JOB REPORT / 23-1011 · 22 TASKS

Lawyers.

Can AI do the work of Lawyers?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

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Starting pointOur estimate

The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial…
Search for and examine public and other legal records…
Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending…

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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Lawyers work. It covers the 21 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

21 of 22 tasks reviewed

This job has 22 core tasks. We went through 21 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Lawyers actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
AI DOES
Searches case law, statutes, and regulations and pulls out relevant passages and summaries
YOU DO
Apply legal judgment to decide what the law means for your specific client and case strategy
TASK 02
Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership.
AI DOES
Searches databases, pulls relevant records, and summarizes key findings quickly
YOU DO
Apply legal judgment to conflicting records and sign off on the final opinion
TASK 03
Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
AI DOES
Searches case databases, flags similar rulings, and summarizes key facts and risks
YOU DO
Weigh the full picture — client trust, local court dynamics, and strategic risk — before deciding
TASK 04
Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.
AI DOES
Drafts standard clauses, flags missing terms, and suggests edits fast
YOU DO
Apply legal judgment, know the client's real needs, and own the outcome
TASK 05
Help develop federal and state programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, and establish enforcement procedures.
AI DOES
Drafts legislative language, summarizes existing laws, spots inconsistencies, and researches precedents fast
YOU DO
Apply legal judgment, navigate politics, and take responsibility for enforcement decisions
TASK 06
Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
AI DOES
Searches case law, spots patterns in evidence, drafts argument outlines, and flags weak points
YOU DO
Apply courtroom intuition, client knowledge, and ethical judgment to shape the final strategy
TASK 07
Probate wills and represent and advise executors and administrators of estates.
AI DOES
Drafts petitions, summarizes estate documents, and researches probate statutes
YOU DO
Guide clients through grief, argue in court, and apply local court rules
TASK 08
Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law.
AI DOES
Drafts emails, organizes files, summarizes documents, and flags deadlines
YOU DO
Make final calls on client strategy, billing disputes, and staff decisions
TASK 09
Negotiate contractual agreements.
AI DOES
Drafts contract language, flags risky clauses, summarizes positions, and suggests counteroffers based on similar deals
YOU DO
Read the room, build relationships, and decide what trade-offs are worth making
TASK 10
Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
AI DOES
Drafts summaries, organizes key facts, and suggests argument structures
YOU DO
Read the room and adapt your delivery live in the courtroom
TASK 11
Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
AI DOES
Organizes evidence, drafts arguments, finds relevant case law, and flags weaknesses in the case
YOU DO
Read the jury, adapt in real time, and build trust through human presence
TASK 12
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.
AI DOES
Summarizes interview notes, suggests follow-up questions, and spots inconsistencies in facts
YOU DO
Conduct the actual interviews and read people's emotions and credibility in real time
TASK 13
Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.
AI DOES
Researches similar cases, drafts demand letters, and summarizes settlement ranges
YOU DO
Read the room, build rapport, and make the final call on what to accept
TASK 14
Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings.
AI DOES
Surfaces relevant case law, statutes, and expert contacts to prep for specialist discussions
YOU DO
Build trusted colleague relationships and judge which specialist insight actually fits the case
TASK 15SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Prepare legal briefs and opinions, and file appeals in state and federal courts of appeal.
AI DOES
Drafts briefs, formats citations, and researches precedents
YOU DO
Craft the argument and own the strategy
About this analysis
55% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 16
Act as agent, trustee, guardian, or executor for businesses or individuals.
AI DOES
Drafts fiduciary documents, summarizes duties, flags deadlines, and checks compliance rules
YOU DO
Hold the legal authority and personal accountability that fiduciary roles require
TASK 17
Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
AI DOES
Helps research jury selection strategies, drafts motion arguments, and suggests cross-examination questions
YOU DO
Read the room, react to witnesses live, and build trust with the judge and jury in person
TASK 18
Supervise legal assistants.
AI DOES
Drafts feedback templates, tracks task progress, and flags missed deadlines
YOU DO
Build relationships, read people, and make judgment calls about performance
TASK 19SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
AI DOES
Finds relevant precedents and predicts likely outcomes
YOU DO
Judge which factors really drive the decision
About this analysis
27% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 20SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
AI DOES
Finds relevant statutes and case law quickly
YOU DO
Apply legal principles to specific situations
About this analysis
10% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 21SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
AI DOES
Researches case law and drafts legal analysis
YOU DO
Judge risks and guide client decisions
About this analysis
0% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

START LEARNING AI

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Use your judgment.

There are 21 short lessons for this job, about 15 minutes each. Each one starts from a task above and teaches the part that stays with you.

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AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Lawyers
SOC code: 23-1011
Tasks reviewed: 21 of 22

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $159,670 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $168,520 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 754,500
Employed in Colorado: 16,720
Job outlook: +4.1% by 2034 · ~31,500 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.

Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership.

Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.

Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.

Help develop federal and state programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, and establish enforcement procedures.

Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.

Probate wills and represent and advise executors and administrators of estates.

Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law.

Negotiate contractual agreements.

Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.

Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.

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.

Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.

Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings.

Prepare legal briefs and opinions, and file appeals in state and federal courts of appeal.

Act as agent, trustee, guardian, or executor for businesses or individuals.

Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.

Supervise legal assistants.

Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.

Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.

Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.