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Profession JRI–79 / Legal

Will AI replace lawyers?

Lawyers represent clients in legal proceedings, draft documents, and advise on rights and obligations. Core tasks include preparing contracts, negotiating agreements, interpreting laws, and analyzing case precedents.

The risk spectrum — where Lawyer sits
Lawyer vs the 83 other jobs
Risk rank79 / 84
Automation timeline5-10 years
Median salary$159,670
Projected growth+4.1% (2024–34)
01 / Your plan

The skills that keep you relevant.

Picked to match what this role actually asks for — refreshed weekly, never by what a platform pays.

What you'll learn
Legal ResearchExcelCustomer Service
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Updated Sep 21, 2026

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02 / Job market

Official outlook: still growing.

Within the 84 professions
Salary$159,670
$31k$171k
Growth+4.1% (2024–34)
-25.9%33.5%

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a +4.1% change in employment for this occupation between 2024 and 2034, from a current base of 754,500 people employed earning a median of $159,670 a year.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 & OEWS May 2025.

AI adoption in postings →

JRI demand index / weekly, base 100160
Jul 13Sep 7

Collected weekly through our own intake pipeline across live job postings; normalised index, not absolute counts.

03 / Real salaries

Lawyer salaries by city

Median pay from real records (H-1B filings and tech job postings), across the cities with most observations.

New York$230,000San Francisco$225,000Washington$235,000Los Angeles$225,000Chicago$175,511Houston$225,000

Range shows p25–p75; the dot is the median. Sources carry a documented bias — see the full salary page.

See real salaries →

04 / How to enter

How to become a lawyer.

Typical preparation

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Education

Most of these occupations require graduate school.

Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

Job training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Getting in is one thing — the day-to-day runs on a specific set of tools and skills:

Foundations
Core skills
Tools

Full skill path with courses →

06 / FAQ

What people ask.

01Will AI replace lawyers?
Evidence assigns Lawyers a medium risk level with a score of 31. The automation window spans 5-10 years. Critical Thinking and Negotiation are both marked high demand, suggesting these human skills will remain important.
02How soon could AI affect Lawyers?
A transition window of 5-10 years is given for automation impact. The medium risk indicator sits at 31, while total employment counts 754500 lawyers. That pace suggests gradual change rather than sudden replacement.
03What skills keep Lawyers relevant?
Critical Thinking and Negotiation are listed as high-demand skills, while Data Mining Software carries medium demand. Speaking, Active Listening, and Critical Thinking rate as high entry requirements, so honing these areas preserves relevance.
04How does someone become a Lawyer?
This occupation generally requires graduate school. Speaking, Active Listening, and Critical Thinking are rated high for entry, and the current workforce totals 754500. Growth for 2024–34 is projected at +4.1%.
05Is becoming a Lawyer a good start in 2026?
A 2026 entrant into Law would join 754500 practicing individuals. The salary midpoint is 159670, and the growth projection for 2024–34 is +4.1%. Automation effects are expected to materialize within 5-10 years.
06What software tools do Lawyers use?
Lawyers frequently use Microsoft Access, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Dynamics, Google Analytics, and Microsoft Excel. Data Mining Software appears as a medium-demand skill in this field.