Legal professionals bring unique capabilities to AI companies across multiple domains.
2.1 Where Legal Skills Add Value
AI Ethics and Responsible AI
- Developing ethical guidelines for AI use
- Creating internal policies on AI in legal processes
- Advising on AI ethics governance frameworks
- Supporting Constitutional AI evaluation (at companies like Anthropic)
Compliance and Regulatory Affairs
- Interpreting legal statutes and regulations relevant to AI
- Conducting risk assessments for AI systems
- Ensuring compliance with EU AI Act, GDPR, CCPA, and emerging regulations
- Developing compliance management systems
Policy and Government Affairs
- Working on AI governance and policy projects
- Engaging with regulators and shaping global AI norms
- Supporting government relations initiatives
- Contributing to industry standards development
Contracts and Commercial
- Drafting AI-related contracts and licensing agreements
- Reviewing vendor agreements for AI tools
- Negotiating data sharing arrangements
- Managing intellectual property considerations
2.2 Key Organizations Hiring Legal Interns
Major Tech Companies
- Microsoft Legal Intern Program: 12-week program with placement in specific practice groups, providing hands-on experience on cutting-edge legal issues in technology
- Google, Meta, and other tech giants offer similar legal department internships
AI-Focused Companies
- OpenAI Residency: Six-month program with $18,300/month stipend, though primarily technical
- Anthropic: Policy & Alignment Research Support roles for candidates with philosophy, law, or policy backgrounds
- Shield AI: Government compliance team positions for AI-related regulatory review
Research Institutes and Think Tanks
- Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS): 3-month AI Policy Fellowship with $15,000 stipend
- Future of Privacy Forum: Legal, policy, and technical interns for AI, privacy, and emerging technology issues
- Center for Democracy and Technology: AI-governance fellowship for law school graduates
- GovAI Summer Fellowship: Applied track for AI governance research
2.3 Typical Responsibilities
Legal interns at AI companies may:
- Research legal issues impacting business strategy
- Draft guidelines for ethical AI use and compliance
- Test and refine legal tech products
- Develop AI-driven compliance reporting tools
- Attend client meetings and product reviews
- Collaborate on cross-functional projects
Legal Intern Best Practices Series
This is Part 2 of a 10-part series on best practices for designing capstone projects for legal interns at AI companies.
- Part 1: Best Practices for Intern Capstone Projects
- Part 2: Leveraging Legal Expertise in AI Company Settings (You are here)
- Part 3: Intersection of Law and AI
- Part 4: Successful Examples of Legal-Tech Intern Projects
- Part 5: Skills Development Goals
- Part 6: Project Scoping and Mentorship
- Part 7: Deliverable Formats
- Part 8: Evaluation Criteria
- Part 9: Specific Project Ideas
- Part 10: Resources and References