Jobs in law firms have an average Still needs a human score of 68.9 out of 100 (higher is safer), 5.1 points below the average for all jobs of 74.0 and 28th of 37 among the sectors (1st is least exposed). The largest job here is lawyers (447,000 workers, 72/100 ↑ safer), and of the jobs more common here than across the economy, receptionists and information clerks is the most exposed (60/100 ↑ safer).
68.9/100↑ safer
2.1%
41.0%
+1.4%
How the work here could shift
The share of workers in this sector whose job would sit in each band, from today to 2060.
Today
1%
of workers in this sector are in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
0% are in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2045
0%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
91% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2060
0%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
100% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
Each job's score moves towards the bottom band (Largely: AI could largely do the job) by the year it could be largely automated, slowly at first and faster later, as adoption usually goes. Each job is run as ten scenarios across its replacement range, so every figure mixes early and late outcomes. The model stops at 2060. How the timeline works
Will AI replace the job?Largely.Mostly.Partly.A little.Nah.
Show the data
| Year | Largely | Mostly | Partly | A little | Nah |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today (2026) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.1% | 97.3% | 0.6% |
| 2030 | 0.0% | 0.8% | 55.5% | 43.5% | 0.2% |
| 2035 | 23.5% | 40.1% | 35.9% | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| 2040 | 62.7% | 36.1% | 1.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2045 | 90.9% | 8.9% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2050 | 99.5% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2055 | 99.9% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2060 | 99.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
The largest jobs in law firms
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lawyers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2049 | 446,700 |
| 2 | Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 71↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2050 | 303,900 |
| 3 | Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 66↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2050 | 125,600 |
| 4 | Office Clerks, General | 65↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2053 | 30,600 |
| 5 | Receptionists and Information Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 24,900 |
| 6 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 23,400 |
| 7 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 20,900 |
| 8 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 67↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 20,300 |
| 9 | Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | 65↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2047 | 19,200 |
| 10 | General and Operations Managers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2051 | 18,900 |
Common jobs here that AI can do most of
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer Service Representatives | 51↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2041 | 7,100 |
| 2 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 54↑ saferAI replace? Partly.workers of 2 related jobs | D | 2034–2042 | 8,100 |
| 3 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 54↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2042 | 2,100 |
| 4 | Receptionists and Information Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 24,900 |
| 5 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 20,900 |
| 6 | Bill and Account Collectors | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2045 | 2,600 |
| 7 | Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2045 | 1,800 |
| 8 | Human Resources Specialists | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2045 | 7,000 |
| 9 | Loan Interviewers and Clerks | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 5,200 |
| 10 | Public Relations Specialists | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2045 | 2,000 |
Common jobs here that most need a human
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 1,300 |
| 2 | Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | 82↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2037–2060+ | 1,300 |
| 3 | Couriers and Messengers | 81↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2036–2060+ | 3,400 |
| 4 | General and Operations Managers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2051 | 18,900 |
| 5 | Administrative Services Managers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2051 | 4,600 |
| 6 | Lawyers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2049 | 446,700 |
| 7 | Human Resources Managers | 71↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2050 | 2,400 |
| 8 | File Clerks | 71↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2059 | 8,300 |
| 9 | Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 71↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2050 | 303,900 |
| 10 | Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | 70↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2049 | 3,400 |
Related sectors: Professional, scientific, and technical services, Accounting, tax, and payroll firms
How this is worked out
- The average weights every job's Still needs a human score by how many people do it in this sector, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' industry employment data. Jobs cover 98.4% of the sector's employment.
- Job scores are national: an accountant in retail scores the same as an accountant anywhere. The sector figure reflects its mix of jobs, not how its employers use AI; the Census figure shows that.