May a lawyer show earned law degrees (J.D., LL.M., S.J.D.) on letterhead and use the title 'Doctor'?

Plain-English summary

The committee answered two questions: whether an earned degree such as LL.B., J.D., LL.M., or S.J.D. may be shown on a lawyer's letterhead, card, and office sign and placed after his name on correspondence; and whether a lawyer holding the J.D., LL.M., S.J.D., or other earned graduate law degree may use and permit the title "Doctor." It answered both in the affirmative, relying on DR 2-102(F), which provides that nothing in the rules prohibits using, in connection with a lawyer's name, an earned degree or title derived from it indicating training in the law.

The committee followed ABA Informal Opinions 1151 and 1152 (1970), which held that "J.D." or "Juris Doctor" may be used on professional stationery, cards, and the signature line and that the lawyer may use and permit the title "Doctor," and that the holder of an LL.M. is likewise entitled to "Doctor" as a more advanced degree. It cited ABA Informal Opinion 1247 (1972) for the rule that more than one earned law degree or title may be shown, but not degrees or titles that do not indicate training in the law. The committee recognized that its Advisory Opinion 247 (1967) and ABA Opinion 321 (1969) had reached the contrary conclusion under the old Canons, but held those opinions superseded in Oklahoma by the adoption of the Code effective January 1, 1970, and particularly DR 2-102(F).

The committee added cautions: when a lawyer's originally granted LL.B. has been formally superseded by a later-granted J.D., both degrees may not be shown; degrees not indicating training in the law (such as A.B., M.A., Ph.D.) may not be shown; and non-earned or honorary degrees (such as an honorary LL.D.) may not be shown. It observed that it would be technically inaccurate for an LL.B. holder to call himself "Doctor," but no more so than an LL.M. holder who lacks a J.D., since LL.B. and J.D. degrees are equally advanced.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1974, under the Code of Professional Responsibility, before Oklahoma adopted the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct (1988) and the later Ethics 2000 revisions. The advertising and letterhead premises underlying this opinion no longer reflect current law: the United States Supreme Court held in Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U.S. 350 (1977), that categorical bans on truthful lawyer advertising violate the First Amendment. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or requirement mentioned here.

Common questions

Q: May a lawyer put his J.D. or LL.M. on his letterhead and signature line?

A: Yes. The committee held that under DR 2-102(F) a lawyer may show earned degrees indicating training in the law on his letterhead, card, office sign, and signature line.

Q: May a lawyer use the title "Doctor"?

A: Yes. Following ABA Informal Opinions 1151 and 1152, the committee held a lawyer holding the J.D., LL.M., S.J.D., or similar earned graduate law degree may use and permit the title "Doctor."

Q: Which degrees may not be shown?

A: The committee said a superseded LL.B. may not be shown alongside a later J.D., degrees not indicating training in the law (A.B., M.A., Ph.D.) may not be shown, and non-earned or honorary degrees (such as an honorary LL.D.) may not be shown.

Background and rules framework

The opinion applied DR 2-102(F) of the Code of Professional Responsibility, which permits use of an earned degree or title indicating training in the law in connection with the lawyer's name, following the ABA's interpretation in Informal Opinions 1151, 1152, and 1247. It superseded the committee's Canon-era Advisory Opinion 247. The opinion predates the Model Rules and made no Model Rule citation.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• DR 2-102(F) (Code of Professional Responsibility): nothing prohibits a lawyer from using, in connection with his name, an earned degree or title derived from it indicating his training in the law.

Other opinions cited:

• ABA Informal Opinions 1151 (1970), 1152 (1970), and 1247 (1972).
• ABA Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion 321 (1969) and Oklahoma Bar Association Advisory Opinion 247 (1967), both superseded.

See also

• Okla. Bar Ethics Op. 247: Degrees and "Doctor" title on letterhead
• Okla. Bar Ethics Op. 276: Lawyer-CPA certificates, listings, and tax returns
• Okla. Bar Ethics Op. 237: Professional announcements, recipients and content

Source

• Landing page: https://www.okbar.org/ethics/ethics-opinion-no-277/

Original opinion text

Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.

Adopted March 22, 1974 (Supersedes Opinion No. 247)

INQUIRY

1. May an earned degree such as the LL.B., J.D., LL.M. or S.J.D. degrees, indicating training in the law, be reflected by a lawyer's letterhead, professional card and office sign, and be placed following the lawyer's name on the signature line of his correspondence?

2. May an attorney holding the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, or the Master of Laws (LL. M.), Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) or other earned graduate law degree, use and permit others to use the title "Doctor" in reference to himself?

OPINION

We are of the opinion that the answers to both of the questions presented should be in the affirmative.

Disciplinary Rule 2_102(F) of the Code of Professional Responsibility is as follows:

"Nothing contained herein shall prohibit a lawyer from using or permitting the use, in connection with his name, an earned degree, or title derived therefrom indicating his training in the law."

In interpreting this proviso, the Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the American Bar Association in Informal Opinion 1151 (2/25/70) held that "J.D." or "Juris Doctor" may be used on an attorney's professional stationery and cards, that "J.D." can be placed after his name on the signature line of his correspondence, and that he may use and permit others to use the title "Doctor" in reference to himself. In Informal Opinion 1152 (2/25/70), the same committee further held that the holder of an LL.M. degree is entitled to the use of the term "Doctor," since it is a more advanced degree than the J.D. Informal Opinion 1247 (10/18/72) by that committee held that more than one earned degree or title derived therefrom indicating training in the law may be shown and used, but not earned degree or titles which do not indicate training in the law.

This Committee recognizes that its Advisory Opinion No. 247, 38 Okla. Bar J. 1131 (adopted 5/11/67), reached a contrary conclusion, as did Opinion 321 of the ABA Committee on Professional Ethics (adopted March 1, 1969). However, these opinions rendered under the old Canons of Ethics have been superseded by the adoption in Oklahoma of the Code of Professional Responsibility effective January 1, 1970, and particularly DR 2_102 (F) quoted above.

The Committee cautions, however, that when a lawyer's originally granted LL.B. degree has been formally superseded by a subsequently-granted J.D. (an action many law schools are now taking, at the request of their LL.B. degree holders), both degrees may not be shown. Furthermore, degrees not indicating training in the law (e. g., A.B., M.A., Ph.D.) may not be shown, and non-earned or honorary degrees (such as the "Doctor of Laws" (LL.D.) degree) may not be shown.

It would seem to be technically inaccurate for the holder of an LL.B. degree to refer to himself as "Doctor," but no more so than use of that term by the holder of an LL.M. degree who does not also hold a J.D., since LL.B. and J.D. degrees are equally advanced.