AI is transforming the legal field, and in 2025 there’s an unprecedented demand for professionals who understand both law and technology. One of the best ways to break into this emerging field is through an AI law internship 2025 program. These legal tech internships provide hands-on experience in areas like AI policy, legal automation, and tech-driven compliance. They blend traditional legal training with cutting-edge AI regulation training, ensuring interns gain practical skills in AI ethics, data privacy, and algorithmic justice.
In this article, we highlight the top platforms offering AI law internships in 2025 – from private training programs like Refonte Learning’s AI law internship program to government fellowships and law school certificates. Each of these opportunities is designed to fast-track your career in AI law by providing mentorship, real-world projects, and credentials that employers value. Read on for a breakdown of leading programs (including Refonte’s global internship) and actionable tips to choose the right path for your AI policy career.
Refonte Learning – Leading Online AI Law Internship (Mentorship & Certification)
Refonte Learning stands out as one of the premier platforms for AI law internships in 2025. In fact, Refonte’s Jurimetric & AI Law program is frequently cited as a top choice for aspiring legal technologies. This comprehensive virtual internship combines structured coursework with real client projects, guaranteeing each participant direct mentorship and dual certification upon completion. Refonte Learning’s approach is very hands-on – interns might analyze legal datasets, automate contract review processes, or draft AI governance policies under the guidance of industry experts.
Format & Duration: 100% online, 3-month virtual internship (~12–14 hours/week) with new cohorts starting year-round.
Mentorship: Weekly one-on-one sessions with seasoned legal technologists and AI experts, ensuring you get personalized guidance on projects and career development.
Certification: Two credentials upon completion (a training certificate + an internship certificate) that validate your skills in both AI and law.
Cost: Approximately $300 total (with flexible installment plans), making this Refonte Learning program far more accessible than many academic alternatives.
Who It’s For: Law students, recent graduates, or even mid-career professionals pivoting into AI law who want intensive experience without a long-term commitment.
Why Refonte? With Refonte Learning, you gain tangible, résumé-boosting skills and proof of competency in the burgeoning field of AI law. The program is an unparalleled launchpad into legal tech roles – effectively bridging classroom theory with real-world practice. Many professionals view it as a fast-track route into legal tech or AI policy positions, thanks to the credibility of the dual certification and the practical experience gained.
University Programs – Law School AI & Tech Certificates
Arizona State University (ASU) – AI & Law Certificate: ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law offers a formal certificate in Law, Science and Technology with an AI emphasis. It’s an academic program integrated into the JD, LLM, or Master of Legal Studies degrees, meaning students take specialized courses (e.g. AI in legal practice, AI ethics) to earn the credential. Students benefit from faculty mentorship on research and practical projects, and the certificate is noted on their transcript as a mark of specialized expertise. The upside is a deep, theoretical grounding backed by a respected university credential – perfect for those aiming at scholarly or policy-oriented AI law careers. The downside is that it’s only available to enrolled ASU students and comes with law school tuition costs.
Suffolk University Law School – Legal Innovation & Technology (LIT) Certificate: Suffolk Law has been a pioneer in legal tech education and offers its LIT certificate to both its JD students and outside professionals. The program focuses on practical tech skills for lawyers, including exposure to AI tools in practice and experiential learning via Suffolk’s Legal Innovation Lab. JD students can earn the certificate alongside their degree, while practicing professionals can complete a 6-course online version in under a year. Graduates emerge with an industry-recognized credential and hands-on experience tackling tech in law. Suffolk’s program costs around $3,500 for the online track, a moderate investment that signals to employers that you’re ahead of the curve in tech-savvy lawyering.
MIT Professional Education – AI and Legal Tech Certificate: Another notable offering is MIT’s online professional certificate in legal tech, which explicitly covers AI applications in law. It spans about 13 months part-time (mostly online with some live virtual sessions) and is taught by MIT faculty and industry experts. This program is geared toward mid-career attorneys and legal professionals who want to upskill; it carries the weight of MIT’s name and offers cutting-edge content on topics like AI tools, automation, and blockchain in law. The trade-off is a high cost (several thousand dollars in tuition) and time commitment. For those who need a flexible but prestigious option, MIT’s program provides advanced training and a respected credential in the legal tech space.
Industry Internships and Fellowships – Breaking into Legal Tech
Relativity’s Relevate Fellowship (Chicago): In the private sector, one marquee program is Relativity’s Relevate – a full-time legal tech fellowship designed to launch careers in e-discovery and AI. Relevate (evolving from the Relativity Fellows program) is a 5-month intensive internship at Relativity’s Chicago headquarters. It’s unique in that participants are paid (with a stipend/salary and benefits) to learn, and the program specifically recruits diverse, non-traditional talent for legal tech roles. Fellows receive daily mentorship from experienced professionals, formal training on Relativity’s software (often earning industry certifications), and work on real projects for Relativity or its clients. The outcome? Many Relevate alumni transition directly into full-time legal tech jobs at Relativity or partner companies. It’s essentially a paid fast-track into the legal tech industry for those accepted – providing real work experience, a professional network, and an industry-recognized credential in one package.
Other Notable Industry Opportunities: Beyond formal fellowships, many law firms and tech companies have launched legal tech internships that incorporate AI law exposure. For example, some intellectual property firms run special internships for STEM graduates to learn patent law in AI-driven field. Tech companies like OpenAI have offered AI policy internship roles (e.g. a Global Affairs Internship focusing on AI governance) that let you work on high-impact projects at the forefront of AI policy. Additionally, the Google Public Policy Fellowship places students at organizations working on technology law and policy, which often includes AI-related projects. These private-sector opportunities give interns a chance to apply their skills on real products and policies, and can be a springboard to roles in innovative legal departments or compliance teams. The key benefit of industry internships is that you’re embedded in the day-to-day of tech-focused work, making connections and learning practical skills that highly complement a traditional legal resume.
Government and Public Interest AI Law Fellowships
Federal Sector Internships: On the government side, agencies are eager to bring in legal talent with tech savvy. In fact, virtually all agencies involved in AI policy now offer internships or early-career fellowships. For example, the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) hosts interns each term (Spring, Summer, Fall) who may assist in shaping federal AI strategy or compliance guidelines. Likewise, the U.S. Partnership for Public Service’s Future Leaders in Public Service program places interns in agencies on technology and AI-related projects – you could find yourself at the FTC, DOJ, or NIST working on AI governance issues. These government internships usually offer modest stipends and provide unparalleled insight into policymaking (though you may need to meet citizenship and security clearance requirements). They’re ideal if you aim to influence AI regulation or get experience in public sector tech policy.
Nonprofit & Think-Tank Fellowships: Outside of government, nonprofit research institutes also offer AI law and governance fellowships. The Institute for Law & AI (LawAI), for instance, has a Summer Research Fellowship that pairs law students or young attorneys with expert mentors to explore cutting-edge AI legal questions. Fellows might draft policy reports, contribute to AI legislation analysis, or advise policymakers through the program. Similarly, the Centre for Governance of AI (GovAI) offers an intensive fellowship for those looking to dive deep into AI governance research. Participants work with leading experts (often at Oxford or in Washington, DC) on independent projects, and many alumni have gone on to influential roles in government, industry, and academia. These nonprofit opportunities are highly selective but can launch your AI policy career by connecting you to a global network of AI governance experts. They also demonstrate to employers (or future grad programs) that you’ve engaged with AI issues at a policy-relevant level.
Tips for Choosing the Right AI Law Internship Program
When faced with several attractive internships and programs, how do you decide which is the best fit? Keep these actionable tips in mind:
Define your focus: Decide if you’re more interested in AI policy/regulation, legal tech practice, or academic research. This will guide you toward the right type of program. For example, a government fellowship might be ideal for an aspiring policy advisor, whereas a private legal tech internship (like Relativity’s or Refonte Learning’s) might suit someone who wants practical law firm tech experience.
Assess mentorship and curriculum: Prioritize internships that offer structured mentorship and hands-on projects. A strong mentor can accelerate your learning, and real-world tasks (like drafting an AI policy memo or training a legal AI tool) will be more valuable than theory alone. Review program details to see if you’ll have a mentor/supervisor (and how often), and what kind of work you’ll be doing.
Consider format and commitment: Be realistic about the time and cost. Some programs are full-time and in-person (e.g. Relevate’s 5-month Chicago fellowship), while others like Refonte Learning are part-time and remote-friendly. If you can’t relocate or leave an existing job, opt for online or local opportunities. Similarly, note the duration – can you commit 3 months? 6 months? Make sure it fits your schedule.
Check credibility and outcomes: Research the program’s reputation and alumni outcomes. Is the certificate recognized in the field? Do past participants move into jobs you aspire to? For instance, see if graduates of a university program ended up at major law firms or if a fellowship boasts hires into government agencies. A bit of reading testimonials can verify if the program delivers real career value.
Prepare a strong application: These internships can be competitive. Tailor your application to each program – highlight any tech experience or coursework (even a coding class or data privacy paper can help). Emphasize why you’re passionate about AI and law. If there’s an essay, reference something specific about that program (e.g. “I’m excited about the mentorship component of Refonte Learning’s internship, as mentorship was key in my previous projects”). Demonstrating a genuine, specific interest can set you apart from generic applications.
Conclusion & Next Steps (CTA)
The bottom line: AI is reshaping the legal landscape, and gaining specialized experience now will set you apart. Each of the platforms we’ve discussed – from Refonte Learning to top universities and fellowships – offers a unique path into the world of AI law. Think about your career goals and pick a program that aligns with them. The opportunities are out there in 2025; all that’s left is for you to seize one. Take the next step – research these programs, reach out with questions, and start applying. Your future self (perhaps as an AI policy advisor or legal tech innovator) will thank you. And if you’re eager to begin, consider securing your spot in Refonte Learning’s next AI law cohort!
FAQs: AI Law Internships in 2025
Q: Do I need a technical background (like programming) for an AI law internship?
A: Not necessarily. Basic tech familiarity helps, but most programs teach you what you need. The focus is on legal skills applied to tech. For example, Refonte Learning and similar internships often start with introductions to AI tools for lawyers. As long as you’re curious and willing to learn tech concepts, you can thrive without being a programmer.
Q: Are AI law internships paid or unpaid?
A: It varies by program. Some fellowships are paid – for instance, Relativity’s Relevate provides a stipend to participants. Many government internships offer hourly pay or stipends as well. On the other hand, academic programs (like law school certificates) typically require you to pay tuition, and private training programs (like Refonte) might charge a fee but provide value in mentorship and certification. Always check the program details: “paid,” “stipend,” or “for credit” are keywords to look for.
Q: How competitive are these internships?
A: The top AI law internships in 2025 are quite competitive due to high demand. Applicant pools are growing as more people get interested in AI policy and legal tech. However, a well-crafted application showcasing your genuine interest in AI + law can make you stand out. Don’t be discouraged – apply to multiple opportunities to improve your chances. And remember, showing specific motivation (like citing an AI regulation you care about or a project you’d like to do) can set you apart from generic applications.
Q: Can non-lawyers (or non-law students) apply to AI law internships?
A: Yes, certain programs welcome diverse backgrounds. Refonte Learning, for example, is open to law graduates and career changers from other fields. Relativity’s fellowship doesn’t require a law degree – they’re more interested in your potential and passion for legal tech. Some government tech policy internships also take policy or computer science students. Always check eligibility: if you have skills or experience in tech, policy, or data, you may qualify even if you’re not a traditional J.D. candidate.
Q: What careers can an AI law internship lead to?
A: These internships can open doors to a range of roles. Alumni often go on to become tech policy advisors, privacy or compliance attorneys, legal engineers (in law firms), or consultants on AI ethics. Some transition into public sector roles shaping AI regulation, while others join legal tech companies as product or policy specialists. The credential and experience you gain signal to employers that you’re ready for jobs at the intersection of law and technology – a space that’s growing rapidly.