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1. Types of Work
2. Pay
3. Work Pressure (Work-Life Balance and Working Hours)
4. Growth (In terms of increments in pay, promotions etc.)
5. Respect
6. Geographical Mobility (to shift from one country to another to practice)
Under each of the criteria you have specified above, it will differ from team to team. I have worked with projects team (traditionally, boring) doing amazing policy advisory work for government projects, I have also worked with M&A teams with so less revenue that I've hardly gotten any bonus.
Similarly, while people might tell you niche areas like competition have lesser work and better work-life balance, there are people in Trilegal competition team who'll tell you how absolutely bad it can get in terms of work pressure when your partner is the one of the leaders in your niche area.
Again, in terms of growth, there are two viewpoints: (i) be in a wider practice, more scope for growth; (ii) be a niche expert, you'll rise up the ranks faster. Both viewpoints have some truth in them but neither are absolutely right.
Finally, geographical mobility - you will feel a cultural difference when you move abroad but your work hours aren't necessarily going to get better. You quality of work, even abroad, will also completely depend on your team/firm there.
So, the only conclusive advice I can give: pick a good team, work for good organizations. Your career will be built by you as you move along and by those around you.
I would repeat, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT CHOOSE INDIRECT TAX.
Worst mistake I made in my entire life.
https://www.legallyindia.com/convos/topic/179564-How-is-work-at-Projects-Infrastructure-Energy-practice-
It offers good work life balance, good money, is intellectually very stimulating, if you work hard, you can move abroad (the basic principles of competition law remain same across jurisdictions).
It's very unfortunate that competition law has not been able to grow in India the way it has grown in other countries. But things will change with time.