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Lawyers

Legalmediumaugment
BLS 2024-34: +5%
Median Wage: $145,760
Employment: 814K

Overall Exposure

50+12

2025 vs 2023

Theoretical Exposure

78

What AI could do

Observed Exposure

35

What AI actually does

Automation Risk Score

30

Displacement risk

3-Year Outlook (2025 → 2028)

Projected changes in AI automation metrics over the next 3 years based on estimated data.

Overall Exposure

5064
+14

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Theoretical Exposure

7884
+6

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Observed Exposure

3555
+20

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Automation Risk

3038
+8

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Exposure Metrics (2023 - 2028)

Detailed Metrics Table

YearOverallTheoreticalObservedRiskData Type
202338721522actual
202444752526actual
202550783530actual
202655804233estimated
202760824836estimated
202864845538estimated

Task Breakdown

Research legal issues
55%β 1
Represent clients in court
10%β 0

About This Occupation

If you work as a Lawyers, AI is reshaping your profession. With an automation risk of 30/100 and overall exposure at 50%, this role faces moderate transformation. The highest-impact area is research legal issues at 55% automation. This is classified as an 'augment' role. BLS projects +5% growth through 2034. Professionals who embrace AI tools will see their capabilities significantly amplified.

Frequently Asked Questions

With an automation risk score of 30%, Lawyers has a low risk of AI replacement. Most tasks in this role require skills that are difficult for AI to replicate, such as complex decision-making, physical dexterity, or deep interpersonal interaction. AI is more likely to serve as a supportive tool.

The AI automation risk score for Lawyers is 30% (2025 data). Overall AI exposure is 50%, with 78% theoretical exposure and 35% observed exposure. The risk trend from 2023 to 2025 is +8 points.

The tasks with the highest automation potential for Lawyers are: Research legal issues (55%), Represent clients in court (10%). These rates reflect how much of each task current AI systems can handle, based on research data from Anthropic and academic sources.

The BLS projects +5% employment change for Lawyers from 2024 to 2034. Combined with an overall AI exposure of 50%, this occupation is experiencing both traditional labor market shifts and AI-driven transformation. Workers should monitor both employment trends and AI capability growth.

Since AI primarily augments capabilities in this role, professionals in Lawyers should embrace AI as a productivity multiplier. Focus on learning to use AI tools effectively, developing higher-order analytical and creative skills, and positioning yourself as someone who can leverage AI to deliver greater value.

Recent AI Impact Changes

Apr 2026: Goldman Sachs identifies lawyers as high augmentation potential from AI

[Source: Fortune/Goldman Sachs]

Mar 2026: Karpathy rates lawyers 9/10 for AI exposure, citing text-heavy nature of legal work as key driver.

[Source: Karpathy AI Exposure Score (Fortune)]