Summer Research Fellowship (EU Law)

Applications close on 29 January 2027.

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About LawAI About the Summer Research Fellowship (EU Law) Benefits Eligibility Application process

Overview

The Institute for Law & AI’s Summer Research Fellowship (EU Law) offers legal professionals, law students, and academics the opportunity to participate at the leading edge of AI law and policy, with a particular focus on EU law.

The programme supports intellectual and professional development, combining tailored mentorship with career planning and opportunities to apply legal thinking to current governance questions with policymakers, researchers, and other leaders in the field. Previous Seasonal Research Fellows have gone on to pursue legal and policy roles in the European AI Office, leading AI companies, academia, and think tanks, including LawAI itself.

Our goal is to empower the experts of today and tomorrow, ensuring that advances in frontier AI are beneficial and safe for society. While our programmes are designed for people with a background in law, for example, a law degree, legal training, or legal research experience, we welcome applicants with various skill sets and backgrounds. If you’re unsure whether you are a good fit, we encourage you to review our EU Law workstreams. We would rather you apply than rule yourself out. 

The fellowship runs from 28 June to 3 September 2027, and includes a Convening Week in Cambridge, UK, on 5 to 9 July 2027. We generally expect fellows to participate in-person in Cambridge, as being embedded within the team and fellowship cohort is a key part of the experience. Summer Research Fellows will receive a weekly stipend of £1,000, plus a £7,000 relocation payment if they relocate to Cambridge, UK, for the full duration of the fellowship. 

Applications close on 29 January 2027. We will be considering applications on a rolling basis as they are received, and we encourage early applications in advance of the deadline.

About LawAI

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 engage in three core activities: independent legal research and analysis; consulting for governments, academia, and industry; and field-building through fellowships and events.

At LawAI, the EU Law team’s primary focus is improving the interpretation and understanding of the EU’s approach to the governance and regulation of the most capable AI models, whilst supporting the effective enforcement of the AI Act and ensuring that advances in artificial intelligence are beneficial and safe for society. We also examine national approaches to AI governance and their interaction with the EU framework, with a current focus on Germany.

You can learn more about LawAI generally on our website, alongside our recent publications and an overview of our workstreams and research directions.

About the Summer Research Fellowship (EU Law)

As a Summer Research Fellow, you will collaborate with your mentor to select an existing project or develop and execute a research project tailored to your experience, skills, and interests. You might focus on a single extended project, such as drafting a report or authoring a law review article, and/or contribute to a range of initiatives, including 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 organisations.

Topics and/or project selection, including the type of relevant output, will be shaped by the EU Law team’s priorities and your existing expertise. Projects should align with LawAI’s mission to promote safety, security, and the rule of law in the age of AI. It may help to review LawAI’s EU Law workstreams and research directions to give you a sense of the subject matter appropriate for Summer Research Fellows. Note that priorities may shift in response to changing developments.

We welcome suggestions for other topics that have a clear connection to our research priorities and align with LawAI’s mission.

What the fellowship offers

  • Mentorship from our research staff and affiliates
  • Q&A sessions with leading experts in the field
  • EU AI law and policy networking opportunities and career planning resources
  • Technical workshops, collaboration opportunities, and networking events within the AI policy field
  • Opportunities to explore future collaborations, such as follow-on funding through grants, invitations to upcoming events, and potential projects or job openings with LawAI

Duration and location

The Summer Research Fellowship will run from 28 June 2027 to 3 September 2027, and includes a Convening Week in Cambridge, UK, from 5 to 9 July 2027. Summer Research Fellows might be eligible for an extension of up to 5 weeks (mentorship to be considered on a case-by-case basis). We strongly encourage in-person participation in Cambridge, as much of the fellowship’s value comes from building connections with other fellows and from day-to-day interaction with LawAI staff and others working on frontier AI policy who regularly visit the Cambridge office.

That said, we recognise that circumstances vary, and we will consider remote arrangements on a case-by-case basis for candidates with compelling reasons to participate remotely (e.g., family commitments).

We expect Summer Research Fellows to participate full-time, attend regular team meetings, give occasional presentations on their projects, and provide feedback on other projects 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

  • Weekly stipend: £1,000. Candidates with exceptional experience or qualifications may be eligible for higher amounts.
  • Fellows who relocate to Cambridge for the full duration of the fellowship (10 weeks) will receive a £7,000 relocation and housing stipend. The stipend is treated as taxable income, and no reimbursement or receipts are required.
  • A Convening Week in Cambridge, UK (5 to 9 July 2027), with eligible travel expenses covered for those who are unable to relocate to Cambridge, including flights, accommodation, and meals. 
  • Close mentorship from our research staff and affiliates.
  • Q&A sessions with leading experts in the field.
  • Networking opportunities and 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

  • Applicants should have a background in law, such as a law degree, legal training, or legal research experience. EU law experience is desirable but not required. We welcome applicants from all countries and experience levels, including those who studied outside the EU or are not qualified to practise there.
  • 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.
  • Prior experience or expertise in AI-specific research is desirable but not required. As guidance, past Seasonal Research Fellows have included:
    • Professionals at various career stages looking to transition into AI-focused roles in research, academia, government, or industry
    • Graduate law students (e.g., LLM or JD), PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers
    • Legal academics, including professors
    • Exceptional undergraduate law students in their final year of studies (e.g., LLB, First State Examination, and similar degrees).
  • Ability to commit to full-time participation from 28 June to 3 September 2027. In exceptional circumstances, we may consider adjustments to start and end dates. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please flag any scheduling conflicts in your application.
  • Ability to attend the Convening Week in Cambridge, UK, from 5 to 9 July 2027.
  • If you receive an offer, and do not have a right to work in the UK, we will make every reasonable effort to support your visa sponsorship. However, our ability to do so depends on our sponsorship partnership and relevant authorities. Sponsorships will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by our sponsorship partner, and the visa decision rests with the UK Home Office, so in-person participation is conditional on the visa being granted. LawAI will cover the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge. If a visa cannot be granted, we will arrange for remote participation instead.

If you’re not sure about applying because you don’t know if you’re qualified or the right fit, we encourage you to apply anyway. We often find that some of the most promising candidates underrate their suitability for programmes like this.

Application process

Step 1: Submit your application form by 29 January 2027 (we expect this to take 20–30 minutes to complete). We cannot assess late applications.

Step 2: Asynchronous screening interview (30 minutes). This interview aims to help us gain a deeper understanding of your motivation, your past research, and your perspective on AI development and its implications for society, EU law, and policy.

Step 3: Research interview (30 minutes). You will speak with a member of our research staff to discuss your fit for our programme and your research interests and goals. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask us questions.

Step 4: Decision. We aim to provide all applicants with a final decision by the end of March. If you need a decision by a particular date, please note this on your application form.

We process applicants’ personal data in line with LawAI’s privacy policy. We may use AI tools to support the review of applications at any stage of the selection process. All decisions, including whether an application progresses and whether an applicant is selected, are made by a member of our team. If you have any questions about our use of AI tools, you can email programs@law-ai.org.

This position is eligible for LawAI’s Seasonal Fellowship referral programme. The referral programme offers $1,000 to eligible individuals who refer a candidate who is accepted into the fellowship. Full terms can be found here.

Diversity and equal opportunity: We aim 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.