Alaskan Malamute or Bichon Frise? Seven-seater SUV or two-seater sports car? Pie cut New Yorker or a 7-inch margherita?
There are many areas of life where we find ourselves expressing a preference for big or small.
And, since lawyers are going to spend an inordinate amount of time in their workplace over the coming years, why should this be any different?
Show all Legal jobs across Scotland
So, will it be the bright lights, big city vibe and a legal corporation with more prime office space than Wayne Enterprises . . . and cooler crime-fighting kudos than Batman?
Or will it be the small family firm that goes big on small details for colleagues and clients, such as making sure everybody knows your name and appreciates your work?
For some, the choice will feel natural and therefore obvious; for others it will take deliberation.
To help job seekers decide, The Law Society of Scotland have been loud hailing the breadth of opportunities available.
And with so many different sizes and types of employers in the Scottish legal sector, the Society have been especially keen to ensure the benefits of ‘going small’ are not overlooked.
That’s why they’ve been promoting the advantages of careers outside large firms in a series of roadshows.
These free events, including chaired Q&A sessions, have been aimed primarily at LLB or DPLP students keen to find out about working in-house or for a high street firm.
Of course, the right choice of legal role from s1jobs will always depend on your personal outlook and career ambitions – but there’s a lot to be said for good things in small packages.
For a start, being part of a smaller set-up usually allows for more time spent face-to-face with clients, learning how to cope with real needs in real time and finessing all-important communication skills.
The workload, too, will inevitably be more varied and interesting.
While larger law firms often have new starts shuffling paperwork and divert junior staff into stuffy research, in a small practice it’s all hands-on deck right from the off.
There’s no place to hide and more work means more experience which means more opportunities for faster promotion.
It’s a simple equation: the fewer the employees, the greater your own personal accountability and potential to shine.
And don’t forget, as part of a condensed team, you’ll be expected to become adept in other areas of the business, such as admin, IT and even marketing – all of which are transferrable skills for your next role.
So, let’s get started! Size up the best Legal vacancies courtesy of s1jobs.