Will AI replace Judicial Law Clerks?

Many of your tasks are within reach of AI. The role will change, so it pays to act now.

Task exposure to today's AI

52/100

High exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Judicial Law Clerks?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 52% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court. The parts that stay human include: Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.; Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.; Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable

Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court. 60%

Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations. 57%

Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.AI already used 57%

Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.AI already used 55%

Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders. 35%

Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information. 33%

+ 12 more tasks (19% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.
Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.

AI tools to try

Legal AI tools (e.g. Harvey, Legora)ChatGPT / Claude for document analysisContract review and comparison tools

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

AI for documents

Contract and document review with AI.
Confidentiality: what may go into which tool.
Always check citations and sources.

Project

Run AI over 10 publicly filed motions to extract issues, relief sought and cited authorities, verify every citation in the official reporter, and log the error rate.

Phase 2

Research and drafting

Legal research with AI, verified in official sources.
First drafts of memos, letters and templates.
Summaries of long case files.

Project

Draft an AI-assisted bench memo on one pending legal issue using only public filings, verify each authority in Westlaw or the official reporter, and compare drafting time to your usual.

Phase 3

Legal ops

Document automation and templates.
Knowledge management for your team or firm.
Pricing services when AI changes the hours.

Project

Build an AI-generated chambers template pack (order forms, opinion skeletons, citation style sheet) plus a searchable issue index, and measure turnaround gains on 5 opinions.

Take the free 11-question test