O*NET: Paralegals and Legal Assistants·23-2011.00
The Verdict:Paralegals face heavy AI overlap — legal research, document drafting, case summarization, and records review are tasks AI performs faster and cheaper. Filing with courts, meeting clients, coordinating witnesses, and directing office operations remain human. The role is shifting from document production toward AI oversight, but fewer paralegals will likely handle the same legal volume.
How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.
The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.
How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.
How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).
How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.
The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.
Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.
Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.
Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 4 of 14 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.
This role has a mixed AI profile.
4 tasks are automatable, 36% reward AI fluency, and 5 remain human-essential.
Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so
Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't
Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment
Paralegal lands in Lower Pay, High Risk