LawAI Summer Fellowship 2027: Paid US AI Law and Policy Opportunity

LawAI Applications are open for the Institute for Law & AI Summer Fellowship 2027, a paid 10-week programme offering law students, academics and professionals an opportunity to work on emerging questions at the intersection of artificial intelligence, United States law and public policy.

The fellowship will run from June 14 to August 20, 2027, with participants generally expected to be based in Washington, DC for the summer.

Selected fellows receive a $2,000 weekly subsidy, while those relocating to Washington, DC receive an additional $10,000 relocation and housing stipend. Candidates with exceptional experience or qualifications may qualify for higher weekly subsidies.

Applications close at 11:59 PM Eastern Time on January 29, 2027.

Background & Fellowship Description

The Summer Fellowship is offered by the Institute for Law & AI (LawAI), an independent think tank conducting research and advisory work on legal challenges created by artificial intelligence.

LawAI works at the intersection of:

Artificial intelligence
Law
Public policy

Its broader objective is to support approaches to AI that promote safety, security, welfare and the rule of law.

The organization conducts research and advises governments, international organizations, public institutions and private-sector actors.

The Summer Fellowship focuses particularly on United States Law and Policy.

What Will Summer Fellows Do?

Each Summer Fellow works with a mentor to develop and complete a project aligned with the fellow’s skills, experience and interests.

Projects can take different forms.

Some fellows may concentrate on a single substantial research project, such as:

Drafting a report
Authoring a law review article

Others may work across several initiatives, including legal research supporting LawAI’s research and advisory projects.

Depending on the project and opportunities available, fellows may also contribute to work involving policymakers, government institutions and private-sector organizations.

Flexibility in Research Outputs

LawAI gives Summer Fellows considerable discretion over the form their work takes.

For example, a participant might choose between producing:

A law review article
Policy brief
Research report
Other relevant research output

Topics are determined in consultation with the fellow’s mentor.

Projects should connect clearly with LawAI’s mission and research priorities concerning AI, safety, security and the rule of law.

Applicants are encouraged to review the Institute’s United States Law and Policy Workstream and research directions before applying.

Fellowship Dates

The 2027 fellowship lasts 10 weeks.

Start date: June 14, 2027
End date: August 20, 2027

LawAI strongly prefers fellows to participate for the full period.

Adjustments to the starting or ending dates may be considered in exceptional circumstances, but requests are assessed individually.

Applicants who need such an adjustment should disclose it in their application.

Washington, DC Convening Week

An important component of the programme is the Convening Week in Washington, DC, scheduled for:

June 21–25, 2027

Fellows are expected to be able to attend.

Eligible travel expenses for the Convening Week are covered, including:

Flights
Accommodation
Meals

The Convening Week provides participants with an opportunity to engage directly with the fellowship community and the broader Washington policy environment.

Summer Institute on Law and AI

Fellows also receive admission to the Summer Institute on Law and AI in Washington, DC, which will take place in July.

Eligible travel expenses associated with participation are covered, including:

Flights
Accommodation
Meals

This adds another in-person professional-development component to the 10-week fellowship.

Is the Fellowship Paid?

Yes.

The LawAI Summer Fellowship is explicitly described as a paid programme.

Summer Fellows receive:

$2,000 per week

Candidates with exceptional experience or qualifications may be eligible for a higher subsidy.

Over the standard 10-week fellowship, the stated $2,000 weekly rate corresponds to $20,000 in weekly subsidies, assuming participation for the full 10 weeks at the standard rate.

This calculation is based on the published weekly subsidy and programme duration rather than a separately stated total award.

$10,000 Relocation and Housing Stipend

The fellowship is designed primarily as an in-person programme in Washington, DC.

Fellows who relocate to Washington, DC receive an additional:

$10,000 relocation and housing stipend

LawAI states that this stipend is treated as taxable income.

Participants do not need to provide receipts or seek reimbursement for expenses covered through this stipend.

Combined with the standard 10-week weekly subsidy, a fellow relocating to Washington could therefore receive $30,000 in stated weekly and relocation/housing support, before considering taxes and separately covered eligible travel expenses.

This figure assumes the standard $2,000 weekly subsidy for all 10 weeks plus the $10,000 relocation and housing stipend.

Can You Participate Remotely?

Potentially, but applicants should not consider this a generally remote fellowship.

LawAI strongly encourages in-person participation in Washington, DC because it considers engagement with its team and the wider DC policy community an important part of the programme.

Remote arrangements may nevertheless be considered case by case for candidates with compelling reasons.

The organization gives family commitments as one example of circumstances that could support a remote-participation request.

For law students specifically, ability to participate in person is a factor in the selection criteria.

Full-Time Commitment

Fellows are expected to participate full-time throughout the programme.

Their responsibilities include:

Attending regular team meetings
Working on fellowship research projects
Giving occasional presentations
Providing feedback on other fellows’ projects
Engaging with the wider LawAI team

Applicants should therefore be prepared for a substantial full-time commitment from June 14 through August 20.

Who Can Apply?

LawAI welcomes applicants with different levels of experience and knowledge relating to U.S. AI law and policy.

Applicants should demonstrate a strong understanding of legal principles relevant to AI regulation in United States law and policy.

This understanding can come through:

Formal U.S. legal study, including incoming 1L level
Comparable professional experience

Candidates should have an interest in AI law and policy and be prepared to apply their research skills and legal knowledge to relevant questions.

Importantly, previous AI-specific research expertise is not required.

Academic and Professional Backgrounds

Previous Summer Fellows have included:

Graduate law students, including JD and LLM students
PhD candidates
Postdoctoral researchers
Legal academics
Professionals at different career stages

The programme can also be relevant to professionals seeking to transition toward AI-focused careers in:

Research
Academia
Government
Industry

This makes the programme broader than a traditional student-only internship.

Mentorship and Professional Development

Fellows receive close mentorship from LawAI research staff and affiliates.

Additional programme benefits include:

Q&A sessions with leading experts
U.S. law and policy networking opportunities
Career-planning resources
Exposure to the AI governance community
Opportunities to explore future collaboration

Potential future collaborations may include grants, invitations to future events, projects or employment opportunities with LawAI.

These possibilities should not be interpreted as guaranteed post-fellowship employment.

Visa Sponsorship

International candidates should carefully review the immigration requirements.

LawAI states that if a candidate receives an offer, the organization will make every reasonable effort to support visa sponsorship.

However, sponsorship is not guaranteed.

The organization’s ability to support a visa depends on factors including:

The individual candidate
Candidate location
Applicable immigration rules
Decisions by relevant authorities

Participation ultimately depends on the fellow holding valid visa or immigration permission for the location where they will be based.

Application Process

The selection process has four main stages.

Step 1: Online Application

Applicants must submit the application form by:

January 29, 2027 at 11:59 PM ET

LawAI estimates that the application should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

Late applications will not be assessed.

Step 2: Asynchronous Exploratory Interview

Selected candidates progress to an approximately 20-minute asynchronous exploratory interview.

This stage is intended to help LawAI understand the candidate’s perspective on AI development and its implications for society, law and policy.

Step 3: Project Interview

Candidates then participate in a:

45-minute project interview

The interview is conducted with a member of LawAI’s research staff.

Discussion covers the applicant’s:

Interests
Goals
Potential fit with the fellowship

Candidates also have an opportunity to ask questions.

Step 4: Final Decision

LawAI aims to provide applicants with a final decision by:

Mid-March 2027

Applicants who require a decision by a particular date can mention this in their application.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the Institute for Law & AI’s official fellowship application process.

Institute for Law & AI Opportunities

Candidates should review the United States Law and Policy Workstream and LawAI’s research directions before submitting an application so that they understand the types of projects that align with the fellowship.

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Programme	LawAI Summer Fellowship (US)
Organization	Institute for Law & AI
Year	2027
Location	Washington, DC, USA
Duration	10 weeks
Dates	June 14–August 20, 2027
Commitment	Full-time
Weekly Subsidy	$2,000
Higher Subsidy	Possible for exceptional experience/qualifications
Relocation & Housing Stipend	$10,000 for fellows relocating to DC
Convening Week	June 21–25, 2027
Convening Travel	Eligible flights, accommodation and meals covered
Summer Institute	Admission included
Remote Participation	Case-by-case for compelling reasons
AI Research Experience Required	No
Visa Support	Reasonable efforts to support sponsorship after an offer; not guaranteed
Deadline	January 29, 2027, 11:59 PM ET
Decision Timeline	By mid-March 2027

Final Thoughts

The LawAI Summer Fellowship 2027 is a substantial paid opportunity for law students, researchers, academics and professionals interested in the rapidly developing intersection of artificial intelligence, law and public policy.

The financial support is particularly notable. Fellows receive a standard $2,000 weekly subsidy, and those relocating to Washington, DC receive an additional $10,000 relocation and housing stipend. Eligible flights, accommodation and meals are also covered for specified programme activities such as the Convening Week and Summer Institute.

The programme lasts 10 weeks from June 14 to August 20, 2027, and LawAI strongly prefers in-person participation in Washington, DC. Remote arrangements may be considered where candidates have compelling circumstances, but they are not the programme’s default format.

Applicants do not need previous AI-specific research expertise, but they should demonstrate a strong understanding of legal principles relevant to AI regulation in U.S. law and policy through formal legal study or comparable professional experience.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on January 29, 2027, with final decisions expected by mid-March.

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