Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Machines can already do 53% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 71%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 53% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 29% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 71% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 392,880 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $62,890 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 70% for contact with people.
- Also called: Immigration Paralegal, Law Associate, Legal Analyst, Legal Assistant.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system | 23% | 63% to 81% | |
| Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements | 20% | 63% to 81% | |
| Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases | 13% | 50% to 72% | |
| Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases | 10% | 27% to 46% | |
| Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents | 10% | 74% to 82% | |
| Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits | 8% | 58% to 79% | |
| File pleadings with court clerks | 6% | 58% to 78% | |
| Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas | 5% | 9% to 23% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills paralegals and legal assistants use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Private Detectives and Investigators61% of tasks by 2035 · US median $51,220
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary59% of tasks by 2035 · US median $76,590
- Public Safety Telecommunicators63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $53,040
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers55% of tasks by 2035 · US median $55,940
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of paralegals and legal assistants?
Machines can do 53% of the tasks of paralegals and legal assistants today and 71% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 23-2011.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Paralegals and Legal Assistants: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/paralegals-and-legal-assistants/