Introduction
Breaking into the world of AI and law might sound intimidating if you don’t have a tech background. The good news is that AI law internships – opportunities at the intersection of legal practice and artificial intelligence – are opening up for people from purely legal or non-technical fields. This beginner’s guide will show you how to get started with an AI law internship even if you can’t code (yet). We’ll demystify what an “AI law” internship entails, the skills you can gain, and how programs like Refonte Learning’s Jurimetric & AI training can prepare you for success. From understanding legal tech tools to leveraging your existing strengths as a law student or legal professional, you’ll learn step-by-step how to become a competitive candidate in this emerging field. (SEO keywords: AI law internship, legal tech training, jurimetrics, AI in law for beginners, non-tech background, Refonte Learning)
AI + Law = A New Career Frontier
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the legal industry, creating hybrid roles that didn’t exist a decade ago. Law firms and in-house legal teams are now using AI-powered tools for tasks like document review, e-discovery, contract analysis, and even predicting case outcomes. This means there’s a growing need for “legal technologists” – professionals who understand both law and technology. An AI law internship (sometimes called a jurimetrics internship) is essentially a training ground in this tech-law intersection. As an intern, you might still do traditional legal tasks (research, memo writing), but you’ll also get hands-on with technology. For example, you could assist in implementing an AI tool that speeds up case law research, or help train a machine learning model to flag critical clauses in contracts.
Crucially, you do not need to be a programmer to contribute in these roles. AI law interns often act as a bridge between attorneys and tech teams. Your legal knowledge is the foundation; the tech skills can be learned on the job or through focused training. In fact, many AI law internships are designed for law students or recent grads who don’t have a computer science background. The goal is to make you comfortable working with legal tech – not to turn you into a software engineer overnight. As Refonte Learning’s AI legal training team emphasizes, “You don’t need to code, but you’ll gain comfort with technology and data-driven thinking.”. That means understanding how to use AI tools and interpret their outputs in a legal context, rather than building the tools from scratch. In short, AI is augmenting, not replacing, legal professionals – and internships in this niche aim to add tech skills to your existing legal toolkit.
How to Get Started with No Tech Background
Starting an AI law internship without a tech background is entirely feasible with the right approach. Here are the key steps to prepare and stand out:
Build Basic Tech Literacy: Begin with understanding the core concepts of AI and legal tech. You don’t need a degree in computer science; instead, take an online intro to AI or read up on how machine learning applies to law. Familiarize yourself with common legal tech software (for instance, tools for electronic discovery or contract review). Even a basic Coursera or Refonte Learning course on AI fundamentals can give you talking points and confidence. The idea is to show you’re proactive about learning tech. For example, learn what terms like NLP (natural language processing) or predictive coding mean in legal contexts. This baseline knowledge will make it easier to pick up specific tools during your internship.
Leverage Your Strengths as a “Non-Techie”: Remember that your legal expertise is the valuable part! AI law internships value interns who understand statutes, can write clearly, and think critically about legal problems. Highlight skills like legal research, analytical reasoning, and attention to detail – these are directly applicable when working with AI outputs. Perhaps you’ve done a thesis on data privacy law or participated in moot court on a tech-related case – mention that. Your domain knowledge in law is what helps tech teams build better legal AI tools. As one expert put it, tomorrow’s lawyers must be “comfortable working with technology” and able to interpret what AI tools provide. You likely already have analytical skills that AI teams need.
Get Training in AI & Law: One of the most effective ways to transition into this field is through a structured program that teaches both legal and tech skills. For example, Refonte Learning’s Jurimetric & AI program is a 3-month online training and internship certificate designed exactly for people like you – legal professionals diving into AI. It covers topics like legal automation, predictive analytics in law, AI-based compliance, and ethical issues. The program does not assume a coding background; instead, it provides an introduction to data science for legal systems and how AI tools can be applied in practice. Participants get to work on concrete projects (e.g., using NLP to analyze contracts or building simple legal chatbots) under the guidance of mentors. Refonte Learning’s course is global #1 in AI legal training and pairs you with mentors who are experts in both law and data science. The benefit of such a program is that you emerge not just with theoretical knowledge but also a portfolio of real work – and often a direct pathway to an internship via the program’s network.
Seek Out AI Law Opportunities: Start looking for internships or entry-level roles that specifically mention legal tech, innovation, or AI. Many big law firms have innovation teams or incubators now. Corporations (banks, tech companies, etc.) may have legal operations roles where AI projects are ongoing. Even government agencies are exploring AI for policy and compliance. Don’t limit your search to the job title “AI law intern” – also look for “legal innovation intern,” “legal tech intern,” or any internship in a firm’s innovation group. Networking can help here: join LinkedIn groups or forums focused on law and AI. Refonte Learning often hosts webinars on AI in law and has a community of professionals; attending these or engaging with that community can lead to connections. Let professors or mentors know you’re interested in legal tech – sometimes they hear of opportunities in research projects or startups.
Tailor Your Application: When you apply, make it clear why you’re interested in AI’s role in law. Even without a tech resume, you can emphasize relevant experiences. Maybe you took a data privacy course, or you have a certificate from a program like Refonte’s – highlight that prominently. Express enthusiasm for bridging law and technology. For example, in your cover letter say, “I’m fascinated by how machine learning can streamline contract review, and I’ve been self-studying AI applications in e-discovery.” This shows you’re not applying randomly – you have a genuine interest and some baseline knowledge. If you completed a project during training (say you helped develop a simple legal AI tool as coursework), describe it briefly – that kind of experience can set you apart from other law students.
Refonte Learning’s own internship program is a great example of an on-ramp for non-techies. In their Jurimetric & AI Training and Internship, interns follow a structured curriculum (~12–14 hours a week over 3 months) covering tech concepts and doing hands-on legal tech project. You get dual credentials (a training certificate and an internship certificate) to validate your new skills. Perhaps more importantly, you receive mentorship from seasoned professionals (even PhD-level experts in AI and law) who guide you through the learning process. By the end, you’ll have experience working on AI-law use cases and often a network that can help place you in a real internship or job. Refonte’s program demonstrates that with the right support and curriculum, beginners from a legal background can rapidly become “legal technologists.” In fact, Refonte Learning reports that alumni of their program have gone on to titles like AI Law Consultant and Jurimetrics Analyst, translating internship experience into full-blown careers. This shows that starting from zero tech experience, you can grow into a specialist role by leveraging structured training and practical experience.
What Does an AI Law Internship Look Like?
To envision how your internship might play out, let’s paint a picture of daily life as an AI law intern. At its core, an AI law internship combines traditional legal work with tech-driven tasks. On a given day, you might still be doing legal research or writing a memo – but using AI tools to do it faster. For example, instead of manually reading 100 cases, you could use an AI-powered research platform to pull the most relevant ones in minutes. You would then analyze those case findings just like in a normal internship, but the retrieval was turbocharged by AI.
Another part of your role could be evaluating and fine-tuning AI software. Let’s say your firm is implementing an AI contract analysis tool. As an intern, you might be tasked with feeding it sample contracts and checking its output. Did it correctly identify all the risky clauses? You’d use your legal knowledge to spot where the AI might have missed something or flagged a false positive, and then report that feedback to the tech team. In doing so, you’re training the AI in a practical sense – a process known as human-in-the-loop machine learning (don’t worry, it’s not as technical as it sounds when your legal brain is the “human” part).
You could also find yourself drafting ethical guidelines or AI policy memos. Since AI in law raises new issues (like confidentiality, bias, or compliance with privacy laws), interns often research these angles. For instance, you might help write a section of the firm’s internal policy on acceptable AI use – e.g. outlining when it’s okay to use generative AI to assist with legal research and when a human lawyer must always verify results.
Collaboration is a big theme: expect to act as a liaison between lawyers and IT or data science folks. At Refonte Learning, interns in the jurimetrics program collaborate with mentors who are dual experts in law and AI. Similarly, in a workplace internship, you might sit in meetings with software developers to explain legal requirements, or conversely, help attorneys understand what an AI tool is (and isn’t) doing. This “translator” role is incredibly valuable. As one Refonte instructor says, an AI law intern learns to “translate between tech and law”, explaining an AI’s findings to lawyers in plain English and conveying legal needs to the tech team.
Throughout your internship, you’ll be building a unique blend of skills that traditional law internships don’t offer. These typically include:
Technical Proficiency with Legal Tech: You’ll become familiar with software for legal research, document automation, contract analytics, etc. Over a few weeks, things that seemed “high-tech” will start feeling routine. And as noted, you don’t need programming skills – you learn to drive the tools, not build the engine.
Legal Analytics: This is the ability to interpret data and output from AI systems in a legal context. For example, if an AI tool gives a litigation case a 75% “win” prediction, you’ll learn how to contextualize that for your lawyers: What does that percentage mean? How was it derived? It’s a new kind of legal reasoning augmented by data.
AI Ethics and Policy Awareness: Working with AI exposes you to the frontier of law – things like algorithmic bias, data privacy issues, and evolving regulations on AI use. As an intern, you might research the latest AI laws or draft a brief on compliance (e.g., ensuring an AI tool doesn’t violate GDPR). This experience can set you up as an expert in a niche that’s only going to grow.
Problem-Solving & Adaptability: Because AI in law is new, there’s no playbook for everything. Interns often have to think on their feet – maybe troubleshoot why an AI tool gave a weird result, or figure out how to integrate a new tech process into a legal workflow. This nurtures creativity and initiative in a way classic internships might not.
By the end of an AI law internship, you should feel comfortable straddling the line between law and tech. In fact, a well-designed program (like Refonte’s) will ensure you come out as a “well-rounded legal technologist,” ready to talk with both attorneys and engineers on equal footing. That’s powerful for your resume.
Actionable Tips for Landing and Succeeding in an AI Law Internship
Network in the Legal Tech Community: Start connecting with people and organizations in this space. Join LinkedIn groups for legal innovation, follow thought leaders on Twitter (X), and attend webinars or workshops. (For example, Refonte Learning often hosts events on AI in law where you can learn and meet others.) Networking can lead to hearing about internship openings early. Don’t be shy about messaging someone in a law firm’s innovation team to ask for advice – many are enthusiastic to help students interested in legal tech.
Highlight Tech-Related Coursework or Projects: Even if you haven’t worked in tech, you might have taken a class that’s relevant (Cyberlaw, Data Privacy) or completed a certification. Make sure your resume reflects these. If you’ve gone through a Refonte Learning program or earned a certificate in AI fundamentals, feature it prominently. This signals to employers that you’ve invested in learning tech skills.
Tailor Your Applications and Interview Answers: When applying to an AI law position, customize your cover letter to show you understand the intersection of law and AI. Mention specific interests – e.g., “I’m eager to apply machine learning to streamline contract review processes”. During interviews, don’t panic if you get a tech question – they’re not expecting deep technical knowledge, but they want to see enthusiasm and logical thinking. If asked how you’d handle a task with an AI tool you’ve never used, talk through how you’d learn it and approach the problem. Show that you’re not afraid of tech and are excited by it.
Stay Curious and Be Proactive: Once you’re in the internship, treat it as a learning playground. If you encounter an AI tool, take the initiative to explore its features beyond what your task requires (without breaching confidentiality or ethics, of course). Supervisors love when interns display eagerness – ask questions about why the firm chose this tool, or how its algorithm works in simple terms. This curiosity will help you get more out of the experience and demonstrate your commitment.
Always Consider Ethics and Confidentiality: In legal settings, handling data and AI outputs comes with responsibilities. Be mindful of privacy – e.g., if you’re uploading documents to an AI platform, ensure it’s authorized and secure. Keep client data confidential, just as you would in any legal work. If you help with AI policy drafting, take it seriously. Showing a strong grasp of the ethical dimension will impress your mentors and is simply good practice (for example, double-checking that an AI’s suggestion is correct before using it in advice to a client). Remember, you’re partly there to be the human check on the machine.
By following these steps and tips, you’ll position yourself as a standout candidate for AI law internships, even without a traditional tech background. The combination of self-learning, possibly enrolling in a specialized training (like Refonte’s), and demonstrating your enthusiasm can truly jumpstart your journey. As Refonte Learning’s program spotlight shows, structured internships with training can fast-track you into cutting-edge roles – turning a few months of effort into a launching pad for an exciting career at the intersection of AI and law.
Conclusion & CTA
Embarking on an AI law internship with no tech background is not only possible – it’s a smart move to future-proof your legal career. The legal field is evolving, and those who can integrate technology into their skill set are quickly becoming indispensable. By focusing on foundational AI knowledge, leveraging your legal expertise, and seeking out the right training and internship opportunities, you can confidently step into this new arena. Remember, you’re not starting from scratch; you’re building on your legal foundation and adding a tech layer.
If you’re ready to accelerate your journey, consider programs like Refonte Learning’s Jurimetric & AI internship training, which are tailored for beginners and non-coders. You’ll gain hands-on experience in legal tech projects, mentorship from experts, and a certification that showcases your specialized skills. In a few months, you could go from feeling “not techy enough” to being the go-to person who bridges law and AI. Refonte Learning is here to help you every step of the way – from foundational courses to placing you in real AI law projects. Don’t let a lack of coding background hold you back. The world of AI law is waiting for sharp legal minds like yours to guide how technology is used responsibly in legal systems. Are you ready to seize that opportunity? Explore Refonte Learning’s AI law programs or reach out to learn how you can get started on this exciting career path today.
FAQ
Q1: Do I need to know how to code to get an AI law internship?
No – coding skills are not a requirement for most AI law internships. These internships are designed for people with legal backgrounds. You should be comfortable with technology (e.g. learning to use new software), but you don’t need to write software yourself. As Refonte Learning notes, “You don’t need to code, but you’ll gain comfort with technology.”The focus is on understanding and using AI tools in a legal context, not building them from scratch.
Q2: What is jurimetrics?
Jurimetrics generally refers to the application of quantitative methods (like statistics or data analysis) to legal questions. In the context of AI, it’s often about using data science and AI to analyze legal processes or predict outcomes. Refonte Learning’s Jurimetric & AI program is one example where you learn to combine law with data/AI techniques. So, a jurimetrics internship is basically an AI law internship – you’d be working on projects that bring data-driven decision making into legal work.
Q3: How can someone with a law background prepare for the tech side of an AI law internship?
Start with the basics: take an introductory course on AI or read articles about how AI is used in law (for example, AI in e-discovery or contract review). Getting a certificate from a program like Refonte Learning’s can be very helpful since it’s tailored to non-tech legal professionals. Also, try out free demos of legal tech software if available – even a brief familiarization with tools like Westlaw Edge (which has AI features) or an AI contract analyzer can give you insight. The goal is to show you’re proactive and curious; you’ll learn a lot on the job itself, too.
Q4: What kinds of projects do AI law interns actually work on?
AI law interns might work on projects such as implementing an AI research tool, testing a legal AI product, or helping a legal team use technology more efficiently. For example, you could assist in training an AI by reviewing its output on legal documents, work with developers on how an AI should flag important clauses in contracts, or research the legal implications of using AI in a new service. Interns often document workflows, write guidelines (like how to use an AI tool properly), and serve as a connector between the legal team and tech specialist. It’s a mix of legal research, tech utilization, and process improvement.
Q5: Will an AI law internship help my career if I decide to practice law traditionally?
Absolutely. The experience will make you a more modern, versatile lawyer. Even if you go into a traditional legal role afterward, knowing how to leverage AI and legal tech is a selling point. Many law firms and departments are looking for attorneys who are comfortable with technology because it improves efficiency and client service. Having that internship on your résumé shows you’re forward-thinking. It could lead to roles like legal innovation officer, or simply make you the attorney who can handle cases involving tech issues. In short, it future-proofs your career by adding a unique competency that more and more employers value.