Brevy

Will AI replace lawyers?

Lawyers have only "minimal exposure" to generative AI according to the International Labour Organization: the occupation ranks below the four exposure gradients of its index. A few tasks come close to the threshold; most stay well below it. The most exposed is preparing a case's strategy and arguments; the least exposed are pleading in court and prosecuting on behalf of the state.

ILO reference occupation · Lawyers

Minimally exposed

A few tasks can be assisted by AI; most of the job does not change.

ILO category: Minimal exposure

What AI changes in the job, task by task

Preparing a case's strategy and arguments is the only task above the threshold (a score of 0.57 out of 1). Drafting contracts, deeds or wills (0.46) and researching statutes and case law (0.40) stay below it. What happens face to face is even less exposed: negotiating settlements (0.34), pleading before courts (0.30), acting as prosecutor (0.25).

  • Evaluating findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases

    Exposed

  • Drawing up legal documents such as contracts, real estate transactions and wills and preparing statements of legal opinions

    Low

  • Researching legal principles, statutes and previous court decisions related to specific cases

    Low

  • Drafting legislation and preparing government regulations based on existing laws

    Low

  • Negotiating settlements in matters which involve legal disputes

    Low

  • Gathering evidence to formulate a defence or to initiate legal actions, by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case

    Low

  • Accepting briefs and pleading in the higher court

    Low

  • Giving clients legal advice on a wide variety of subjects and undertaking legal business on clients’ behalf

    Low

  • Pleading clients’ cases before courts of law, tribunals and administrative boards or instructing barristers to plead in higher courts of justice

    Low

  • Acting as prosecutor on behalf of the Government

    Low

Source: ILO, Generative AI and Jobs, Working Paper 140, 2025.

Neighbouring jobs

In law, exposure depends on the role. Legal associate professionals, such as paralegals, are the most exposed (gradient 1). Other legal professionals and policy administrators have minimal exposure, and judges are not exposed.

  • Legal and Related Associate Professionals

    Slightly exposed

  • Legal Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified

    Minimally exposed

  • Lawyers· this job

    Minimally exposed

  • Policy Administration Professionals

    Minimally exposed

  • Judges

    Barely affected

Try another job

Limits

The ILO index is global and describes the tasks of the international classification: "lawyer" falls under code 2611, other legal professionals under a neighbouring code (2619). Its 2025 scores were largely produced by AI models, then checked against a survey of workers and expert panels: they are estimates, not measurements. Opening counts only cover Brevy's catalogue.

Source: Gmyrek, P., Berg, J., Kamiński, K., Konopczyński, F., Ładna, A., Nafradi, B., Rosłaniec, K., Troszyński, M. Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure. ILO Working Paper 140. Geneva: International Labour Office, 2025. © ILO, CC BY 4.0. https://doi.org/10.54394/HETP0387

This page is an adaptation: categories are regrouped for the table. Notice required by the licence:

This is an adaptation of a copyrighted work of the International Labour Organization (ILO). This adaptation has not been prepared, reviewed or endorsed by the ILO and should not be considered an official ILO adaptation. The ILO disclaims all responsibility for its content and accuracy. Responsibility rests solely with the author(s) of the adaptation.

Search titles: ESCO, European Commission. Openings: Brevy catalogue.

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