Stanford’s Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology (LIFT) Lab seeks to increase access to high quality legal services in the private sector by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and other frontier technologies. We design, investigate and evaluate AI tools in legal education and private practice that are aimed to both reduce the cost and increase the quality of legal services in a sustainable and responsible way. To bridge the gap between theory and practice, our work extends beyond conceptualization and encompasses the building of prototypes that help explore the utility of AI-based solutions. We are currently seeking a Research Scientist to join our team who will report directly to Professor Julian Nyarko and Dr. Megan Ma as the Lab Directors.
As a Research Scientist you will:
● In partnership with the Directors and other staff, execute and administer research activities on AI and other legal technological developments; make recommendations on project development and implementation.
● Train classifiers, design/construct the architecture of AI platforms, build LLM agents.
● Oversee and support training of research assistants and student fellows on best practices and technical skills.
● Write and edit content for a variety of work product outputs, including peer-reviewed journal articles, white papers, project proposals, etc. Assist with the development of research grants, (i.e., may suggest new funding opportunities, write portions of grants, and/or summarize data for grant support).
● Represent the Lab and the specific projects for which the Research Scientist is responsible or is assisting in leading as the key contact and subject matter expert and develop communications for internal and external constituencies.
● Organize and/or participate in outreach activities such as events, partnerships, fundraising, training, and conferences.
● Assist in the teaching and administration of courses at the intersection of AI & Law. Create and/or advise in the development of curriculum. Make recommendations for course improvements.
CORE DUTIES:
● Leveraging state-of-the-art large language models, administer research activities.
● Collect and analyze data, create reports, review and explain trends to determine effectiveness, formulate and evaluate solutions to data issues, and make recommendations to enhance Lab goals.
● Identify and select usable data from subtle and complex data patterns.
● Design methods to validate data to ensure high quality output.
● Identify new sources of data and methods to improve data collection, analysis and reporting.
● Explore creative approaches to systematically train LLMs on experiential data.
● Evaluate existing tools, develop new prototypes of technological solutions to legal problems.
Education & Experience:
Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of relevant experience or a combination of education, training, and relevant experience. Candidates with an advanced degree (JD, Masters, and/or PhD in relevant areas) may be particularly well-suited.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
● Demonstrated oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization.
● Expert knowledge of the principles of engineering and related fields (e.g. linguistics, data science, natural sciences, statistics, etc.).
● Demonstrated experience in machine learning / deep learning / AI.
● Demonstrated interest in scientific research.
● Basic knowledge of software engineering principles and strong knowledge of at least one programming language, such as Python or R; basic statistical ability.
● Ability to collect data using a variety of methods, such as data mining and hardcopy or electronic documentation study, to improve or expand databases.
● Ability to manage multiple activities in a deadline-oriented environment; highly organized, flexible and rigorous attention to detail.
● Ability to work with data of varying levels of quality and validity.
● Demonstrated ability to produce data in a clear and understandable manner meeting user requirements.
● Ability to work effectively with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
Nice to Have:
● Interest in the causal inference and social sciences, particularly law (although the relevant legal knowledge can be obtained on the job).
This position will be a two-year fixed-term appointment, subject to renewal.
To be considered, please submit the following items along with your online application by December 31, 2024:
● CV
● Transcript (if graduated within 3 years)
● Project and code samples or GitHub
Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.
Stanford Law School seeks to hire the best talent and to promote a safe and secure environment for all members of the university community and its property. To that end, new staff hires must successfully pass a background check prior to starting work at Stanford University.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
