d;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:14px;"><img src="https://esigna.app/templates/logos/lawyer-fa722646b6.png" alt="Ashford Kane LLP logo" width="43" height="43" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:43px;height:43px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:13px;color:#64716f;"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="500" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:14px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="500" style="width:500px;"><tr><td width="500" style="width:500px;border-top:1px solid #1b2f4b;font-size:0;line-height:0;">&nbsp;</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:14px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" width="236" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-right:28px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="236" style="width:236px;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:15px;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;line-height:0;"><span style="font-size:19px;line-height:24px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;color:#252b2d;">Hannah Brooks</span><span style="font-size:11px;line-height:15px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#64716f;">, Esq.</span></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">Partner, Employment Litigation</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#1b2f4b;">Ashford Kane LLP</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">Admitted in New York and New Jersey</span></td></tr></table></td><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;"><a href="mailto:hbrooks@ashfordkane.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">hbrooks@ashfordkane.com</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:2px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="tel:2125550164" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">(212) 555-0164</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#1b2f4b;"><a href="https://ashfordkane.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#1b2f4b;">ashfordkane.com</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:14px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">250 Park Avenue South, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10003</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:9px;line-height:13px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #dfe2e5;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">This email and any attachments are confidential and intended only for the named recipient. If it reached you by mistake, please let the sender know and delete it.</span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

Correspondent

Editorial
Use this template
View HTML source
<!-- esigna editable signature -->
<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="480" style="width:480px;border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;color:#252b2d;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:14px;line-height:18px;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-style:italic;padding-bottom:20px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">Warm regards,</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-bottom:20px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="middle" width="238" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:25px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="238" style="width:238px;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:21px;padding-bottom:4px;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;line-height:0;"><span style="font-size:27px;line-height:33px;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-weight:400;color:#252b2d;">Hannah Brooks</span><span style="font-size:15px;line-height:21px;font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#64716f;">, Esq.</span></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:4px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">Partner, Employment Litigation</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;padding-bottom:4px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#8b623a;">Ashford Kane LLP</span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:12px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#64716f;">Admitted in New York and New Jersey</span></td></tr></table></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-left:22px;border-left:1px solid #8b623a;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;"><a href="mailto:hbrooks@ashfordkane.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">hbrooks@ashfordkane.com</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="tel:2125550164" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">(212) 555-0164</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#8b623a;"><a href="https://ashfordkane.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#8b623a;">ashfordkane.com</a></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:11px;line-height:17px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="display:inline-block;color:#252b2d;">250 Park Avenue South, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10003</span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><img src="https://esigna.app/templates/logos/lawyer-fa722646b6.png" alt="Ashford Kane LLP logo" width="36" height="36" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:36px;height:36px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:13px;color:#64716f;"></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

Northline

Essential
Use this template
View HTML source
<!-- esigna editable signature -->
<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="410" style="width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;color:#252b2d;"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-bottom:9px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:12px;"><img src="https://esigna.app/templates/faces/lawyer-a2d70d5f62.jpg" alt="Hannah Brooks" width="42" height="42" border="0" style="display:block;border:0;width:42px;height:42px;border-radius:7px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:13px;color:#64716f;"></td><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font-size:0;line-height:15px;padding-bottom:3px;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;line-height:0;"><span style="font-size:17px;line-height:21px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;color:#252b2d;">Hannah Brooks</span><span style="font-size:11px;line-height:15px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#64716f;">, Esq.</span></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:18px;vertical-align:middle;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;line-height:0;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#64716f;">Partner, Employment Litigation</span><span style="font-size:10px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:700;color:#365f8c;">Ashford Kane LLP</span><span style="font-size:10px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#64716f;">Admitted in New York and New Jersey</span></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="410" style="font-size:0;line-height:0;padding-bottom:9px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="410" style="width:410px;"><tr><td width="410" style="width:410px;border-top:1px solid #365f8c;font-size:0;line-height:0;">&nbsp;</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:18px;vertical-align:middle;padding-bottom:9px;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;line-height:0;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#252b2d;"><a href="mailto:hbrooks@ashfordkane.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">hbrooks@ashfordkane.com</a></span><span style="font-size:18px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#365f8c;"><a href="https://ashfordkane.com" style="text-decoration:none;color:#365f8c;">ashfordkane.com</a></span><span style="font-size:18px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#252b2d;">250 Park Avenue South, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10003</span></span></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle" style="font-size:0;line-height:18px;vertical-align:middle;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;line-height:0;"><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#252b2d;white-space:nowrap;"><a href="tel:2125550164" style="text-decoration:none;color:#252b2d;">(212) 555-0164</a></span><span style="font-size:20px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#365f8c;"><a href="https://linkedin.com/in/hannahbrooks" style="text-decoration:none;color:#365f8c;">LinkedIn</a></span><span style="font-size:13px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#365f8c;"><a href="https://instagram.com/ashfordkane" style="text-decoration:none;color:#365f8c;">Instagram</a></span><span style="font-size:13px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#365f8c;"><a href="https://x.com/hbrookslaw" style="text-decoration:none;color:#365f8c;">X</a></span><span style="font-size:13px;">&emsp;</span><span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-size:10px;line-height:18px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#365f8c;"><a href="https://facebook.com/ashfordkanellp" style="text-decoration:none;color:#365f8c;">Facebook</a></span></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

What to include

What to include in a lawyer email signature

Most signatures carry the same basic fields, so what matters is the order and what you leave out. These are the decisions specific to this role.

  1. Where you're admitted

    A line like "Admitted in New York and New Jersey" tells a client or opposing counsel where you can practice before they ask. It matters most at firms with offices in several states, where the letterhead lists everyone and a reader can't tell who is licensed where.

  2. Esq. or Attorney at Law: pick one

    Both say you're a lawyer. Esq. goes after your name, Attorney at Law goes on the line under it, and using the two together says it twice. Some lawyers hold that Esq. is for others to write when addressing you, and plenty use it anyway, so pick one convention and keep it across the firm.

  3. Your direct line

    Clients, courts and opposing counsel need to reach you, and a main number sends them through reception first. Give your direct line. Put your cell in the body of an email when you want a client to use it, so it doesn't go out on every message you send.

  4. Keep the confidentiality notice short

    Attorney client privilege protects confidential communications between a lawyer and a client about seeking legal advice, so whether an email is privileged turns on what it says and who it's between. If your firm uses a notice, keep it to one or two sentences, set smaller and lighter than your details, so it doesn't bury your name.

  5. Practice areas, and care with the word specialist

    "Employment Litigation" after your title says what you do. California's Rule 7.4 lets you say your practice specializes in, is limited to or is concentrated in a field, but you may only call yourself a certified specialist if the State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization or an accredited body has certified you, and you name the certifier. Check your own state's rule.

Examples

Lawyer email signature examples

Here is that advice filled in for four kinds of lawyer. Each is four lines or fewer, so it works in any of the templates above or as plain text. The signature block for a court filing has a section of its own below.

  • Partner at a firm

    Hannah Brooks, Esq.Partner, Employment LitigationAshford Kane LLP | (212) 555-0164Admitted in New York and New Jersey

    The practice area rides on the title, the firm and direct line share a line, and the admission line closes it, so the first email already gives a new client or opposing counsel Hannah's practice, firm and admissions.

  • Solo practitioner

    David OrtegaAttorney at LawOrtega Law Office, 18 Main Street, Salinas, CA 93901(831) 555-0142 | ortegalaw.com

    With no firm behind the name, Attorney at Law does the job a firm name would, so there's no Esq. A solo practitioner's office address goes in, since clients come in person to sign.

  • In-house counsel

    Laura ChenSenior Counsel, Commercial ContractsFernway

    Most of an in-house lawyer's email goes to colleagues, so the title says which contracts land on Laura's desk and the company is the firm. Admissions and an address can wait for the version that goes to outside counsel.

  • Associate licensed in one state

    Tom ReyesAssociate, Real EstateAshford Kane LLP | (212) 555-0187Admitted in New York only

    Tom's firm has offices in three states, so the word "only" tells a client in New Jersey, before they ask, that Tom isn't admitted there.

Court filings

The attorney signature block on a court filing

An attorney signature block is the signature at the end of a pleading, a motion or a brief. Courts decide what it holds, so it's a separate thing from your email signature, even though the two share most of their details.

In federal court, Rule 11(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure says every pleading, written motion and other paper must be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's name, and must state the signer's address, email address and phone number. State courts set their own requirements on top. California's Rules of Court, for one, ask for your State Bar membership number with your name and contact details at the top left of the first page.

Papers filed electronically are signed through the court's filing system. The District of Maryland treats anything filed with an attorney's login and password as signed by that attorney, and its example signature is "/s/" above the lawyer's name. Local rules differ on the details, so check your court's before you file.

/s/ Hannah BrooksHannah Brooks, Ashford Kane LLP250 Park Avenue South, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10003(212) 555-0164 | hbrooks@ashfordkane.com

Sources, read on October 23, 2026

Install

How to add your signature

Copy the HTML above, then paste it into your email app's signature settings.

  • Gmail

    1. Copy the HTML for the template you want.
    2. In Gmail on the web, open Settings (the gear), then See all settings.
    3. On the General tab, scroll to Signature, choose Create new, name it and choose Create.
    4. Click into the signature box and paste (⌘V or Ctrl+V).
    5. Set it as the default for new emails and replies, then choose Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
    Full Gmail guide

  • Outlook

    1. Copy the HTML for the template you want.
    2. New Outlook and Outlook on the web: Settings → Accounts → Signatures.
    3. Choose Add signature, name it and paste into the box.
    4. Tick the boxes to use it for new messages and for replies and forwards, then Save.
    5. Classic Outlook for Windows: File → Options → Mail → Signatures → New, paste, set the defaults, OK.
    Full Outlook guide

  • Apple Mail

    1. Copy the HTML for the template you want.
    2. In Mail on your Mac, open Mail → Settings → Signatures.
    3. Select your account on the left, then choose + below the middle column and name it.
    4. Untick “Always match my default message font”, then paste into the right-hand column.
    5. Pick it in the Choose Signature menu so new messages include it.
    Full Apple Mail guide

FAQ

Lawyer email signature questions

What should a lawyer put in an email signature?

Your name, your title with your practice area, your firm, your direct line and the states where you're admitted. Add the office address if clients visit, and a one or two sentence confidentiality notice if your firm uses one. Leave out quotes, badges and a list of every award, which clients skim past on the way to your number.

What is an attorney signature block?

It's the signature at the end of a court filing, and courts set what it contains. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(a) asks for the signer's address, email address and phone number. California's Rules of Court also ask for your State Bar number on the first page, and e-filed papers often carry "/s/" before your name. Check your court's local rules.

Should a lawyer use Esq. in an email signature?

You can. It's a courtesy title that follows your name, and many lawyers use it. Some think it's for others to write when addressing you rather than for your own signature, so if your firm has a convention, follow it. Either way, don't pair it with Attorney at Law, which says the same thing twice.

Does a confidentiality notice make an email privileged?

Not by itself. Attorney client privilege covers confidential communications between a lawyer and a client about seeking legal advice, so it turns on what the email says and who it goes to. A short notice asks a stray recipient to tell you and delete the message, which is why many firms keep one at the foot of every email.

Can I call myself a specialist in my email signature?

It depends on your state, so check its rules first. In California, you may not say you're a certified specialist unless the State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization or an accredited body has certified you, and the certifying body has to be named. Rule 7.4(b) still lets you say your practice specializes in, is limited to or is concentrated in a field, like Employment Litigation.

Should a lawyer have a photo in their email signature?

It's optional, and most firms leave it off. If your firm's bio pages carry headshots, a small one in the signature matches them and helps a client put a face to the name before a first meeting. Keep it the same photo as your bio page, so a client sees one consistent face.

Make it yours

Make one of these your signature.

Swap Hannah Brooks’s details for your own, add your headshot or company logo, and put it on every email you send. It’s free.

Create your signatureCopy the HTML instead

Other signature templates

4 templates and advice for each role.