Judicial law clerks
SOC Code: 23-1012
Judicial law clerks carries a 54% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $60,400 and +2.5% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 14,500 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 54% AI exposure, Judicial law clerks sits 17 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 91% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Judicial law clerks sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Judicial law clerks has ai exposure of 54%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Judicial law clerks vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Judicial law clerks is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Judicial law clerks (SOC 23-1012) carries an AI exposure score of 54%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 14,500 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +2.5% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $60,400, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Doctoral or professional degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Judicial law clerks. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Prepare briefs, legal memoranda, or statements of issues involved in cases, including appropriate suggestions or recommendations.
- 2. Research laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court.
- 3. Draft or proofread judicial opinions, decisions, or citations.
- 4. Confer with judges concerning legal questions, construction of documents, or granting of orders.
- 5. Review complaints, petitions, motions, or pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved or basis for relief.
- 6. Keep abreast of changes in the law and inform judges when cases are affected by such changes.
- 7. Attend court sessions to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.
- 8. Enter information into computerized court calendar, filing, or case management systems.
- 9. Verify that all files, complaints, or other papers are available and in the proper order.
- 10. Review dockets of pending litigation to ensure adequate progress.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
- Learning Strategies
Knowledge Areas
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- Communications and Media
- Customer and Personal Service
- History and Archeology
- Economics and Accounting
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Judicial law clerks?
Judicial law clerks has an AI exposure score of 54%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Judicial law clerks?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Judicial law clerks is projected to grow by 2.5% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 14,500 workers.
What skills are needed for Judicial law clerks?
Key skills for Judicial law clerks include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Doctoral or professional degree.
How much do Judicial law clerks earn?
The median annual wage for Judicial law clerks is $60,400, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Judicial law clerks?
The typical entry-level education for Judicial law clerks is Doctoral or professional degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Judicial law clerks?
Judicial law clerks roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).