A paralegal new to the field has many options when it comes to career opportunities. An important decision for a paralegal pursuing a career at a law firm is whether or not to seek employment at a small or large firm. By taking into consideration some of the pros and cons of both small and large companies it will be possible to understand the criteria on which to establish the criteria for the final decision. Law firms with 25 or fewer attorneys are generally considered small law firms. Because small law firms outnumber larger law firms, the majority of all paralegals work for small businesses. In small law firms, 14% of paralegals work for firms containing only one lawyer, 29% in firms with two to five lawyers, 18% with six to ten lawyers, and 17% of all paralegals work in firms containing eleven to twenty-five lawyers. lawyers (Miller, Urisko 23). In small businesses there would be little or no competition between paralegals depending on the number of paralegals working for the company. Sally Kane says: “With fewer employees vying for assignments, promotions and a slice of the profits, legal professionals in small law firms face less internal competition than their counterparts at large firms” (“Life in a Law Firm – 10 Benefits of working in a small law firm - Employment in a small law firm."). A paralegal just starting out would have the privilege of becoming familiar with many legal processes in a small firm. Small companies tend to be less formal and may have a more relaxed and casual dress code. A less formal dress code would save the paralegal money in the long run because there would be no need to keep up with expensive formal attire. Small law firms offer the paralegal the ability to work in many different areas of law and allow them to provide many different services while working on…middle of paper…ok, “Paralegal Career for Dummies,” Scott Hatch, JD, says, "If you think lawyers are the only legal professionals capable of making six-figure salaries, you're wrong!" (13).Whether you are a paralegal looking for a high salary or a casual work environment with the ability to work in many different areas of law, a large law firm and a small law firm both offer a paralegal. what they ultimately establish to find the ability to assist a lawyer. Works Cited Hatch, Scott A., Hatch, Lisa Zimmer. Paralegal Career for Dummies in a Small Law Firm - 10 Benefits of Working in a Small Law Firm - Employment in a Small Law Firm." About.com Legal Careers. Np, nd Web. December 6, 2013.Miller, Roger LeRoy., Meinzinger, Mary. Paralegal Today: The Legal Team at Work. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning, 2010. Print