Summer Research Fellowship (Legal Frontiers)

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About LawAI About the Summer Research Fellowship (Legal Frontiers) Benefits Eligibility Application process

Overview

LawAI’s Summer Research Fellowship (Legal Frontiers) is a paid program that offers law students, professionals, and academics the opportunity to work at the leading edge of AI, law, and policy.

The Legal Frontiers team aims to grow new legal and policy paradigms to ensure that advances in artificial intelligence are beneficial and safe for everyone. Current research focuses primarily on 1) AI Agents and the Rule of Law and 2) International Regulatory Institutions. The team also recently published a list of future research directions and is eager to support researchers who can apply novel methodological or interdisciplinary approaches to the intersection of law and AI, such as originalism, empirical legal studies, law and economics, legal history, and comparative legal studies.

The Summer Research Fellowship supports intellectual and professional development, combining tailored research mentorship with career planning and opportunities to apply legal thinking to current governance questions with policymakers, researchers, and other leaders in the field. Previous Summer Research Fellows have gone on to pursue law and policy roles at the US Department of Commerce, EU AI Office, UK AI Safety Institute, leading AI labs, academia, and think tanks, including LawAI itself.

Applications close on January 30, 2026.

We look forward to reviewing your application.

About LawAI

The Institute for Law & AI (LawAI) is an independent think tank that researches and advises on the legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence. We believe that sound legal analysis will promote security, welfare, and the rule of law. We conduct research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, law, and policy and advise governments, international organizations, public institutions, and private actors. You can review LawAI’s recent publications on our website and learn more about our focus areas in this overview of our Workstreams and Research Directions.

About the Summer Research Fellowship (Legal Frontiers)

As a Summer Research Fellow, you will work with your mentor to develop and execute on a research project tailored to your experience, skills, and interests. Some Summer Research Fellows may focus on a more extended, singular project, such as drafting a report or authoring a law review article, while others might contribute to a range of initiatives, such as conducting legal research that supports various research and advisory projects led by LawAI staff.  Summer Research Fellows may also have opportunities to help advise policymakers, government, and private sector organizations.

As a general matter, Summer Research Fellows will have considerable discretion over the form of outputs they pursue (e.g., choosing between publishing a law review article vs a policy brief). Topic selection will be determined in conjunction with your mentor. Projects should generally align with LawAI’s mission to ensure that major advances in AI are beneficial and safe for the public. It may also help to review LawAI’s current Legal Frontiers Workstream and Research Direction (and the accompanying Appendix), which will give you a sense of the subject matter appropriate for Summer Research Fellows.

We welcome suggestions for other topics that have a clear connection to our research priorities.

Summer Research Fellowship (Legal Frontiers) start and end dates:

  • The Summer Research Fellowship is remote-first, lasting 10-weeks from June 15 to August 21, and includes admission to the Workshop on Law-Following AI, tentatively scheduled in June in Cambridge, UK.
  • Summer Research Fellows may also join in-person weeks hosted by the US Law and Policy and EU Law programs, tentatively scheduled for June (Washington, D.C., or Berkeley, CA) and July (Cambridge, UK).

We expect Summer Research Fellows to work full-time, participate in regular team meetings, give occasional presentations on their research, and provide feedback on other research work within their cohort and the broader LawAI team.

In exceptional circumstances, we may consider adjustments to the fellowship start or end dates; however, our strong preference is for full participation. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To be considered, please note this on your application.

Benefits

  • Summer Research Fellows will receive weekly compensation based on their work location, comparable to our other tracks ($1,500 per week for Summer Research Fellows based in the US, €1,000 per week for Summer Research Fellows based in the EU, and the equivalent for Summer Research Fellows based in the UK). Candidates with exceptional experience or qualifications may be eligible for higher compensation.
    • We encourage Summer Research Fellows to work in person with LawAI staff at our Cambridge, UK office, with an additional €1,000 per week available for living costs. If you receive an offer, we will make every reasonable effort to support visa sponsorship. However, our ability to do so depends on the the candidate and their location, and the relevant authorities ultimately determine eligibility. Participation is contingent on holding valid work authorization for the location in which you will be based.
    • Admission to the Workshop on Law-Following AI, tentatively schedule in June in Cambridge, UK, with eligible travel expenses covered, including flights, accommodation, and meals.
    • Close mentorship from our research staff and affiliates.
    • Q&A sessions with leading experts in the field.
    • Law and policy networking opportunities & career planning resources.
    • Opportunities to explore future collaborations, such as follow-on funding through grants, invitations to upcoming events, and potential projects or job openings with LawAI.

    Eligibility

    • Most successful applicants will have a legal background. However, we are open to exceptional candidates from related fields such as computer science, public policy, economics, history, or psychology. Candidates from non-legal fields should be able to clearly articulate how their research can positively shape the development of law and public policy for advanced AI.
    • Most successful applicants will have a deep demonstrated understanding of the law and public policy of at least one of the jurisdictions most relevant to the Institute: the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. We will consider applicants without expertise in one of these jurisdictions only in exceptional cases.
    • While candidates should have an interest in AI law and policy and be prepared to apply their research abilities and legal knowledge to questions in our field, prior experience or expertise in AI-specific research is not required.
    • Past Summer Research Fellows have included:
      • Graduate law students (e.g., LLM or JD), PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers
      • Undergraduate law students in their final year of studies (e.g., LLB, First State Examination, and similar degrees)
      • Professionals at various career stages looking to transition into AI-focused roles in research, academia, government, or industry
      • Legal academics
      • See our Summer Research Fellows for more examples.
    • Ability to commit to full-time, remote-based work from June 15 to August 21.  In exceptional circumstances, we may consider adjustments to the fellowship start or end dates; however, our strong preference is for full participation, and requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
    • If you receive an offer, we will make every reasonable effort to support visa sponsorship. However, our ability to do so depends on the candidate and their location, and the relevant authorities ultimately determine eligibility. Participation is contingent on holding valid work authorization for the location in which you will be based.

    Application process

    Step 1: Submit your application form by 11:59 pm ET on January 30, 2026 (the application should take approximately 20 minutes to complete). We will not be able to assess late applications.

    Step 2: Asynchronous exploratory interview (30 minutes)

    • This interview aims to help us gain a deeper understanding of your perspective on AI development and its implications for society, law, and policy.

    Step 3: Research interview (60 minutes)

    • You will speak with a member of our research staff to discuss your research interests, goals, and fit for our program. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask us questions.

    Step 4: Decision

    • We aim to provide all applicants with a final decision by mid-March. If you need a decision by a particular date, please note this on your application form.

    Diversity and equal opportunity: We strive to employ people with many experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who share our mission. We are committed to creating an environment where all employees have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race, religion, disability, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation.

    If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, or if you have any questions about the application process, please contact programs@law-ai.org.