(Senior) Research Scholar (General Track)

$100,000 – $154,000
Full-time
Remote
Apply

The Institute for Law & AI (LawAI) is looking for Research Scholars and Senior Research Scholars to join its team to conduct legal research and engage with policymakers. Both positions are one-year, visiting roles. For those interested in a long-term position, please see our (Senior) Research Fellow job description. 

The Research Scholar program is designed to support the career development of AI law & policy researchers and practitioners, while offering an opportunity to do high-impact work. The salary range is $100,000 – $121,000 for Research Scholars and $120,000 – $154,000 for Senior Research Scholars, depending on experience and location. There is flexibility in salary for exceptional candidates with significant experience, for example, candidates with more than a decade of experience working in relevant federal agencies, advising members of Congress on technology policy, conducting academic research on administrative law, or drafting model legislation.

If you’re looking for a place to explore a career in AI law & policy, collaborate with experts in the field, and build your skills under the mentorship of our researchers, please consider applying here. There is no deadline for this role, and we will be reviewing applications every two months.

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 role

As a Research Scholar, you will have the freedom to pursue a wide range of work (including both legal and policy research) in a wide range of formats (from white papers and academic articles to policy briefings and direct engagement with policymakers, clients, and private institutions). We expect to accept applicants with varying skill sets, levels of experience, and degrees of knowledge of AI law & policy. LawAI will adjust our support to match your situation–whether you’re an expert with a defined area of expertise or a new researcher looking for guidance.

We are open to mentoring Research Scholars on a broad range of topics. To get a sense of our focus areas, you can review this overview of our Workstreams and Research Directions. Our current focus areas include:

  • Institutions and procedures 
  • Law & compute
  • International regulatory institutions
  • Liability and insurance
  • AI agents and the rule of law

Our goal is to prepare Research Scholars to pursue impactful work in AI law & policy upon completing their one-year position and to accelerate their contribution to the field. With this in mind, we strive to help Research Scholars advance high-quality research while deepening their expertise and knowledge; connecting with collaborators, experts, mentors, decision-makers, and potential employers; and developing their professional profile, all within an institutional home that offers both flexibility and support.

About you

We strongly encourage you to apply if you have an interest in our work. Candidates will be expected to apply their expertise to AI law & policy but are not required to have previous experience researching AI-relevant questions.

You might be a good fit for this work if you:

  • Want to work on law and policy questions relevant to ensuring that advances in artificial intelligence are beneficial and safe for the public. You don’t need previous experience in AI or other subject-matter expertise, but you are motivated to identify and research questions relevant to ensuring that the development of artificial intelligence promotes security, welfare, and the rule of law for all people. You are considering beginning a career in this area or directing your existing expertise toward these questions.
  • Have a legal background. You might have worked at a law firm, in academia, in government, or in an organization that tries to inform governments, such as a think tank. We expect that the most promising candidates typically have a JD, another graduate degree in a relevant field of expertise, or equivalent qualifications from other jurisdictions, but this is not a hard requirement.
  • Have an area of expertise relevant to AI law & policy. This could include deep knowledge of administrative law, agency decision-making, international institutions, liability and insurance law, analogous regulatory regimes, legislative drafting, or a number of other topics relevant to AI law & policy.
  • Are self-directed and proactive.
  • Work well in teams. You collaborate well on longer projects as well as time-sensitive requests, and you are motivated to help others succeed. You both give and are receptive to constructive feedback.
  • Have excellent communication skills. You can articulate your views clearly and with strong reasoning transparency. You are able to convey complex legal concepts in an accessible and nuanced way.
  • Have excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.
  • Care about seeking truth. You want to accurately evaluate the evidence (even when it is inconvenient). You want to convey your level of (un)certainty in your conclusions and reason transparently so that people can identify flaws or shortcomings in your analysis. You make recommendations when you believe they are well-supported and hold back when they aren’t. You see research as an iterative process whereby critique and discussion are essential to achieving a better result. 
  • Can travel 2-3 times during the year for team retreats and conferences, typically in the United States.

All of the above said, there’s no such thing as a perfect candidate; we don’t expect a successful hire to excel in all of the dimensions here. If you are on the fence about applying because you are unsure whether you are qualified, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Other details

Compensation 

The salary range for this role is $100,000 – $121,000 for Research Scholars and $120,000 – $154,000 for Senior Research Scholars, depending on experience and location. For exceptional candidates whose experience exceeds our expectations in terms of relevance and seniority, we may consider higher compensation. Exceptional candidates might include those with more than a decade of experience working in relevant federal agencies, advising members of Congress on technology policy, conducting academic research on administrative law, or drafting model legislation.

Responsibilities and title will depend on experience. As a rough guide, candidates who have a relevant graduate degree and under five years of relevant professional experience should expect to come in as a Research Scholar; candidates with ten or more will more likely come in as a Senior Research Scholar. These determinations are made on a case-by-case basis and depend on the relevance of experience and the depth and rarity of expertise. You can indicate on your application form whether you would only like to be considered for one role title.

Start date

We are open to candidates starting at a time that suits them, but ideally no later than late fall.

Time zones and location 

This is a full-time position with flexible work hours and location. We are based primarily in the US, but have staff working from many different countries.

Part-time: We are not considering part-time candidates at this time.

Visas: We are unable to sponsor work visas for this role. Candidates must be eligible to work in their respective jurisdictions.

Benefits

Our benefits include:

  • A fully remote work environment and flexible working hours
  • Five weeks of PTO recommended per year, plus public holidays
  • Twelve weeks of paid parental leave that can be taken prior to birth or adoption and during the first year, with the option to take additional unpaid leave
  • Employer pension or matching 401(k) contribution up to 4% of your salary
  • Health insurance for employees residing in countries without nationalized healthcare
  • An annual stipend of $4000 per year for productivity and professional development support
  • An annual stipend of $4000 per year for mental health support
  • An annual stipend of $2500 per year for equipment and office supplies
  • A friendly, open work culture that encourages feedback and close collaboration, and a team that appreciates the contributions of all team members

Diversity and equal opportunity

We aim to employ people with many different 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.

Requests for accommodation

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability or incompatible assistive technology, please contact hiring@law-ai.org to request reasonable accommodations.

application process

If you think you might be a good fit for the role but are unsure whether you should apply, we strongly encourage you to do so.

01application form

Fill out the application form (1-2 hrs). There is no deadline, and we will be reviewing applications every two months.

02work test

Invitation to take a work test (~2hrs) designed to simulate the work you would do if hired and/or evaluate certain skills important for success in the role

03interviews

Remote interviews & optional reference checks

04employment offer

Apply