LawAI Seasonal Fellowships: Research Opportunities in AI, Law and Policy for Law Students, Professionals and Academics

The LawAI Seasonal Fellowships provide an opportunity for law students, legal professionals, researchers, academics, and other qualified specialists to engage with some of the most important emerging questions at the intersection of artificial intelligence, law, regulation, and public policy. As artificial intelligence continues to develop rapidly, governments, regulators, courts, researchers, technology organizations, and policymakers are increasingly confronted with complex questions about how advanced AI systems should be governed. LawAI's Seasonal Fellowships are designed to bring researchers and practitioners into this evolving field, allowing fellows to contribute to research while interacting with people working on frontier AI policy. The fellowship opportunities are particularly relevant to individuals interested in AI governance, technology regulation, public policy, legal research, emerging technologies, and the development of legal frameworks for increasingly capable AI systems. LawAI encourages prospective applicants to review its workstreams and research directions before applying so that they can understand the organization's areas of interest and identify how their own research experience, legal background, and professional interests could contribute. What Are the LawAI Seasonal Fellowships? LawAI's Seasonal Fellowships are structured research opportunities for individuals who want to work at the leading edge of AI, law, and policy. The program currently includes three principal fellowship tracks: • Winter Research Fellowship (EU Law) • Summer Fellowship (US) • Summer Research Fellowship (Legal Frontiers) Each track has a somewhat different geographic and substantive focus. While the US and EU Law tracks place particular emphasis on legal experience in their respective jurisdictions, the Legal Frontiers fellowship provides a broader interdisciplinary pathway for researchers whose work can contribute to the development of law and public policy surrounding advanced AI. Applicants may apply to multiple tracks where they meet the relevant qualifications. However, a separate application must be submitted for each fellowship track. 1. Winter Research Fellowship in EU Law The Winter Research Fellowship focuses on legal and policy questions connected to the European Union. This fellowship is particularly relevant to candidates who have studied or worked with EU law and who are interested in applying their legal research capabilities to questions arising from artificial intelligence and emerging technology regulation. LawAI strongly encourages fellows in this track to participate in person in Cambridge, United Kingdom. According to LawAI, a significant part of the value of the fellowship comes from developing professional connections with other fellows and interacting directly with LawAI staff and individuals working on frontier AI policy who visit the Cambridge office. The organization recognizes, however, that circumstances differ between applicants. Remote participation may therefore be considered on a case-by-case basis where a candidate has compelling reasons, such as family commitments. Convening Week The Winter Research Fellowship includes an in-person Convening Week in Cambridge, UK, scheduled for: February 8–12 Applicants considering this track should therefore be prepared to meet any relevant travel, immigration, and participation requirements associated with attending the Convening Week. Fellowship Subsidy Fellows participating in the Winter Research Fellowship receive: • £1,000 per week fellowship subsidy. • A one-off £7,000 relocation and housing payment for fellows who relocate to Cambridge. Candidates with exceptional experience or qualifications may be eligible for higher subsidies. 2. Summer Fellowship in the United States The Summer Fellowship is focused on US law and policy and is designed for candidates with relevant legal study or professional experience in the United States. The fellowship is particularly suitable for individuals interested in the relationship between artificial intelligence and US legal and policy frameworks. LawAI strongly encourages fellows to participate in person in Washington, DC. The organization notes that being embedded within the team and the wider Washington policy community can provide significant opportunities for professional interaction, research collaboration, and engagement with the broader AI policy environment. Remote arrangements may nevertheless be considered on a case-by-case basis for candidates with compelling reasons to participate remotely. Convening Week The Summer Fellowship includes an in-person Convening Week in Washington, DC, scheduled for: June 21–25 Candidates should take this requirement into account when determining whether the fellowship's participation arrangements are compatible with their circumstances. Fellowship Subsidy The Summer Fellowship provides: • $2,000 per week subsidy. • A $10,000 relocation and housing stipend for fellows who relocate to Washington, DC. The relocation and housing stipend is treated as taxable income. LawAI states that recipients are not required to submit reimbursement claims or receipts for this stipend. As with the other tracks, candidates with exceptional experience or qualifications may be eligible for higher subsidies. 3. Summer Research Fellowship in Legal Frontiers The Summer Research Fellowship in Legal Frontiers provides a broader research pathway for candidates interested in the future of law and public policy in the context of advanced AI. Unlike the US and EU Law tracks, this fellowship does not require applicants to have a primary background in law. LawAI specifically welcomes applicants from other disciplines where their research can contribute meaningfully to questions involving advanced AI governance. Potentially relevant backgrounds include: • Computer science • Public policy • Economics • History • Psychology • Physics • Law • Other disciplines relevant to the development of law and public policy Applicants without specialized knowledge of US, EU, or UK law may still be considered, although LawAI indicates that candidates without expertise in one of these jurisdictions are generally considered only in exceptional circumstances. Remote-First Structure The Legal Frontiers fellowship is designed as a remote-first opportunity. Fellows may have opportunities for in-person participation at LawAI's Cambridge office in the United Kingdom or with the organization's US Law & Policy team in Washington, DC. Previous Summer Research Fellows have found value in being embedded within the organization and participating in the wider research and policy communities. Convening Week The Legal Frontiers fellowship's Convening Week is hosted in Washington, DC: June 21–25 Applicants should therefore consider the in-person Convening Week requirement when assessing their ability to participate. Fellowship Subsidy The Legal Frontiers fellowship provides a weekly subsidy based on the fellow's location. LawAI gives the following examples: • $1,800 per week for Summer Research Fellows based in the United States. • £1,000 per week for fellows based in the European Union and United Kingdom. • Additional stipends may potentially be available when location-specific conditions are met. Candidates with exceptional qualifications or experience may also be eligible for higher subsidies. Who Can Apply for LawAI Seasonal Fellowships? LawAI's Seasonal Fellowships are intended for applicants with meaningful legal, policy, research, or academic experience relevant to the fellowship track they select. The organization explicitly states that it welcomes applications from professionals, meaning the opportunities are not restricted exclusively to current students. Potential applicants include: • Law students • Practicing lawyers • Legal researchers • Law and policy researchers • Academics • Public policy researchers • Researchers from relevant interdisciplinary fields • Professionals with experience relevant to AI law and policy The precise requirements depend on the fellowship track. Requirements for the US and EU Law Tracks For the US and EU Law tracks, LawAI generally expects applicants to have formal legal training or experience. This is important because these fellowships require candidates to understand the legal principles applicable to AI regulation within the relevant jurisdiction. Applicants should therefore have some form of formal legal education, professional legal experience, or another substantive background that demonstrates their understanding of the applicable legal system. For the US track, relevant experience with US law is expected. For the EU Law track, relevant experience with EU law is expected. LawAI also encourages applications from people who previously studied or practiced US or EU law but are currently living and working in another country. Requirements for the Legal Frontiers Track The Legal Frontiers fellowship has a broader eligibility approach. Applicants do not necessarily need to have law as their primary academic or professional discipline. Instead, candidates should be able to clearly demonstrate how their research could positively contribute to the development of law and public policy relating to advanced artificial intelligence. This makes the fellowship potentially relevant to researchers working across multiple disciplines. For example, a computer scientist might explore technical developments that have implications for AI governance. An economist might investigate regulatory incentives or the economic effects of AI policy. A historian might contribute research into institutional development and technology governance, while a psychologist could examine human behavior and policy implications associated with increasingly capable AI systems. Candidates who intend to conduct technical research during the fellowship are responsible for identifying and securing an appropriately qualified technical supervisor. Is Previous AI Experience Required? Previous specialized experience with AI-related legal questions is not required. Applicants should nevertheless have an interest in artificial intelligence, law, and policy and should be prepared to apply their research skills and existing knowledge to questions in the field. This means applicants do not necessarily need to have already established a career specializing in AI law. Instead, candidates can demonstrate their suitability through: • Strong research capabilities • Relevant legal or policy knowledge • Academic or professional experience • Interest in AI governance • Ability to investigate complex emerging questions • Ability to connect their existing expertise with AI-related legal and policy issues The absence of a requirement for previous AI-specific experience potentially makes these fellowships accessible to qualified researchers who are transitioning into the field. English Language Requirement Applicants are required to have full professional fluency in English, both spoken and written. This requirement reflects the collaborative nature of the fellowships. Fellows are expected to actively participate in: • Research discussions • Professional collaborations • Presentations • Meetings • Academic and policy conversations • Other activities requiring effective written and spoken communication Applicants should therefore be comfortable communicating complex legal, policy, or research ideas in English. Are Practicing Professionals Eligible? Yes. LawAI explicitly welcomes professionals, including practicing lawyers, law and policy researchers, and academics. Relevant professional experience is highly valued, making these fellowships potentially suitable for candidates who are already working in legal practice, research, academia, regulation, public policy, or related areas. The opportunities can there

• Meaningful legal, policy, research, or academic experience relevant to the fellowship track selected • For Winter Research Fellowship (EU Law): studied or worked with EU law • For Summer Fellowship (US): relevant legal study or professional experience in the United States • For Summer Research Fellowship (Legal Frontiers): background in law, computer science, public policy, economics, history, psychology, physics, or other disciplines relevant to advanced AI governance • For Summer Research Fellowship (Legal Frontiers): candidates without expertise in US, EU, or UK law generally considered only in exceptional circumstances • Ability to attend in-person Convening Week (February 8–12 for Winter fellowship; June 21–25 for both Summer fellowships) • Remote participation may be considered on a case-by-case basis with compelling reasons