Who's on the clock?

Paralegals and Legal Assistants vs Lawyers

Side by side: how much of the shift AI and robots touch, pay, outlook and training.

Time card for paralegals and legal assistants: 48m of an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsTime card: Paralegals and Legal Assistants →

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Paralegals and legal assistants or lawyers: which will AI change more? AI and robots touch more of the day for lawyers: 1h 36m of an 8-hour shift, against 48m for paralegals and legal assistants. Lawyers earn more, a median of $159,670 against $62,890.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants
48mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsLess AI time
  • 7h 12mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 48mAI mostly does it alone
  • 0mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$62,890
U.S. workers
393,000
Outlook to 2035
-0.3%
Openings a year
41,000
Typical preparation
Vocational school or associate's degree
See the full time card →
Lawyers
1h 36mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robots
  • 6h 24mDone by people
  • 22mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 1h 14mAI mostly does it alone
  • 0mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$159,670
U.S. workers
755,000
Outlook to 2035
+4.7%
Openings a year
29,000
Typical preparation
Graduate degree
See the full time card →

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents. 48m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system. 1h 48m
  • Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements. 1h 36m
  • 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. 1h

Lawyers

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations. 48m
  • Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses. 27m
  • Prepare legal briefs and opinions, and file appeals in state and federal courts of appeal. 21m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts. 1h 9m
  • 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. 32m
  • Represent clients in court or before government agencies. 32m

Swap in a different job Highlighted numbers are the higher of the two. Hours are estimates from each job's time card.