It's not always plain surfing, however. As the business development manager of Apply4Law - the leading provider of online application software for law firm graduate recruitment - I know that recruiters sometimes need support to find their virtual sea legs after years of wading through paper applications. Likewise, a student new to online forms might find that silly mistakes they make bring their applications perilously close to the rocks. Judging by the panicked phone calls I sometimes receive after application deadlines pass, such students aren't always above spinning a yarn when they find themselves in hot water…

But filling in online application forms need not be a treacherous enterprise - with a bit of know-how, you'll find that navigating them is a breeze. So join me for a rip-curl ride through issues of security, spam-filled inboxes and hideous mistakes as I explain how online applications work and give you my hot tips for success.

Feeling secure

Web security is rarely thought about in relation to online applications. This is strange considering that you enter many personal details into an application form. You wouldn't publish your personal details in a newspaper, so why do so on the Internet? According to a survey by www.getsafeonline.org.uk, most internet users don't consider themselves responsible for their own online security.

Online application forms can be secured using encryption technology. In the simplest of terms, normal information sent through websites is similar to sending a postcard - anybody could read it. But encrypted data is like an envelope containing information that can be opened only by the addressee. So how do you know if a website is secure? Well, encrypted sites:

• have "https" in the URL (eg, https://www.apply4law.com);
• often display a padlock image in the bottom right-hand corner; and
• have security certificates, which verify the website's owners and confirm the use of secure sockets layer (SSL) technology to keep your data safe.

Spamalot

Suitable contact details are a basic - but essential - part of a successful application. Most firms send correspondence via email, so it is important to choose an account that you have access to all year. Increasing numbers of applicants now use Hotmail for their applications, which is causing a headache. Up to 80% of emails are spam and so most email providers have begun to tighten their junk filters. Emails in Hotmail junk folders need to be reviewed within five days of receipt, after which they are automatically deleted.

The obvious solution is to alter your junk filter settings to allow emails from the firms to which you are applying and regularly to check your emails. But this may not be enough to ensure the arrival of important correspondence. Hotmail's increased security means that, instead of falling into the junk folder, legitimate emails suspected as junk may simply disappear. The best advice I can offer is to use an alternative email address if possible and contact the firm if you think you are missing correspondence.

What not to do

It may be fun to giggle at the hideous mistakes made by applicants, but thousands of applications are wasted every year by a lack of attention to detail, so it pays not to be too smug. Here are a handful of common mistakes.

Txt spk ok 4 txtin
The Bible may have recently been translated into text speak, but law firms in general communicate with their clients in full sentences. It sticks out like a sore thumb and is best avoided.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU
Don't litter the application with unnecessary capital letters. It makes it look like you are SHOUTING! And the inappropriate use of lower case letters makes it look as if your approach is casual.

The dangers of cut and paste
Beware: if you plan to cut and paste answers from Word in order to spell check what you write, remember that it's no replacement for good, honest proofing. Boasting of your "excellen eye for detail" is unlikely to impress; claiming you want to work for completely the wrong firm will mean your application is binned.

Sexybeast@yahoodid.com seeks training contract
Fun email addresses are fine for contacting your friends but they are inappropriate when it comes to applying to law firms. It is not hard to generate sensible email accounts and it is worth it in the long run!

Deadlines
Online application forms are automatically withdrawn at the deadline. If you are applying at the last minute, remember to check the time as well as the date of the deadline.

How to impress

Online applications are deceptively easy to complete - in fact, you need to plan your approach to them every bit as carefully as you would do with a paper application. In particular you should:

• read all the instructions carefully and review the application form as a whole before you start;
• work out what your main strengths are and where you will include them on the application form;
• give full answers to every section - all the questions will have been asked for a reason;
• avoid making statements without backing them up - simply claiming to be "an excellent team player" is weak in comparison to saying: "I demonstrated my skills within a team when I worked for the university radio station";
• check your application as many times as you can bear and then ask your friends to check it;
• be aware of the deadline - and submit your application before it passes;
• make the firm aware of any significant developments up until the deadline by adding information through the online application home page or by contacting the firm directly; and
• print off a copy of your application - you'll want to review it if invited to interview.

Good luck!

The application form is a golden opportunity to market yourself to your prospective employer. Firms and chambers invest a lot of time and money in trainees and therefore it often helps to view your application as a business request for funding. Remember, it ain't over till the fat lady sings (or the deadline passes). Good luck with your applications!