Is there a convention when addressing new/young associates when you're a law student? Forum

[Iowahawk]

This is an interesting thread. As someone who was K-JD and has been in biglaw for awhile now, I've never had to write a cover letter/email soliciting a job (thanks OCI, school clinic, and minimum wage jobs). Say I'm applying to join the GC office of a hospital or nonprofit or networking with their staff. Would I not refer to the GC as Mr./Ms. in an email until they sign off as Bob/Janet in a reply? Feels kind of wrong to write "Hi Bob" or "Hi Janet" despite that being how I email clients and all of the folks I work with.

In a formal cover letter, I would use a formal greeting (although formal cover letters are becoming pretty rare generally). In a normal business setting, I address members of the C-suite by their first name same as anybody else in the organization.

I agree, cover letters are different from normal communications because there's a well-established, highly artificial format for them imo.

When emailing someone of the status where they might take offense--like e.g. a distinguished partner at a different firm I haven't met before, or a hiring partner I was asking for a job from as a law student--I would stay safe and use Mr./Ms. For associates, especially junior associates, I think first name is always fine.

[avenuem]

As a junior, I think it's disrespectful to use anything but "To [First name] it may concern - Election to Partnership Pending, I humbly beseech thee to read my message [which should be less than ten words]"

And, frankly, I would get you fired ASAP if you did otherwise.

[Anonymous User]

To reiterate: always, always, always use first name, even for partners. The only time I would ever use "Mr./Ms." would be in a formal court document. Even cover letters are borderline--I typically go first name but I won't fault you if you say "Ms. Hiring Manager" or whatever.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Didn't think this question would incur this many responses lol

I have a follow-up question. When addressing attorneys by their first name, is it better to address them by the "formal first name" or nickname if their bio on the firm's page talks about them by their nicknames? For example, a firm could have someone named James Baker, his bio page is titled James Baker, but the little blurb about his experiences and expertise refers to him as "Jim," is it better to address him as Jim in my email, or is James the better choice?

Sorry about the super nit-picky questions but these are the things that delay my emails by a whole day lol

[nixy]

I can’t ever imagine using a first name in a cover letter, even if it’s going to someone I’ve met before (I suppose reasonable minds could differ if it’s someone you know already, but I still wouldn’t). It would stick out to me in a bad way.

[cheaptilts]

I can’t ever imagine using a first name in a cover letter, even if it’s going to someone I’ve met before (I suppose reasonable minds could differ if it’s someone you know already, but I still wouldn’t). It would stick out to me in a bad way.

The original post in this thread concerned how to address someone in a cold email. To the extent cover letters have come up in this thread, there's been a pretty strong consensus that you should be more formal.

[Iowahawk]

To reiterate: always, always, always use first name, even for partners. The only time I would ever use "Mr./Ms." would be in a formal court document. Even cover letters are borderline--I typically go first name but I won't fault you if you say "Ms. Hiring Manager" or whatever.

...this, anon, seems like it might be deliberate trolling. In a hiring context, as a law student, do not address Paul Clement as “Paul.” And never use a first name in a cover letter.

[Prudent_Jurist]

Whatever you do, DO NOT omit Esq. after their name. This is a cardinal sin, and you will be scorned and mocked by all at that firm.

Also, whatever you do, if you are a law student, include a mini-biography with every minute accomplishment and meaningless title AND all links to your social media in your signature line.

[publius365]

Whatever you do, DO NOT omit Esq. after their name. This is a cardinal sin, and you will be scorned and mocked by all at that firm.

Does anyone else find attorney use of "Esq." to be cringe-inducing, especially when it is on their LinkedIn name or header? It seems so archaic and unnecessary (unless you're a solo practitioner or someone else trying to build up business in low-level plaintiff's side work). If your job title is "Associate" or "Partner" or "Counsel" or "Attorney" at Law Firm Name, is it not already abundantly clear what you do?

[nixy]

I can’t ever imagine using a first name in a cover letter, even if it’s going to someone I’ve met before (I suppose reasonable minds could differ if it’s someone you know already, but I still wouldn’t). It would stick out to me in a bad way.

The original post in this thread concerned how to address someone in a cold email. To the extent cover letters have come up in this thread, there's been a pretty strong consensus that you should be more formal.

Sure. I was responding to the post 2 posts above mine, which said specifically that they'd be fine with using a first name in a cover letter.

[Prudent_Jurist]

Whatever you do, DO NOT omit Esq. after their name. This is a cardinal sin, and you will be scorned and mocked by all at that firm.

Does anyone else find attorney use of "Esq." to be cringe-inducing, especially when it is on their LinkedIn name or header? It seems so archaic and unnecessary (unless you're a solo practitioner or someone else trying to build up business in low-level plaintiff's side work). If your job title is "Associate" or "Partner" or "Counsel" or "Attorney" at Law Firm Name, is it not already abundantly clear what you do?

I think it's passé at this point. There was a time when that was common practice, but it's bygone now. I also find cringe-y the excessive signature lines in law student emails that list every student org position and title, social media, and, I swear, an inspirational quote.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Didn't think this question would incur this many responses lol

I have a follow-up question. When addressing attorneys by their first name, is it better to address them by the "formal first name" or nickname if their bio on the firm's page talks about them by their nicknames? For example, a firm could have someone named James Baker, his bio page is titled James Baker, but the little blurb about his experiences and expertise refers to him as "Jim," is it better to address him as Jim in my email, or is James the better choice?

Sorry about the super nit-picky questions but these are the things that delay my emails by a whole day lol

This question is probably moot by now, but I would probably use the nickname if all of the references on the site use it, but I could go either way on this. The safer approach overall is probably using their real name, but you risk looking a little mass email-y depending on what you’re writing.

Also, to the poster who is going to the firm that has a reputation for being formal, the only people who ever used Ms./Mr. in emails* at my supposedly very formal firm were secretaries, and even they usually didn’t. I did it a couple of times as an anxious summer and the partners were like “lol no.”

*Caveat that I’m referring to internal emails or networking-style emails like those OP seemed to be asking about. Although we often used first names with opposing counsel as well, we would occasionally use Mr./Ms. in initial external emails - usually ones that were more like formal letters (e.g. a document request sent to counsel for an individual in an investigation). However, these almost always turned into first name basis communications almost immediately.

[Anonymous User]

As a junior, I think it's disrespectful to use anything but "To [First name] it may concern - Election to Partnership Pending, I humbly beseech thee to read my message [which should be less than ten words]"

And, frankly, I would get you fired ASAP if you did otherwise.

TITCR.

But seriously, I will say, a part of this depends heavily on where you're practicing. In the major markets, you use their first name unless you're told differently by someone, even if they're the managing partner. This was something I had to learn when I entered law school, because it was so different from what I was used to.There are markets (esp. in the South) where there is an expectation to say Mr. so and so until you're told to call them by their first name. So, if you're cold emailing associates/partners/etc. in NYC, DC, LA, CHI, Bost, Etc. I would address your email as "Dear 'first name'." If you're messaging people in say, Charlotte or Memphis, I think you have to play it more by ear. I would probably say "Mr. or Ms. ___" to partners and senior associates, but refer to junior associates by their first name. But I think you could go with "Mr. ___" to just be safe, because very, very few people in those markets would think poorly of you for doing so.

But absolutely do not use someone's full name like suggested previously, "Dear Michael Robinson." That's weird everywhere. You're not the IRS mailing to audit them.

[KissMyAxe]

Whatever you do, DO NOT omit Esq. after their name. This is a cardinal sin, and you will be scorned and mocked by all at that firm.

Does anyone else find attorney use of "Esq." to be cringe-inducing, especially when it is on their LinkedIn name or header? It seems so archaic and unnecessary (unless you're a solo practitioner or someone else trying to build up business in low-level plaintiff's side work). If your job title is "Associate" or "Partner" or "Counsel" or "Attorney" at Law Firm Name, is it not already abundantly clear what you do?

I think it's passé at this point. There was a time when that was common practice, but it's bygone now. I also find cringe-y the excessive signature lines in law student emails that list every student org position and title, social media, and, I swear, an inspirational quote.

How dare you! I insist on everyone using my title of Esquire. How else will people know where I stand among the English gentry? Were I not to use that, they may think of me as a mere Gentleman! Perish the thought. A law student sent me a cold email two weeks ago but didn't use my full title in the email. Well, safe to say they'll never work at my firm and I also reported them to the Bar for that transgression. It's not that difficult to research and use someone's full title.

With Deepest admiration and Greatest Gratitude,

Kissmyaxe, First of their Name, B.A. summa cum laude, MSt, J.D., Esq., The Associate that was Promised, Off'r. of Courts State and Federal, Lord of their Manor, Keeper of the Keys and Grounds of their Apartment, Rightful Heir to the Corner Office, and Defender of the Realm.

"The things that make me different, are the things that make me, me" -Piglet

[Prudent_Jurist]

Whatever you do, DO NOT omit Esq. after their name. This is a cardinal sin, and you will be scorned and mocked by all at that firm.

Does anyone else find attorney use of "Esq." to be cringe-inducing, especially when it is on their LinkedIn name or header? It seems so archaic and unnecessary (unless you're a solo practitioner or someone else trying to build up business in low-level plaintiff's side work). If your job title is "Associate" or "Partner" or "Counsel" or "Attorney" at Law Firm Name, is it not already abundantly clear what you do?

I think it's passé at this point. There was a time when that was common practice, but it's bygone now. I also find cringe-y the excessive signature lines in law student emails that list every student org position and title, social media, and, I swear, an inspirational quote.

How dare you! I insist on everyone using my title of Esquire. How else will people know where I stand among the English gentry? Were I not to use that, they may think of me as a mere Gentleman! Perish the thought. A law student sent me a cold email two weeks ago but didn't use my full title in the email. Well, safe to say they'll never work at my firm and I also reported them to the Bar for that transgression. It's not that difficult to research and use someone's full title.

With Deepest admiration and Greatest Gratitude,

Kissmyaxe, First of their Name, B.A. summa cum laude, MSt, J.D., Esq., The Associate that was Promised, Off'r. of Courts State and Federal, Lord of their Manor, Keeper of the Keys and Grounds of their Apartment, Rightful Heir to the Corner Office, and Defender of the Realm.

"The things that make me different, are the things that make me, me" -Piglet

Motion to make add this post to the legendary archives to be passed on into TLS posterity.