AI displaces entry-level workers as South Korean universities and law firms cut junior roles

AI is rapidly displacing entry-level workers, particularly in South Korea's legal and academic sectors. Law firms are hiring fewer junior lawyers because AI systems like Super Lawyer can handle document drafting, legal research, and precedent analysis more efficiently than new attorneys. A lawyer at a major firm noted that "except for the top 10% of associates, AI is more efficient." This shift has led to a severe shortage of junior positions, leaving law school graduates without the practical experience needed to advance. The impact is reflected in the broader economy, where South Korea lost 211,000 youth jobs between late 2022 and mid-2025, with youth unemployment reaching 26.4% in the first quarter of 2026. Universities are also reducing teaching assistant roles as AI grades assignments and answers student questions. Globally, the trend is accelerating, with U.S. companies announcing 1.17 million layoffs in 2025. For early-career professionals, the traditional path to partnership is narrowing, and the key to survival lies in developing skills that AI cannot easily replicate, such as client relationship management, strategic judgment, and negotiation.

(Source：Complete Ai Training)