Career Explorer Law
Changing shape
Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
Conduct hearings to recommend or make decisions on claims concerning government programs or other government-related matters. Determine liability, sanctions, or penalties, or recommend the acceptance or rejection of claims or settlements.
Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 8% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by 0.0% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on ethical judgement.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $117,860
- Job growth to 2035
- 0.0%
- Openings a year
- 500
- People doing it (2025)
- 17,400
- Usual route in
- Doctorate or professional degree, then short on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Advise others on legal or regulatory matters
- Consult legal materials or public records
- Research laws, precedents, or other legal data
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Make legal decisions
- Direct legal activities
- Record information about legal matters
What the work looks like
- Monitor and direct the activities of trials and hearings to ensure that they are conducted fairly and that courts administer justice while safeguarding the legal rights of all involved parties.
- Prepare written opinions and decisions.
- Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues, such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.
- Rule on exceptions, motions, and admissibility of evidence.
- Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Judges, magistrate judges, and magistratesChanging shape, Index 21, +2.8%
- Judicial law clerksChanging shape, Index 23, +2.8%
- Family medicine physiciansChanging shape, Index 49, +3.3%
- Genetic counselorsGrows with AI, Index 40, +10.4%
Also known as: Administrative Hearings Officer, Administrative Judge, Administrative Law Judge, Hearings Officer, Adjudications Specialist, Adjudicator, Appeals Examiner, Appeals Referee.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.