Law Visiting Professorship - AI Risk Governance Fellow

Rank

Instructor

Position Summary

The University of Alabama School of Law is inviting applications for its inaugural AI Risk Governance Fellow. The fellowship is part of the School’s AI Studies Initiative led by professor Yonathan Arbel. We are seeking a promising junior legal scholar to join this fellowship program, preferably to begin in the 2026-2027 academic year. This fellowship is designed to prepare exceptional candidates for success on the entry-level tenure-track law teaching market while helping to establish and define a new field of legal scholarship at a critical moment in AI development. Candidates must have outstanding academic credentials, including a J.D. from an accredited law school or an equivalent degree (such as a Ph.D. in a related field) and should demonstrate potential for strong teaching and scholarship. We welcome applications from candidates who approach scholarship from a variety of perspectives and methods.

Detailed Position Information

The fellow will organize and lead scholarly activities at the intersection of law and AI safety, conduct original research on risk governance, teach and educate law students, and assist with media activities.

This fellowship will provide opportunities for mentorship and coaching, as well as institutional support, to assist fellows in seeking tenure-track positions in legal academia. Research areas may include (but are not limited to):

• Constitutional and administrative law approaches to AI regulation
• International coordination on AI safety governance
• Corporate governance and liability frameworks for AI development
• Criminal law applications to autonomous AI systems
• Antitrust considerations in AI safety regulation
• Private law solutions to AI alignment problems
• Tax and environmental law approaches to AI governance

This is a 12-month contract position and does not include the possibility of tenure. The contract will be for a 1-year period with the possibility of renewal for a second year. Salary, benefits, and research support will be nationally competitive. All applications are confidential to the extent permitted by state and federal law. Questions should be directed to professor Yonathan Arbel at yaarbel@ua.edu with the subject line “APPLICATION, AI Fellowship.”

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must have outstanding academic credentials, including a J.D. from an accredited law school or an equivalent degree (such as a Ph.D. in a related field) and should demonstrate potential for strong teaching and scholarship.

Candidates must also have a demonstrated interest in pursuing legal academia, strong research and organizational capabilities, and intellectual curiosity about the intersection of law and emerging technology.

Preferred Qualifications

We encourage applications from recent law graduates or early-career legal academics who bring fresh perspectives to these challenges and are excited about the opportunity to establish foundational scholarship in an emerging field. Commitment to rigorous, interdisciplinary scholarship and a collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for engaging with diverse perspectives are preferred. A background or demonstrated interest in AI, technology policy, or related areas are preferred.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application

All applicants must apply for this position through the University of Alabama’s job site at https://careers.ua.edu/jobs/search/law and must submit the following materials: 1. Cover letter explaining your interest in the position and Law and AI Safety research 2. Curriculum vitae 3. Law school transcript (official or unofficial) 4. Writing sample (published or unpublished) 5. Names of two references (or copies of letters of reference)