Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 5/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Judicial Law Clerks:
38.9%
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 are "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is already taking over a big chunk of the routine work — like pulling case records, tracking dockets, and summarizing transcripts — which means the role is genuinely changing. The good news is that courts are moving cautiously with AI adoption because the stakes are so high; real errors have already caused judges to withdraw rulings and even overturn cases, which shows why human judgment and careful review still matter enormously.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreThis role is somewhat resilient
Judicial law clerks are "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is already taking over a big chunk of the routine work — like pulling case records, tracking dockets, and summarizing transcripts — which means the role is genuinely changing. The good news is that courts are moving cautiously with AI adoption because the stakes are so high; real errors have already caused judges to withdraw rulings and even overturn cases, which shows why human judgment and careful review still matter enormously.
Read full analysisAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
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 38.9% AI Resilience Score, which means this role faces real pressure. The most automatable work, pulling precedents, tracking dockets, summarizing transcripts, is already shifting toward AI tools. Judges and their clerks are actively experimenting with platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and CoCounsel to draft motions and conduct legal research [1], and the National Judicial College is training appellate judges on exactly these use cases [2].
But courts move carefully, and for good reason. Federal judges have withdrawn rulings after AI errors, and a Georgia appellate court overturned a decision because the trial judge relied on fabricated caselaw [5]. That kind of accountability demands a human 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], which suggests clerkships will evolve rather than disappear.
The honest caveat is that employer demand for this role is low, so competition will stay tight. Still, the skills that define a great clerk, careful judgment, ethical reasoning, and the ability to advise a judge face to face, are exactly what AI cannot replicate. Build those, and you stay relevant.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Judicial Law Clerks
The recommended articles highlight the evolving role of AI in the judicial system, emphasizing its relevance for aspiring Judicial Law Clerks. For example, the Indian courts' encounter with AI hallucinations shows the importance of critical verification skills, while the Florida Supreme Court's panel discussion offers insights into the ethical implications of AI in court settings. Understanding these dynamics will prepare future clerks to navigate AI's challenges and leverage its benefits, fostering resilience in an increasingly technology-driven legal landscape.
Indian courts have an AI problem, and the Supreme Court is not amused
thefederal.com • 3/6/2026
When a trial court cited four judgments that AI hallucinated, SC called it misconduct, exposing a systemic failure of verification across...
Interim AI guidance for US courts aims for experimentation with guardrails
fedscoop.com • 10/24/2025
The leader of the federal judiciary's administrative arm said the guidance was distributed in July, and courts are simultaneously...
Reducing invisible burdens in court administration through automation
www.thomsonreuters.com • 10/2/2025
Many courts continue to rely on highly manual processes, yet emerging automation and AI tools present an opportunity to increase efficiency.
AI is helping judges to quickly close cases, and lawyers to quickly open them
restofworld.org • 9/25/2025
Brazil's judiciary is deploying AI to manage 70+ million lawsuits. Lawyers are also using AI, filing record cases and raising fairness...
Judicial panel explores AI’s promise and perils in the courtroom
www.floridabar.org • 7/22/2025
Florida Supreme Court Justice John Couriel opened a candid, wide-ranging conversation about the rise of artificial intelligence in the 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.
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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.
