How over is it?

A mood ring wired to real instruments

AI exposure Legal

Will AI replace judicial law clerks?

Judicial Law Clerks. US occupation 23-1012.

17.0%

of the time judicial law clerks spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of judicial law clerks' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 136 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 82% of them.Further along than 82% of them.

Average US job 7.7%

Well above the typical job.Ahead of most of the workforce.

What AI already does for judicial law clerksWhat judicial law clerks no longer do alone

O*NET lists 18 tasks for judicial law clerks. AI use at work shows up in 2 of them. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.

  1. Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.Core task automated and assisted 0.82
  2. Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.Core task automated and assisted 0.78

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

16 of the 18 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.Core task
  • Communicate with counsel regarding case management or procedural requirements.Core task
  • Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.Core task
  • Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.Core task
  • Keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.Core task
  • Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.Core task
Show the other 10
  • Respond to questions from judicial officers or court staff on general legal issues.Core task
  • Review dockets of pending litigation to ensure adequate progress.Core task
  • Coordinate judges' meeting and appointment schedules.
  • Enter information into computerized court calendar, filing, or case management systems.
  • Maintain judges' law libraries by assembling or updating appropriate documents.
  • Participate in conferences or discussions between trial attorneys and judges.
  • Perform courtroom duties, including calling calendars, administering oaths, and swearing in jury panels and witnesses.
  • Prepare periodic reports on court proceedings, as required.
  • Supervise law students, volunteers, or other personnel assigned to the court.
  • Verify that all files, complaints, or other papers are available and in the proper order.

How that compares

Among the 7 legal occupations, judicial law clerks rank 5. The group averages 21.6%, and its most exposed job is Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates at 31.1%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Just above in the ranking

  1. 133Brokerage Clerks 17.4%
  2. 134Advertising and Promotions Managers 17.3%
  3. 134Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks 17.3%

Just below

  1. 137Credit Analysts 16.9%
  2. 138Lawyers 16.7%
  3. 139Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film 16.5%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.