Lawyer
Role lens
Lawyers provide legal advice to clients and act on their behalf in legal proceedings and in compliance with the law. They research for, interpret and study cases to represent their clients in a variety of settings such as courts and administrative boards. They create arguments on behalf of their clients for lawsuits in different contexts with the aim of finding a legal remedy.
Lawyers are essential professionals who provide legal advice and representation. Your days might involve researching case law, drafting legal documents, negotiating settlements, and presenting arguments in court or before administrative boards. The work requires meticulous attention to detail, strong communication skills, and a commitment to upholding the law. You'll be interpreting statutes and regulations to advise clients on their rights and obligations, and working to find legal solutions to their problems.
- • Researching legal precedents and statutes to build strong cases.
- • Advising clients on their legal rights and options.
- • Drafting legal documents such as contracts, wills, and pleadings.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Legal, social and cultural professionals — 186 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway.
Longest-running shortage: Luxembourg, 4 years.
Where it is regulated, your qualification would need formal recognition before you could practise.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person's chances. It describes a market.
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Could lawyer fit you?
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Future Outlook for lawyer
The outlook for lawyer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could lawyer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- respond to enquiries
- observe confidentiality
- negotiate in legal cases
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- analyse legal evidence
- present legal arguments
- represent clients in courts
Tasks most exposed to automation
- compile legal documents
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Public Service & Safety
A typical day as a lawyer
09 09:00 · Morning analyse legal evidence
10 10:30 · Mid-morning compile legal documents
12 12:00 · Midday interpret law
14 14:00 · Afternoon negotiate in legal cases
15 15:30 · Late afternoon negotiate lawyer's fee
17 17:00 · Wrap-up observe confidentiality
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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protect client interests
Protect the interests and needs of a client by taking necessary actions, and researching all possibilities, to ensure that the client obtains their favoured outcome.
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present arguments persuasively
Present arguments during a negotiation or debate, or in written form, in a persuasive manner in order to obtain the most support for the case the speaker or writer represents.
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present legal arguments
Present legal arguments during a court hearing or during negotiations, or in written form after a trial concerning its outcome and sentence, in order to ensure the best possible outcomes for the client or to ensure the decision is followed. Present these arguments in a manner that is compliant with regulations and guidelines and adapted to the specifications of the case.
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represent clients in courts
Assume the position of representation in behalf of clients in courtrooms. Present arguments and evidence in favour of the client in order to win the case.
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compile legal documents
Compile and collect legal documents from a specific case in order to aid an investigation or for a court hearing, in a manner compliant with legal regulations and ensuring records are properly maintained.
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negotiate in legal cases
Negotiate on the client's behalf during the treatment of a legal case in order to obtain the most beneficial outcome for the client, and to ensure that all decisions are compliant with legal regulations.
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analyse legal evidence
Analyse evidence, such as evidence in criminal cases, legal documentation regarding a case, or other documentation that can be regarded as evidence, in order to obtain a clear image of the case and reach resolutions.
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interpret law
Interpret the law during the investigation of a case in order to know the correct procedures in handling the case, the specific status of the case and the parties involved, the possible outcomes, and how to present the best arguments for the most favourable outcome.
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respond to enquiries
Respond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public.
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observe confidentiality
Observe the set of rules establishing the nondisclosure of information except to another authorised person.
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negotiate lawyer's fee
Negotiate compensation for legal services in or out of court, such as hourly or flat-rate fees, with clients.
private law
The subfield of law that studies the legal framework that regulates the relationships between individuals as well as between individuals and the government in a country. It includes property law and trust, family law, contract law and the law of tort. In some legal systems, it is referred as common law.
air transport law
The rules and regulations governing air transport, including international law.
anti-dumping law
The policies and regulations that govern the activity of charging a lower price for goods in a foreign market than one charges for the same goods in a domestic market.
architecture regulations
The regulations, statutes, and legal agreements existing in the European Union in the field of architecture.
commercial law
The legal regulations that govern a specific commercial activity.
customs law
The legal regulations that govern the import of goods in a country.
food legislation
Legislation related to the food and feed industry including food manufacturing, hygiene, safety, raw materials, additives, GMOs, labelling, environmental and trade regulations.
ICT security legislation
The set of legislative rules that safeguards information technology, ICT networks and computer systems and legal consequences which result from their misuse. Regulated measures include firewalls, intrusion detection, anti-virus software and encryption.
legal department processes
The different processes, duties, jargon, role in an organisation, and other specificities of the legal department within an organisation such as patents, legal cases, and legal compliance.
maritime law
The collection of domestic and international laws and treaties that govern behaviour on the sea.
- court procedures
- legal case management
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What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
Regulated in 31 countries on record. Minimum EQF 6–7, depending on the country.
Reflects the EU regulated-professions database. Not legal advice — confirm requirements with the relevant national authority before relying on this for a career or immigration decision.
Real programmes leading to this occupation, by country.
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does lawyer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of education and training is required to become a lawyer?
- Typically, becoming a lawyer requires completing a bachelor's degree followed by a law degree (such as an LL.B. or J.D.). After law school, you’ll need to pass a bar examination and meet other licensing requirements in the jurisdiction where you intend to practice.
- What are the most important skills for a lawyer to possess?
- Strong analytical skills, excellent written and verbal communication, critical thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to negotiate effectively are all crucial. The ability to remain calm and persuasive under pressure is also highly valued.
- Is it common to work as a lawyer in private practice, or is it mostly an employment-based role?
- While many lawyers find employment with firms, government agencies, or corporations, establishing a private practice is also a common career path. Most lawyers begin their careers in employment roles, but transitioning to private practice is a frequent choice after gaining experience.
- How much does Lawyer pay in the United States?
- $151,160 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $91,690 to $207,860. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.
- Is Lawyer a regulated profession?
- It is listed as a regulated profession in 31 European countries: Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Estonia and 27 more. The lowest qualification level required among them is EQF 6. Where a profession is regulated, a qualification earned elsewhere has to be formally recognised before you can practise. Source: EU Regulated Professions Database.
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated September 20, 2026 About our data