Early-career lawyers lean on AI every day, new NALP study finds
Nearly half of early-career lawyers consider artificial intelligence to be an “essential” part of their daily work.
In a survey released Tuesday by the National Association for Law Placement and the NALP Foundation for Law Career Research and Education, 48% of responding 2022 graduates of ABA-accredited law schools said AI was an important part of their work. On the other hand, 30% said they seldom use AI tools, while 22% said they don’t use them at all.
Conducting legal research was the biggest driver for those who used AI, with 57% citing that as their main reason for doing so. Meanwhile, 55% stated that their main reason for using AI was to compile and synthesize information.
The study also found that 96% of the surveyed new lawyers didn’t use AI tools in law school. ChatGPT became commercially available a few months after they graduated.
This is the first time that the annual Law School Alumni Employment and Satisfaction study that examines recent U.S. graduates’ employment status, compensation and mobility included questions about AI use. This year’s study is based on data collected from 1,302 2022 alumni from 26 U.S. law schools between November 2025 and January 2026, according to a July 7 press release.
The survey also found that these lawyers are highly mobile, with 63% already having two or more jobs since they graduated.
“As the legal profession continues to examine accreditation and licensure, these findings underscore the importance of maintaining a national accreditation system that supports reciprocity and enables lawyers to pursue opportunities wherever their careers take them,” said Nikia L. Gray, the executive director of the NALP, in the press release.
Law school accreditation is a hot topic after several states have distanced themselves from the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, the only national accreditor. Many sources say if states ultimately use different accreditors, portability of law degrees could be hampered.
Debt load is down but remains substantial, the study found. The class of 2022 graduated with $81,876 in debt, down from the class of 2021’s debt of $88,669, according to the study. Grads said their debt impacts their job choices, life decisions, and their mental health and well-being.
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