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How exposed to AI is a Lawyer?

Of the 22 tasks O*NET lists for lawyers, 3 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 4 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
AttorneyAttorney at LawAttorney GeneralCounselCounty AttorneyDistrict AttorneyGeneral CounselLawyerProsecuting AttorneyProsecutor
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
22
tasks rated for this occupation
100%
hold a degree, from a survey of 22
681k
people do this job in the US
3 of 7
least protected in legal

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

3
  • Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents
  • Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases
  • Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership

Only with software built on top

15
  • Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations
  • Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses
  • Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation
  • 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
  • Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit
  • 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
  • Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law
  • Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies
  • Probate wills and represent and advise executors and administrators of estates
  • Act as agent, trustee, guardian, or executor for businesses or individuals
  • Help develop federal and state programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, and establish enforcement procedures

Cannot be sped up

4
  • Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial
  • Represent clients in court or before government agencies
  • Supervise legal assistants
  • Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.