Legal is the best paid category on our entire board, ahead of software and ahead of machine learning research. If you hold a bar admission, you are at the top of this market rather than adjacent to it.
What the listings actually pay
Across 71 live listings in this category that publish a rate, the median top-of-range is $150 an hour, reaching $400 at the top. The one thing to handle before you start is your firm's outside-activity policy. There is no client and no representation involved, so conflicts rules generally do not attach, but most firms still require written disclosure of paid outside work.
| # | Role | Advertised rate | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BigLaw lawyers | $140 to $400 an hour | micro1 |
| 2 | Intellectual Property Counsel | $100 to $200 an hour | micro1 |
| 3 | Lawyer | $80 to $180 an hour | micro1 |
| 4 | Pro Bono Counsel (Access to Justice Expert) | $170 to $170 an hour | Mercor |
| 5 | Corporate/M&A Lawyer (France) | $150 to $160 an hour | Mercor |
| 6 | Public Interest Attorney (Civil Justice Expert) | $150 to $150 an hour | Mercor |
| 7 | In-House Counsel (Germany) | $140 to $150 an hour | Mercor |
| 8 | Litigation Attorney (Commercial Real Estate) | $100 to $150 an hour | micro1 |
| 9 | Bankruptcy Attorney | $90 to $150 an hour | micro1 |
| 10 | Lawyer Talent Network | $60 to $150 an hour | Mercor |
Source: 71 live listings on this board that publish a rate, read directly from each posting on 2026-09-05. Listings without a published rate are excluded rather than estimated.
What moves your rate
Every listing below links to the full role with its own requirements and application link. Rates shown are what the listing itself advertises, and listings without a published rate are left out rather than estimated.
How to apply
Every role above links to its own page with the full requirements and a direct application link. Applications are completed on the hiring platform and typically take a few minutes, with a short skills assessment in place of an interview.
Two things are worth doing before you apply. Check whether the role accepts applicants from your country using the eligibility checker, and run the advertised rate through the take-home calculator, because this is contract work and the headline rate is before self-employment tax.
Frequently asked questions
What do AI jobs for lawyers pay?
Across 71 live listings in this category with published rates, the median top-of-range is $150 an hour and the highest currently reaches $400.
Does this count as practicing law?
No. There is no client, no representation, and no legal advice being given to anyone. You are evaluating whether a model's legal reasoning holds up, which is why it generally sits outside practice rules.
Do I need an active bar admission?
For the better paid listings usually yes. Some accept JD holders who are not currently admitted, and paralegal listings exist at lower rates.
Is this contract or employment?
Nearly all of it is contract work, paid hourly for approved hours. That means no benefits and you handle your own taxes, which our take-home calculator accounts for.
Can I do this alongside a full-time job?
Yes, and most people do. The work is asynchronous with no set shifts, so it fits into evenings and weekends without a scheduling conflict.
See every live role
The full board updates several times a week, with the advertised rate on each listing and closed roles removed.