def split_lists(original_list, max_slices):
    """ Split a list into a list of small lists given the desired number of sub lists """
    slices = max_slices - 1
    original_list_size = len(original_list)
    split_index = int(original_list_size / slices)
    return [original_list[x:x + split_index] for x in range(0, len(original_list), split_index)]