In my experience, faxes work much better than email - to get rid of a fax, one must physically reach for the paper in the inbox, briefly review it, and then lean over to the trash can - at least it has a chance to draw some attention. With email, none of that is necessary - click, delete. If sending to HHs, however, they usually want it via email so they can input it in their searcheable systems.
If you are sending cold resumes, I strongly suggest finding out the name of someone other than "administrator" or "hiring partner" - even if that person doesn't do the actual hiring, your qualifications have a better chance of ending up in an inbox than the circular file if they are directed to an actual human - just make sure it's not the named partner who died 30 years ago! Better yet, find a partner who went to your school who practices what you are interested in and send to em.
And if an ad does not name the firm, google the fax number and get an address - it looks much better on a cover letter. If only an email is provided, add
www. to the last part of the email addy and it usually will take you to their web page, so you have some idea how to tailor your cover letter.
Good Luck,
-TL
