Winter Research Fellowship (US)

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About LawAI About the Winter Research Fellowship (US) Benefits Eligibility Application process

Overview

The Institute for Law & AI’s (LawAI) Winter Research Fellowship (US) is a paid program that offers law students, professionals, and academics the opportunity to work at the leading edge of AI law and policy, with a particular focus on United States Law and Policy. The program is designed to support intellectual and professional development, combining tailored research mentorship with career planning and opportunities to engage with policymakers, researchers, and other leaders in the field. While this is the first iteration of our Winter Research Fellowship, previous Summer Research Fellows have gone on to take law and policy roles in the US Commerce Department, leading AI labs, academia, and think tanks, including LawAI itself. 

Our goal is to empower the experts of today and tomorrow, ensuring that advances in artificial intelligence are beneficial and safe for everyone. Applicants should have prior experience with US Law through study or work. Beyond this, we welcome applicants with various skill sets, experience levels, and degrees of knowledge in AI, law, and policy. If in doubt, we encourage you to review our United States Law and Policy Workstream in detail and apply.

Applications close on October 12, 2025.

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 Winter Research Fellowship (US)

As a Winter Research Fellow, you will work with your mentor to develop and execute on a research project tailored to your experience, skills, and interests. Some Winter 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. Winter Research Fellows may also have opportunities to help advise policymakers, government, and private sector organizations.

As a general matter, Winter 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 United States Law and Policy Workstream and Research Direction, which will give you a sense of the subject matter appropriate for Winter Research Fellows.

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

Winter Research Fellowship (US) start and end dates:

  • The Winter Research Fellowship will run from January 26, 2026, to May 8, 2026.
  • Winter Research Fellows may elect to start their fellowship late or end it early, provided they can work with us for at least eight consecutive weeks.

Winter Research Fellows are expected 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. 

We are happy to accommodate academic or professional commitments during the fellowship period on a case-by-case basis. Please let us know if you have specific questions during the application process.

Benefits

  • Weekly compensation: $1,500. Candidates with exceptional experience or qualifications may be eligible for higher compensation.
    • Travel expenses, including flights, accommodation, and meals, for Winter Research Fellows who wish to spend up to one week traveling to relevant hubs, events, or in person coworking opportunities with LawAI staff and affiliates, where possible.
    • Close mentorship from our research staff and affiliates.
    • Q&A sessions with leading experts in the field.
    • US 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

    • Applicants should have prior legal experience with US Law and Policy through study or work. Beyond this requirement, we welcome applicants from all countries and with various skill sets, experience levels, and degrees of knowledge in AI, law, and policy to apply.
    • 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
      • Professionals transitioning into research at various career stages
      • Legal academics
      • See our Summer Fellows for more examples.
    • Ability to commit to full-time, remote-based work for at least eight weeks within the dates above. We ask that applicants communicate proactively about any scheduling conflicts.

      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 fit for programs like this.

    Application process

    Step 1: Submit your application form by 11:59 pm on October 12, 2025 (~20 minutes)

    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 (40-50 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 the end of November. If you need a decision by a particular date, please note this on your application form.

    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.