Headline risk
35%
High RiskParalegals and legal assistants
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
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.
Task evidence
61% weighted task match · 12% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 61,010
Employment 2024
376.2K
Projected Change (2024–34)
0.2%
Openings (2024–34)
39.3K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to decline 0 percent from 2024 to 2034.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system. AI use: 0%
- 2. Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- 3. Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents. AI use: 94%
- 4. Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits. AI use: 0%
- 5. Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
- 6. 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. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 42.8 · 486K employed
Under 25: 10% · 25–54: 63% · 55+: 27%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers by performing a variety of tasks, such as maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.
Paralegals and legal assistants typically work in offices for a variety of employers, including law firms and government agencies. Most work full time.
Paralegals and legal assistants typically need an associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies to enter the occupation. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree; others may consider candidates who have a high school diploma and experience.
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $61,010 in May 2024.
Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to decline 0 percent from 2024 to 2034.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.