AI exposure score

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Paralegals and Legal Assistants score 53 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #182 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 12 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 2 on its own and 8 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 3 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

53/ 100

Elevated

Rank: #182of 923 jobs
US workers: 392,880BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $62,890a year
In real AI use: 3 of 12tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 2 (17%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 8 (67%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 2 (17%)

Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
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 can speed this up with extra software · core task
File pleadings with court clerk.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Keep and monitor legal volumes to ensure that law library is up-to-date.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Appraise and inventory real and personal property for estate planning.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Call upon witnesses to testify at hearing.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about paralegals and legal assistants and AI

Will AI replace paralegals and legal assistants?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Paralegals and Legal Assistants score 53 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #182 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 10 of the job's 12 tasks, 2 of them on its own, while 2 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which paralegals and legal assistants tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "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".

Which paralegals and legal assistants tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case"; "Call upon witnesses to testify at hearing".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 3 of the 12 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as paralegals and legal assistants, and what do they earn?

About 392,880 people in the US, with median pay of $62,890 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Task by task

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Questions about paralegals and legal assistants and AI

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