Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
How AI Impacts Each Task
13 tasks analyzed
Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.
File pleadings with court clerk.
Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
Call upon witnesses to testify at hearing.
Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches.
Keep and monitor legal volumes to ensure that law library is up-to-date.
Appraise and inventory real and personal property for estate planning.
Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system. | 53.25Observed | 70.5% | 15% | |
| Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements. | 53.92Observed | 70.8% | 10% | |
| Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 10% | |
| Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 15% | |
| Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 10% | |
| File pleadings with court clerk. | 72Estimated | 78.0% | 5% | |
| Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents. | 48.75Observed | 46.5% | 10% | |
| Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 5% | |
| Call upon witnesses to testify at hearing. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 2% | |
| Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Keep and monitor legal volumes to ensure that law library is up-to-date. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 2% | |
| Appraise and inventory real and personal property for estate planning. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 2% | |
| Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 10% |
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.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Paralegals and Legal Assistants skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
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SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
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Creative Writing Specialization
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Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
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Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
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
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation
Top Law Firm Launches AI Subsidiary to Automate Its Own Legal Services
Elite law firm Cleary Gottlieb has launched a subsidiary designed to build tech products that intentionally cannibalize the firm's traditional billable work. The move signals that major legal players would rather automate their own junior tasks than lose market share.
Legal AI Sector Booms as Four Startups Make Europe's Top 50 List
Legora, Wordsmith, and two other legal tech startups have been recognized in a major data-led ranking of European companies. This signals rapid growth and potential hiring opportunities within the specialized legal AI sector.
LegalOn expands AI contract analysis, threatening paralegal workflows
The expansion into contract lifecycle management means routine document review and storage are increasingly automated. Law firms adopting these tools will likely require fewer junior associates and paralegals for discovery.
New 'Private AI' Targets Highly Regulated Knowledge Work Sectors
Y Combinator-backed startup Soren is rolling out secure AI tools specifically designed for industries handling highly sensitive data. This paves the way for automation to enter strictly regulated fields like law and finance that previously resisted AI.
Legal AI Platforms Merge Data to Automate Cross-Border Research
European AI platform Noxtua is partnering with startup Midpage to integrate US legal data into its systems. This cross-border data integration threatens to further automate the routine research tasks traditionally handled by junior lawyers and paralegals.
Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis