Lawyers
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
AI Impact Summary
Lawyers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 26/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 22% of all analyzed occupations. Of 24 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Lawyers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Negotiation, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution
by ESSEC Business School
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
24 tasks analyzed
Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.
Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.
Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.
Supervise legal assistants.
Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
Probate wills and represent and advise executors and administrators of estates.
Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions, by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
Prepare legal briefs and opinions, and file appeals in state and federal courts of appeal.
Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership.
Act as agent, trustee, guardian, or executor for businesses or individuals.
Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings.
Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law.
Help develop federal and state programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, and establish enforcement procedures.
Work in environmental law, representing the state, federal agencies, public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms.
Negotiate contractual agreements.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents. | 62.68Observed | 52.1% | 5% | |
| Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations. | 62.3Observed | 39.9% | 5% | |
| Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 5% | |
| Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses. | 53.67Observed | 48.5% | 5% | |
| Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 5% | |
| Represent clients in court or before government agencies. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 5% | |
| Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 2% | |
| Present and summarize cases to judges and juries. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 4% | |
| Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 5% | |
| Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts. | 55.25Observed | 49.1% | 7% | |
| Negotiate settlements of civil disputes. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 4% | |
| Supervise legal assistants. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 3% | |
| Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit. | 53.85Observed | 48.5% | 5% | |
| Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases. | 62.88Observed | 52.2% | 5% | |
| Probate wills and represent and advise executors and administrators of estates. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 2% | |
| Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions, by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case. | 54.4Observed | 36.8% | 5% | |
| Prepare legal briefs and opinions, and file appeals in state and federal courts of appeal. | 54.07Observed | 48.6% | 6% | |
| Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 4% | |
| Act as agent, trustee, guardian, or executor for businesses or individuals. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 2% | |
| Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings. | 25Estimated | 25.0% | 3% | |
| Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law. | 85Estimated | 83.2% | 5% | |
| Help develop federal and state programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, and establish enforcement procedures. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 2% | |
| Work in environmental law, representing the state, federal agencies, public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 2% | |
| Negotiate contractual agreements. | 35Estimated | 29.0% | 4% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 37.1%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$151,160
per year
Mean Wage
$182,760
per year
Employment
748K
workers
Wage Range
$72,780 - $239,200
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsJudges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
23%Median salary: $156,210
Higher risk than 12% of other occupations
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
28%Median salary: $115,230
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Sales Agents, Financial Services
29%Median salary: $78,140
Higher risk than 33% of other occupations
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
29%Median salary: $67,710
Higher risk than 34% of other occupations
Law Teachers, Postsecondary
31%Median salary: $126,650
Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
32%Median salary: $78,420
Higher risk than 51% of other occupations
Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
33%Median salary: $80,190
Higher risk than 56% of other occupations
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
33%Median salary: $71,470
Higher risk than 58% of other occupations
Sales Agents, Securities and Commodities
34%Median salary: $78,140
Higher risk than 60% of other occupations
Judicial Law Clerks
36%Median salary: $60,400
Higher risk than 69% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Lawyers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Negotiation
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Persuasion
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change