Role File · Moderate Risk
Lawyer.
Provides legal advice and representation. Moderate risk from legal AI research.
US workers
395K
Avg. salary
$124K
AI risk
45%
Horizon
10-15 years
Assessment
Where this role sits on the index.
Partial automation expected within 10–15 years. Humans stay in the loop.
The Brief
What's at stake.
Lawyers provide legal advice, draft contracts, and represent clients. AI legal research and contract analysis assist attorneys, but complex legal judgment remains human. Routine contract generation is increasingly automated.
Task Analysis
Where the work goes.
AI will handle
- 01Conduct research
- 02Draft documents
- 03Analyze contracts
- 04Manage records
You stay relevant
- 01Complex legal judgment
- 02Client representation
- 03Strategic advice
Stay ahead
The playbook.
Required
Core skills
- — Legal knowledge
- — Analytical thinking
- — Writing ability
- — Communication
- — Research skills
Emerging
Future skills
- — Complex strategy
- — Client relations
- — Advanced legal analysis
Leverage
Learn AI as a multiplier
Mastering the tools that automate parts of this role is the most reliable way to stay in demand.
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How we built this file.
Adjacent
Related roles.
Paralegal
Paralegals assist attorneys with legal research, document drafting, case management, and client communication. The role faces significant AI exposure as large language models and legal AI platforms increasingly automate research, document review, and contract analysis tasks that constitute a substantial share of daily work.
lowJudge
Presides over court proceedings and makes legal decisions. Low automation risk.
Diagnostic