If you think you can make it to lvl 10 lawyer house in a reasonable time, you focus on that and collect gavels for yhe tree-craft later. If you think you won't, just craft the tree. You can also get a mix: lvl the laywer-house so you make enough bobins to be eleglible for the community-ptizes, then go for the tree-craft.
As I'm sure I will make it to lvl 10, I will first focus on that one, and then focus on crafting a tree.