What happens when artificial intelligence starts making decisions that used to belong to lawyers, judges, and regulators? Someone has to write the rules — and the Institute for Law & AI (LawAI) wants it to be you. Its Summer Fellowship (US) 2027 is a ten-week, paid fellowship for law students, professionals, and academics who want to work at the cutting edge of AI law and policy, with a particular focus on United States law and policy.
The numbers are unusually generous for a summer program: $2,000 per week for ten weeks, plus a $10,000 relocation and housing stipend for fellows who move to Washington, DC. The fellowship runs June 14 to August 20, 2027, with a required Convening Week in DC from June 21–25. If you are already studying law — or working in a legal field — and AI keeps you up at night, this is one of the most prestigious paid summer opportunities in the field. Applications close January 29, 2027, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
In short: LawAI's Summer Fellowship (US) 2027 is a 10-week paid fellowship (June 14–August 20, 2027) in Washington, DC for law students, professionals, and academics working on AI law and policy. Fellows receive $2,000/week plus a $10,000 relocation stipend. Applications close 29 January 2027, 11:59 PM ET.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: United States of America
- Host Institution: Institute for Law & AI (LawAI)
- Degree Level: Law students (JD/LLM), PhD candidates, postdocs, professionals, legal academics
- Program Duration: 10 weeks (June 14 – August 20, 2027)
- Funding Type: Paid fellowship — $2,000/week + $10,000 relocation & housing stipend
- Deadline: 29 January 2027, 11:59 PM ET
Benefits of the LawAI Summer Fellowship 2027
This is not an unpaid internship dressed up as an opportunity. LawAI pays properly, and the package goes well beyond the weekly subsidy.
- $2,000 weekly subsidy — For ten weeks, totaling $20,000. Candidates with exceptional experience or qualifications may be eligible for higher subsidies.
- $10,000 relocation and housing stipend — For fellows who relocate to Washington, DC. It is treated as taxable income, and you do not need to submit receipts to receive it.
- Convening Week in Washington, DC — June 21–25, with eligible travel expenses covered, including flights, accommodation, and meals.
- Summer Institute on Law and AI — Admission to LawAI's Summer Institute in Washington, DC in July, again with eligible travel expenses covered.
- Close mentorship — You work directly with LawAI research staff and affiliates on a project shaped around your interests.
- Expert access — Q&A sessions with leading experts in AI law and policy, plus US law and policy networking opportunities and career planning resources.
- Career springboard — Previous fellows have gone on to law and policy roles at the US Department of Commerce, leading AI companies, academia, and think tanks — including LawAI itself. There are also possibilities for follow-on funding, grants, and future projects.
Eligibility Criteria for the LawAI Summer Fellowship 2027
LawAI is refreshingly clear about who this is for — and about what it is not.
- US law knowledge is essential — You should demonstrate a strong understanding of the legal principles applicable to AI regulation in US law and policy, through formal US legal study (for example, even as an incoming 1L) or comparable professional experience.
- Previous fellows' profiles — Graduate law students (JD or LLM), PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, legal academics, and professionals at various career stages looking to transition into AI-focused roles in research, academia, government, or industry.
- No AI expertise required — You need interest in AI law and policy and the ability to apply your legal research skills. Prior AI-specific research experience is not required, and LawAI explicitly welcomes people with varying experience levels.
- Full-time commitment — You must be able to participate full-time from June 14 to August 20, 2027. Date adjustments are possible only in exceptional circumstances.
- In-person preference — The fellowship is designed for Washington, DC, and the ability to attend the June 21–25 Convening Week is required. Remote arrangements are considered case by case for compelling reasons (such as family commitments). Note that in-person ability is a factor in selection for law students.
- Visa and immigration — If you receive an offer, LawAI will make every reasonable effort to support visa sponsorship, but participation is ultimately contingent on holding valid visa or immigration permissions for your location.
How to Apply for the LawAI Summer Fellowship 2027
1. Study the US Law and Policy Workstream — Before applying, read LawAI's United States Law and Policy Workstream and research directions in detail. Your project proposal should align with their research priorities. 2. Submit the online application by January 29, 2027, 11:59 PM ET — The form takes about 20 minutes. Late applications will not be assessed, so do not leave this to the last evening. 3. Complete the asynchronous exploratory interview — Shortlisted applicants do an approximately 20-minute recorded interview exploring their perspective on AI development and its implications for society, law, and policy. 4. Attend the project interview — A 45-minute conversation with a LawAI research staff member about your interests, goals, and fit. You will also get to ask your own questions. 5. Await the decision — LawAI aims to give every applicant a final decision by mid-March. If you need a decision by a particular date, say so on your application form.
Required Documents
- Online application form — Personal details, background, and your project interests (about 20 minutes).
- CV — Your legal education, research, and professional experience.
- Project interest statement — Within the form, show that you have reviewed the US Law and Policy Workstream and can articulate how your interests fit. This is where most applications win or lose.
LawAI Summer Fellowship 2027 Deadline
Applications close on 29 January 2027 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, and LawAI is explicit that late applications will not be assessed. Aim to hear back by mid-March 2027. The fellowship itself runs June 14 – August 20, 2027, with the Convening Week in Washington, DC from June 21–25, 2027. If you miss this round, LawAI runs a separate Summer Research Fellowship (Legal Frontiers) — also with a January 29, 2027 deadline — so check which of the two programs fits your profile before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the LawAI Summer Fellowship 2027 really paid?
Yes — this is a genuinely paid fellowship, not an unpaid internship. You receive $2,000 per week for ten weeks (up to $20,000), and if you relocate to Washington, DC, you get an additional $10,000 relocation and housing stipend with no receipts required. Convening Week and Summer Institute travel are covered too.
Who is the ideal candidate for this fellowship?
Someone with US legal training or comparable professional experience who is genuinely interested in AI law and policy. Previous fellows include JD and LLM students, PhD candidates, postdocs, legal academics, and mid-career professionals moving into AI governance. You do not need to be an AI expert — LawAI says so explicitly.
Can international applicants apply?
Yes. LawAI will make every reasonable effort to support visa sponsorship if you receive an offer. That said, participation depends on you actually obtaining the necessary visa or immigration permission, so start thinking about the practicalities early.
Is it fully remote or in-person?
The fellowship is designed around in-person participation in Washington, DC, and the Convening Week (June 21–25) is required in person. Remote arrangements are considered only case by case for compelling reasons. For law students, the ability to be in person is part of the selection criteria.
What will I actually work on?
You collaborate with a mentor to develop and execute a project tailored to your experience and interests — anything from drafting a law review article or policy report to conducting legal research that supports LawAI's advisory projects. Topic selection happens together with your mentor, aligned with LawAI's mission of ensuring AI advances promote safety, security, and the rule of law.
How competitive is the selection?
Very. The process has four stages — application, asynchronous interview, project interview, decision — which tells you they take fit seriously. The strongest applications show they have actually read the US Law and Policy Workstream and can propose something concrete, not just express enthusiasm about AI.
What is the difference between the Summer Fellowship (US) and the Summer Research Fellowship (Legal Frontiers)?
The US fellowship focuses specifically on US AI law and policy and is based in Washington, DC with a $2,000/week subsidy. The Legal Frontiers fellowship is remote-first with a weekly subsidy calibrated by location, and focuses on developing new legal and policy paradigms for advanced AI. Both run June 14 – August 20, 2027 and share the same January 29, 2027 deadline.
Do I need to be a US citizen?
No citizenship requirement is stated. The requirement is knowledge of US law and policy — through formal US legal study or comparable professional experience — not a US passport.
Is the $10,000 stipend taxed?
Yes. LawAI states the relocation and housing stipend is treated as taxable income. The upside is that no receipts or reimbursement paperwork are required to receive it.
Can I reapply if I am not selected?
LawAI does not publish a reapplication ban. If you are not selected, a year of deeper engagement with their publications and workstreams will only strengthen your next application — and you can also consider the Legal Frontiers fellowship or their referral program.
Final Words
The LawAI Summer Fellowship is one of those rare programs where the pay matches the prestige: $2,000 a week to think seriously about how the law should handle the most consequential technology of our time, in the policy capital where those rules are being written. If you have the legal background and the curiosity, January 29, 2027 is your line in the sand. Read the workstream, write a sharp application, and give yourself a real shot.
