Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 6/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Judicial Law Clerks:
40.9%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Low
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forJudicial Law Clerks
$60,400 median salary•1,000 annual openings•SOC Code: 23-1012.00
Judicial Law Clerks are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Judicial law clerks land in the "Somewhat Resilient" category because AI is already handling a big chunk of their routine work, like pulling case precedents, summarizing transcripts, and tracking dockets, which means the role is genuinely changing. The good news is that courts are moving carefully, and the most important parts of the job (exercising careful legal judgment, catching AI errors, and advising judges on complex ethical questions) still require a sharp human mind.
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Judicial law clerks land in the "Somewhat Resilient" category because AI is already handling a big chunk of their routine work, like pulling case precedents, summarizing transcripts, and tracking dockets, which means the role is genuinely changing. The good news is that courts are moving carefully, and the most important parts of the job (exercising careful legal judgment, catching AI errors, and advising judges on complex ethical questions) still require a sharp human mind.
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Judicial Law Clerks
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Judicial Law Clerks jobs?
Right now, AI in courts is mostly augmenting law clerks rather than replacing them — and judges are pretty open about it. Louisiana appellate Judge Scott Schlegel says he and other judges use AI for legal research, to search extensive case records, and to summarize testimony, and he cautions colleagues to "treat AI like a first-year law clerk and double-check everything". U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison Goddard and her law clerks have experimented with ChatGPT, Claude, vLex's Vincent, and Thomson Reuters' CoCounsel [1] to draft motions, build timelines, and summarize transcripts.
The National Judicial College is even training appellate judges on exactly this, with live demonstrations of how AI tools may be used for initial case assessment, legal research, brief writing and opinion drafting [2]. So the most automatable tasks — checking files, pulling precedents, tracking dockets — are increasingly handled with AI, while clerks focus on judgment-heavy work.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Judicial Law Clerks?
Adoption is moving fast in the broader legal world. A Litify 2025 report found AI use among legal professionals reached 78%, with case and legal research being the #1 use [3]. But courts move more cautiously.
A Brookings TechTank discussion on AI in legal practice [4] highlights ethics and accuracy concerns, and the stakes are higher for judges — as the ABA notes, federal judges in Mississippi and New Jersey withdrew rulings after AI-related errors, and a Georgia appellate court overturned a divorce decree because the trial judge's order relied on fake caselaw [1] [5]. A National Law Review survey of 85 legal experts found 58.3% reject the idea that AI will replace entry-level lawyers within five years [6], suggesting clerkships will evolve, not vanish. The hopeful takeaway: if you're considering this path, your human strengths — careful judgment, ethical reasoning, and face-to-face communication with judges and attorneys — are exactly what AI can't replicate, and they'll matter more, not less.
Sources
Will AI replace Judicial Law Clerks?
Not entirely. We think AI will take over some tasks, but not the whole job.
Judicial law clerks earn a 40.9% AI Resilience Score from us, which means this role faces real change. The most routine work, pulling precedents, checking dockets, summarizing transcripts, is already shifting toward AI tools. Judges and clerks are actively experimenting with platforms like ChatGPT and CoCounsel to draft motions and build timelines [1], and the National Judicial College is training appellate judges on using AI for research and opinion drafting [2].
But courts move cautiously for good reason. Federal judges have withdrawn rulings and a Georgia appellate court overturned a divorce decree after AI-generated errors slipped through (abajournal.com, americanbar.org). That kind of accountability keeps humans firmly in the loop. A survey of 85 legal experts found 58.3% reject the idea that AI will replace entry-level lawyers within five years [6], and clerkships sit in that same protected space.
The honest picture is that demand for this role is not strong through 2034, so competition will stay tight. Still, the skills that make a great law clerk, careful judgment, ethical reasoning, and direct communication with judges, are exactly what AI cannot replicate. If you build those strengths, you will find a place in this field.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Judicial Law Clerks
These articles highlight the evolving role of AI in the judicial system, emphasizing the need for Judicial Law Clerks to adapt and innovate. For instance, California courts are piloting AI tools that draft legal orders, suggesting that clerks will need to work alongside technology to enhance efficiency. Additionally, the Supreme Court of India’s response to AI-generated fake orders underscores the importance of ethical standards and accountability. Embracing AI resilience will be key for future clerks, enabling them to leverage technology while maintaining the integrity of the legal process.
California judges are testing a new AI clerk, and you won’t know if it’s looking at your case
calmatters.org • 5/30/2026
Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters...
2 California courts testing new AI clerk
www.newsnationnow.com • 5/30/2026
Two California courts are testing an artificial intelligence tool that can draft orders for legal proceedings, according to multiple...
Don’t ban AI use in courts, but insist on accountability
www.thehansindia.com • 5/20/2026
The legal system and lawyers are baffled by the dangerous incident involving Artificial Intelligence (AI) and justice.
India's top court angry after junior judge cites fake AI-generated orders
www.bbc.com • 3/3/2026
India's Supreme Court has threatened legal consequences after a judge was found to have adjudicated on a property dispute using fake...
How Judges Are Using AI to Help Decide Your Legal Dispute
www.wsj.com • 1/6/2026
Federal judge Xavier Rodriguez uses artificial intelligence to help manage a daunting case backlog in his San Antonio courtroom,...
More Career Info
Career: Judicial Law Clerks
They assist judges by researching legal issues, preparing briefs, and helping with courtroom procedures to ensure the court runs smoothly and fairly.
Parent Careers
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$60,400
Jobs (2024)
14,500
Growth (2024-34)
+2.5%
Annual Openings
1,000
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.
2
Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.
3
Perform courtroom duties, including calling calendars, administering oaths, and swearing in jury panels and witnesses.
4
Participate in conferences or discussions between trial attorneys and judges.
5
Respond to questions from judicial officers or court staff on general legal issues.
6
Supervise law students, volunteers, or other personnel assigned to the court.
7
Communicate with counsel regarding case management or procedural requirements.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
