Including ‘Esq.’ is not pretentious and is perfectly acceptable or appropriate. I think I know what you mean, though. The fact that some attorneys use it, while others do not, probably makes the matter somewhat confusing. I will say, however, as a law student, it is not pretentious. “The form of address Esq. is not used in the first person. It is used only when the reference is in the third person, such as addressing an envelope, making a formal introduction, or on business letterhead. Esq. is never used with any prenominal form of address, such as Dr., Mr., or Ms.. Thus, John Smith, Esq. or Mr. John Smith would be correct, but Mr. John Smith, Esq. would be incorrect.”