Starting on December 1 every year (okay, more like 8:00 p.m. November 30), 1Ls start eagerly applying for summer positions.  When thinking about how I should kick off this column, I figured I might as well start with some basic, practical tips that will help us both.  While this advice is certainly not intended for your eyes only, I would like to dedicate it to the current and future 1Ls of America! 

In the days when applying electronically wasn't common (or even an option), the physical appearance of your application package could make a strong first impression.  Some applicants still like to FedEx me fancy folders filled with expensive resume paper, but in 2012, we are simply beyond that.  Our files are largely electronic (especially in light of green initiatives).  The vast majority of candidate materials are shared by email or a central database and viewed by increasingly mobile attorneys while they are away from their offices.  And - perhaps most importantly - in my experience, no candidate has received bonus points for spending money on an elaborate package. 

Even if an employer officially accepts applications via snail mail in addition to any electronic process it has in place, it probably creates more work (and you might just get a response back to apply online anyway).  For instance, when I receive a hard copy submission, I have to scan it so I can upload it into a database and email it to those I want to see it.  If a candidate emails an application, then those materials are already there on my screen.  Employers implement electronic systems to streamline the process, and working against their systems doesn't help anyone. 

In short, I don't see any particular upside to a snail mail application. 

Once you decide to apply electronically, it isn’t just smooth sailing from there.  Email raises the following problems: 

Problem 1) Email will tempt you to cut corners and copy the application to dozens of employers at once.  You should resist that temptation.  Certain telltale signs tip me off to a mass mailing, and mass mailings are not appealing.   

Failing to understand the difference between cc and bcc makes for a clear cut sign (a rare one thankfully).  Do not cc every recruiter in the whole market on an otherwise blank email.  Yes, I have seen it happen.  I will never forget that candidate’s name.  Bcc isn’t much better. 

Other signs aren’t quite so blatant but still noticeable.  One I see all the time: mail merge programs that use one font when entering the firm name and my contact information, and another for the rest of the template message.  It doesn’t exactly make you stand out in a good way.  Proceed at your own risk. 

Problem 2) Email often causes you to write like you’re communicating with a friend.  From a generation that grew up using the casual language of email and texting and relying on Auto Correct, I occasionally receive applications that are far too friendly and not properly proofread.  I opened an applicant email recently that started off “Mello Kelly.”  Another one began “Hey Kelly!”  While I am a friendly, laid-back sort of person and we might very well be friends someday, in this type of correspondence you should err on the side of formality (simple rule: just start off with  “Dear Ms. Morgan").  And get rid of the exclamation points.  And I cannot stress proofreading enough; if Auto Correct has taught you anything it should be that you can't trust technology to take care of this for you.   

When applying for a job for which there is no online application system in place (if there is, start off there), my basic formula for a successful email application is as follows:

Subject Line – This should list your name and the position for which you are applying.  This allows anyone in the email chain passing your application along to immediately see that information.

Email Body – Include a short note in the body of the email addressed to the person to whom you are sending it.  If you’re sending it to the recruiting contact, you can usually find that person’s name in the NALP directory.  The note itself can be as simple as “I am interested in applying for the summer program/ an associate position in [Firm Name’s] [Office Location] office.  My cover letter, resume and transcript are attached; please let me know if you need any additional materials.”  Alternatively, I have no problem with applicants writing an entire cover letter in the body of the email; just make sure to treat it with the same degree of formality.

Attachments – Include everything the employer requires.  I want at least your resume and transcript, but applications with good cover letters (addressed to me) are more compelling. I may want a writing sample at some point so you might as well send it right off the bat.  Send the attachments in PDF format to control how they look.  You’d be surprised to see how bad a different version of Word can make your resume look on my computer (and keep in mind that firms are often behind the times on software). 

Test Run – Send your application to a friend or family member first to see how the whole package looks on the recipient end. 

To sum up:  You don’t need a fancy application to sell yourself.  Show that you understand that an employer cares more about your ability to present yourself as a competent, professional, and enthusiastic asset than your ability to send out a really pretty mailing.  And be careful not to send the next terrible mass e-mailing I receive.