Institute for Law & AI Launches Academic Fellowship with $130,000 Annual Salary
Legal professionals interested in artificial intelligence, public policy, and academic research now have an exciting opportunity to advance their careers through the Institute for Law & AI (LawAI) Academic Fellowship. The institute is accepting applications for its inaugural two-year fellowship, offering an annual salary of $130,000, flexible remote work, and mentorship designed to prepare fellows for careers in US legal academia.
Applications are open until July 31, 2026, making this an excellent opportunity for aspiring legal scholars who want to contribute to the rapidly evolving field of AI law and governance.
About the Law & AI Academic Fellowship
The Law & AI Academic Fellowship is a full-time, two-year program created as an alternative to traditional university-sponsored legal fellowships and Visiting Assistant Professor positions. Its primary objective is to help emerging legal scholars develop high-quality academic research while preparing for the US legal academic job market.
Hosted by the Institute for Law & AI, an independent think tank focused on the legal challenges posed by transformative artificial intelligence, the fellowship provides participants with dedicated time, mentorship, and financial support to produce impactful legal scholarship.
Unlike many academic fellowships, participants are not required to teach, allowing them to focus almost entirely on research and publishing.
Research Areas
LawAI welcomes applicants interested in exploring a broad range of legal issues surrounding transformative artificial intelligence.
Research topics may include:
- AI risk regulation
- Liability for harms caused by AI systems
- AI and cybersecurity
- AI and biosecurity
- Constitutional and administrative law
- National security and AI
- International AI governance
- Corporate governance of AI companies
- AI transparency policies
- Automated legal reasoning
- The EU AI Act
- AI testing and evaluation
- AI infrastructure law
- Labor law and artificial intelligence
- Tax policy and AI
- Industrial policy and transformative AI
Applicants are encouraged to pursue independent research agendas that contribute to improving human welfare, security, and the rule of law in the age of advanced AI.
Who Should Apply?
The fellowship is designed for individuals planning to pursue careers in US legal academia.
Strong candidates may possess:
- Excellent academic performance in law school.
- Legal practice, judicial clerkship, public service, advocacy, or policy experience.
- Experience serving on law reviews or academic journals.
- Published legal scholarship or a developing publication record.
- Strong legal research and analytical skills.
- Exceptional academic writing ability.
- A demonstrated interest in AI law, technology policy, or emerging legal issues.
LawAI emphasizes holistic evaluation and welcomes applicants from diverse educational and professional backgrounds.
Fellowship Benefits
Successful fellows will receive an attractive package designed to support world-class legal research.
Benefits include:
- Annual salary of $130,000.
- Flexible remote working arrangements.
- Five weeks of paid time off each year.
- Twelve weeks of paid parental leave.
- Employer pension or 401(k) contributions where applicable.
- Health insurance for eligible employees.
- Annual professional development reimbursement of $5,000.
- Annual mental health reimbursement of $5,000.
- Annual equipment and office allowance of $2,500.
- Additional $5,000 annual travel budget for conferences, workshops, and academic job talks.
- Funding for research materials, journal access, and legal databases.
- Access to leading generative AI tools.
- Opportunities to hire research assistants during the fellowship.
These benefits allow fellows to focus on producing high-impact scholarship while receiving comprehensive professional support.
Remote Work with International Opportunities
The fellowship offers flexible remote work arrangements, although it is primarily intended for scholars preparing to enter the US legal academic market.
Participants will spend at least one month each year working in person with the LawAI team in either Washington, DC, or Cambridge, United Kingdom. Travel, housing, and eligible childcare expenses for these visits are covered by the institute.
LawAI may also provide visa support in eligible cases.
Application Process
Applications close on July 31, 2026.
Applicants should complete the online application before the deadline. The selection process includes:
- Application review.
- Initial screening call.
- Interviews with LawAI staff.
- Interview with potential supervisors.
- Background checks.
- Employment offer for successful candidates.
LawAI encourages individuals who meet many, but not necessarily all, of the preferred qualifications to apply.
Why This Fellowship Matters
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape economies, governments, and legal systems worldwide, there is growing demand for legal scholars capable of addressing the complex challenges created by transformative AI technologies.
The Law & AI Academic Fellowship provides an exceptional opportunity for aspiring academics to build influential research portfolios, receive mentorship from leading experts, and contribute meaningful scholarship that can inform courts, policymakers, and international institutions.
For legal professionals passionate about artificial intelligence, technology governance, and academic excellence, this fellowship represents a unique pathway into one of the fastest-growing areas of legal research.
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
