As the intersection of law and technology grows, a new breed of internship programs has emerged to prepare legal professionals for the future. These AI law internship programs go beyond traditional internships by offering structured mentorship and formal certification upon completion. In other words, participants get hands-on experience and a credential to prove their expertise. Why is this important? Mentorship ensures you learn the ropes with guidance from experts, while certification signals to employers that you have specialized training in legal tech. From university-based certificates to private training bootcamps, there are several top-tier options available.
In this report, we’ll review some of the best programs – including Refonte Learning’s highly-regarded Jurimetric & AI course – that guarantee mentorship and offer certification. We’ll compare their formats, costs, and who they’re best suited for, so you can decide which fits your goals.
Key Takeaways
Mentorship + Certification = Fast-Track Learning: Programs with built-in mentorship and certification provide guided, intensive training in AI law. You learn directly from seasoned professionals and earn a tangible credential to bolster your résumé.
Refonte Learning Jurimetric program is a top choice: A global AI law internship with guaranteed mentorship and dual certification, offering intensive practical experience.
Various Formats for Different Needs: Whether you’re a law student or a working attorney, there’s a program for you. Options range from academic certificates (e.g. ASU Law’s AI focus) to industry fellowships (like Relativity’s Relevate) and professional online courses (such as MIT’s legal tech program).
Compare Duration, Cost, and Outcomes: These programs vary in length (from a few months to over a year), cost (from free stipends to several thousand dollars), and career outcomes. Evaluate which aligns with your budget, time, and career goals.
Choose Based on Your Career Stage: Students might opt for law school-based programs, while graduates and mid-career professionals may prefer flexible online or fellowship programs. Each pathway offers unique benefits in the growing field of AI legal training.
Refonte Learning – Comprehensive AI Law Internship (Mentorship + Dual Certification)
Refonte Learning is a top-tier provider known for its immersive Jurimetrics & AI law internship program. It combines coursework with a real internship, guaranteeing every participant both expert mentorship and recognized certifications.
Program Highlights:
Format & Duration: 100% online, 3 months long (approx. 12–14 hours/week), with new cohorts starting regularly.
Mentorship: Yes – each intern is paired with seasoned mentors (legal and tech experts) who provide weekly guidance and feedback.
Certification: Yes – two certificates upon completion (a Training Certificate and an Internship Certificate) to validate your skills in AI and law.
Cost: $300 total (approx.) with installment options.
Best Suited For: Law students and recent grads (even career switchers) who want practical AI law experience without a lengthy, costly commitment.
Value Proposition: Refonte’s program stands out for its practical approach – interns work on real AI-in-law projects (like legal data analysis and automation tasks) rather than just theory. The dual certification means you exit with concrete proof of your new skills. With its combination of mentorship, project experience, and low cost, Refonte Learning offers an unparalleled launchpad into AI law roles.
ASU Law – AI and Law Certificate (Academic Mentorship and Credential)
Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law (ASU Law) offers an AI Law Certificate through its Law, Science and Technology program. This option integrates with a law degree for an academic seal of expertise in AI and law.
Program Highlights:
Format & Duration: On-campus as part of the JD, LLM, or MLS degrees at ASU Law. Students complete a set of specialized courses (roughly 5–7 classes, usually completed within one year).
Mentorship: Yes – law faculty with tech expertise mentor students. Students engage in research and practical exercises on AI legal issues under faculty supervision.
Certification: Yes – you earn an official Certificate in Law, Science and Technology with an emphasis in AI upon graduation. It’s noted on your transcript, signaling formal specialization.
Cost: Included in standard law school tuition (no extra certificate fee). It requires pursuing a law degree, so the investment is the law school tuition over those years (a substantial cost).
Best Suited For: Current or incoming law students who want to blend AI expertise into their legal education. Ideal for those pursuing a JD or LLM who can dedicate part of their studies to AI and emerge with an academic credential.
Value Proposition: ASU Law’s program leverages a law school environment – you get a deep academic grounding in AI’s legal aspects, from ethics to regulatory policy. The faculty mentorship and rigorous curriculum ensure you not only earn a certificate but also truly understand the nuances of AI in law. It’s an excellent path if you aim for roles that value academic credentials or plan to lead AI initiatives in law firms or policy circles.
Relativity’s Relevate – Legal Tech Fellowship with Mentoring (and Industry Certification)
Software company Relativity runs Relevate, a global career accelerator in legal tech. Evolving from the Relativity Fellows program, Relevate focuses on underrepresented talent, offering an intensive training internship with mentorship and a direct pipeline into tech-forward legal roles.
Program Highlights:
Format & Duration: In-person (Chicago headquarters) with potential hybrid/remote elements. It’s a full-time fellowship typically spanning 5 months.
Mentorship: Yes – intensive. Fellows receive daily guidance from experienced legal tech professionals. The program includes structured mentoring, professional development workshops, and one-on-one coaching.
Certification: Yes – graduates receive a certificate of completion and often earn Relativity software certifications along the way. More importantly, they gain an industry-recognized credential as Relevate alumni, respected by employers in legal tech.
Cost: Free (and you are paid!). Relativity provides a stipend or salary and benefits. There is no tuition – the company invests in training you.
Best Suited For: Early-career individuals or those from non-traditional backgrounds who want to break into legal tech. You do not need a law degree – just a passion for tech and law. It’s highly selective, aiming to lift up diverse talent into the industry.
Value Proposition: Relevate combines social impact with career acceleration. You get real work experience (often helping on Relativity’s projects or with clients), mentorship from experts inside a leading legal tech company, and networking opportunities. Many fellows transition directly into jobs at Relativity or partner organizations. If you’re accepted, it’s essentially a paid fast-track into legal tech. The combination of hands-on experience, mentorship, and a built-in network makes Relevate a powerful springboard for an aspiring legal technologist.
MIT Professional Education – AI and Legal Tech Certificate (Expert-Led, Hybrid Learning)
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a Professional Certificate in Legal Tech through its MIT Professional Education division. While not exclusively law-focused, it explicitly includes AI in law and is backed by MIT’s prestige.
Program Highlights:
Format & Duration: Mostly online courses with some live virtual sessions. The program is part-time over ~13 months, allowing working professionals to balance it with their job.
Mentorship: Yes – courses are taught by MIT faculty and industry experts, with interactive projects and feedback offering mentorship-like guidance throughout.
Certification: Yes – upon completion, you receive an MIT Professional Education Certificate in Legal Tech. This credential carries weight, given MIT’s global reputation.
Cost: High – a premium program. Exact cost varies by year (expect several thousand USD). Employers sometimes sponsor students due to the program’s credibility.
Best Suited For: Mid-career attorneys, legal operations professionals, or tech specialists in the legal field who want to upskill. Great for those who seek a reputable certificate and advanced knowledge but need flexibility to study while working.
Value Proposition: MIT’s program offers cutting-edge content – from AI tools and blockchain in law to project management. You’ll network with a cohort of legal tech professionals and learn from thought leaders. The certification can bolster your credentials if you’re aiming for roles like Chief Innovation Officer or want to lead tech initiatives at your firm. It’s an investment, but the combination of MIT’s name and the program’s depth can be career-changing.
Suffolk Law – Legal Innovation & Technology Certificate (Law School-Based, Industry Recognized)
Suffolk University Law School has been a pioneer in legal technology education. Its Legal Innovation & Technology (LIT) Certificate can be earned by Suffolk law students and is also offered as an online certificate for legal professionals. This program focuses on practical tech skills for lawyers, including exposure to AI tools.
Program Highlights:
Format & Duration: For Suffolk JD students, it’s a concentration during the degree. For practicing professionals, there’s a fully online 6-course certificate that can be completed in under a year.
Mentorship: Yes – courses are taught by professors and adjuncts who are industry experts, ensuring mentorship through instruction. Students also engage in Suffolk’s Legal Innovation Lab, getting feedback from faculty on real tech projects.
Certification: Yes – an official Certificate in Legal Innovation & Technology from Suffolk Law. It’s noted on the JD transcript for students, or awarded as a standalone certificate for online participants.
Cost: For JD students, part of tuition (no extra charge). For the online program, around $3,500 total – a moderate cost for a substantial credential.
Best Suited For: Law students (especially those at or able to attend Suffolk) and practicing lawyers or paralegals who want structured training in legal tech without leaving their job. It suits those who learn by doing and want to apply skills immediately.
Value Proposition: Suffolk’s certificate program is highly practical – you’ll learn to use common legal tech software, automate documents, and even get a taste of coding for lawyers. The mentorship comes from professors who are leaders in legal tech and through Suffolk’s strong industry ties. Graduates of this program are in demand precisely because they can bridge law and technology. Earning this certificate signals that you are ahead of the curve in tech-savvy legal practice.
Conclusion
The demand for lawyers and legal professionals who understand AI is only going to grow. Thankfully, there are now clear pathways to become one of those in-demand experts. We’ve looked at academic programs like ASU Law’s certificate and Suffolk’s LIT certificate, industry-driven internships like Relativity’s Relevate, professional courses such as MIT’s, and the comprehensive offering from Refonte Learning.
Each has its own strengths: whether it’s Refonte’s all-in-one practical training, a university’s academic rigor, or a fellowship’s real-world immersion. The key is to choose the program that aligns with your career stage, learning style, and goals.
No matter which route you choose, committing to a program with mentorship and certification will accelerate your journey into the world of AI law. You’ll emerge with knowledge, experience, and a credential that set you apart in the evolving legal tech landscape. So, take the next step – explore these programs, reach out to their admissions if you have questions, and invest in the training that will future-proof your legal career.
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FAQs: Choosing an AI Law Internship Program 2025
Q: How do I decide between an academic certificate and a private internship program?
A: Consider your goals and situation. If you’re already in law school or want a deeper academic dive, a university certificate (like ASU’s or Suffolk’s) offers rigorous coursework and a prestigious credential. These are great if you have the time and desire for formal education. If you’re already a lawyer or graduate seeking quick, practical training, a private program (Refonte Learning, Relevate, etc.) is shorter, very hands-on, and often closely tied to industry jobs. Consider your learning style (academic vs. practical) and how quickly you want results.
Q: Do I need a law degree or tech background to join these programs?
A: Not necessarily. Some programs do require you to be a law student or law school graduate (ASU’s and Suffolk’s on-campus tracks, for instance). But many others are open to anyone with interest. Refonte Learning, for example, welcomes law and related-field students or grads (basic prerequisite: being in undergrad or beyond). Relativity’s Relevate doesn’t require a JD at all – fellows come from diverse backgrounds. And don’t worry about coding skills – these programs start from the fundamentals, teaching you tech concepts from the ground up.
Q: Will completing one of these programs guarantee me a job in legal tech or AI law?
A: No program can guarantee a job, but it will significantly boost your prospects. These programs plug you into valuable networks and give you real experience – many graduates do land roles through program connections (Refonte Learning alumni and Relativity Fellows, for example, have been hired by the organizations they trained with). You’ll still need to apply and interview, but you’ll stand out as a candidate with a unique skill set and mentors who can vouch for you.