The Summer Fellowship (US) is a paid research fellowship run by the Institute for Law & AI (LawAI), an independent think tank with hubs in Washington, DC and Cambridge, UK. Fellows spend 10 weeks, from 14 June to 20 August, on a research project about how United States law and policy should respond to advances in artificial intelligence.
Each fellow works with a mentor from the institute’s US Law and Policy team and has wide discretion over the output — a law review article, a longer report, a policy brief, or legal research feeding the staff’s advisory work. The fellowship is designed to be in person in Washington, DC; remote arrangements are weighed case by case for candidates with compelling reasons, and every fellow attends a Convening Week in the city.
Applications for this cycle close on 29 January 2027, with decisions by mid-March.
Benefits & funding
- Weekly subsidy of US$2,000; candidates with exceptional experience or qualifications may be eligible for more.
- US$10,000 relocation and housing stipend for fellows who move to Washington, DC — treated as taxable income, with no receipts required.
- Convening Week in Washington, DC from 21 to 25 June, with eligible travel, accommodation and meals covered.
- A place at the Summer Institute on Law and AI in Washington, DC in July, with eligible travel expenses covered.
- Close mentorship from LawAI research staff and affiliates, plus Q&A sessions with leading experts in the field.
- Networking and career-planning resources tied to the US Law and Policy team.
- Routes to further collaboration, such as follow-on grant funding and invitations to later events.
- Reasonable efforts toward visa sponsorship where the host is able to provide it.
Eligibility
- Open to applicants of any nationality; no residency requirement is stated. Participation depends on holding a valid visa or immigration permission for the location the fellow is based in.
- Graduate law students (for example JD or LLM), PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, legal professionals and academics at a range of career stages.
- A strong understanding of the legal principles that apply to AI regulation in US law and policy, shown through formal US legal study (an incoming 1L qualifies) or comparable professional experience.
- An interest in AI law and policy, with the research ability and legal knowledge to work on questions in the field. Prior experience or expertise in AI-specific research is not required.
- Availability for full-time participation from 14 June to 20 August, with exceptions considered case by case.
- Availability to attend Convening Week in Washington, DC from 21 to 25 June.
- For law students, the ability to take part in person counts in the selection.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
Bachelor · Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled · PhD
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Application process
- 1Submit the online application form by 11:59 pm ET on 29 January 2027 (about 20 minutes to complete).
- 2Complete an asynchronous exploratory interview (about 20 minutes).
- 3Take part in a project interview with research staff (45 minutes).
- 4Receive a decision by mid-March.
Program timeline
Application deadline, 11:59 pm ET
Jan 29, 2027
Decisions announced
Mid-March 2027
Fellowship begins
Jun 14, 2027
Convening Week in Washington, DC
Jun 21, 2027 to Jun 25, 2027
Summer Institute on Law and AI, Washington, DC
July 2027
Fellowship ends
Aug 20, 2027