Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Also called: paralegal, legal, assistant, immigration paralegal, law associate
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Prepare, edit, or review legal documents
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing paralegals and legal assistants work
2 of 6 main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 33% when main tasks are weighted. This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Prepare, edit, or review legal documents (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Gather and analyze research data (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Prepare affidavits or other documents (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases (main task) — no recorded AI use
- File pleadings with court clerks — no recorded AI use
- Direct and coordinate law office activity — no recorded AI use
- Call upon witnesses to testify at hearings — no recorded AI use
- Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process — no recorded AI use
- Appraise and inventory real and personal property for estate planning — no recorded AI use
- Keep and monitor legal volumes to make sure that the law library is up-to-date — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Prepare, edit, or review legal documents”. Try the prompt for: “Gather and analyze research data”.
- Weeks 3–4: Make it a habit. Use AI 3 times a week for 15 minutes. Always check facts, numbers and names yourself.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and paralegals and legal assistants
Will AI replace paralegals and legal assistants?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 2 of the 6 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 10 of the 12 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which paralegal tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: prepare, edit, or review legal documents; gather and analyze research data.
Which paralegal tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: prepare affidavits or other documents; investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources; prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 15% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a paralegal start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.