Application Guide
How to Apply for General Counsel
at FAR AI
🏢 About FAR AI
FAR AI is a unique nonprofit that bridges the gap between academic research and industry commercialization, focusing on ensuring AI systems are trustworthy and beneficial to society. As an incubator and accelerator, it offers the chance to work on cutting-edge AI safety issues with significant societal impact. The remote-first culture and mission-driven team make it an appealing place for those passionate about AI governance.
About This Role
As the first General Counsel, you will build FAR AI's legal infrastructure from the ground up, establishing scalable governance and controls. This role is highly impactful because you'll shape the legal framework for an organization working on critical AI safety issues, handling everything from grants and partnerships to employment law and data privacy across multiple jurisdictions.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with reviewing a grant agreement for a new research partnership, then advising the team on data privacy compliance for a global study. Afternoon could involve drafting an employment contract for a remote hire in a different state, followed by a strategy session on how to handle emerging AI regulations. The role balances deep legal analysis with proactive risk management in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who FAR AI Is Looking For
- A practicing attorney with deep expertise in contract law, compliance, and corporate governance, ideally with experience in a startup or nonprofit setting.
- Knowledgeable in employment law, data privacy (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), and cross-border legal issues, with the ability to navigate multi-jurisdictional challenges.
- A strategic risk assessor who can identify complex legal challenges and recommend practical mitigations, especially in the fast-evolving AI regulatory landscape.
- An excellent communicator and drafter, able to create clear policies and agreements that align with FAR AI's mission and values.
📝 Tips for Applying to FAR AI
Tailor your resume to highlight experience with contract law, compliance, and governance, especially in tech or AI-related organizations.
In your cover letter, explicitly connect your legal expertise to AI safety and FAR AI's mission—show you understand the unique challenges of AI governance.
Demonstrate experience with remote work and cross-jurisdictional issues, as the role is remote and involves US and international laws.
Provide examples of building legal infrastructure from scratch, such as developing compliance programs or drafting standard agreements.
Mention any familiarity with AI ethics or technology policy, even if not directly legal, to show alignment with the company's focus.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Highlight your passion for AI safety and how your legal skills can help FAR AI achieve its mission.', 'Emphasize experience in building scalable legal frameworks and handling complex contracts in a fast-paced environment.', 'Show expertise in employment law and data privacy across jurisdictions, with specific examples.', 'Convey your ability to advise on risk mitigation for novel legal challenges in the AI field.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read FAR AI's website and recent publications to understand their research priorities and ongoing projects.
- → Familiarize yourself with the AI safety landscape, including organizations like MIRI, OpenAI, and Anthropic, and how FAR AI fits in.
- → Review common legal challenges for nonprofits, especially those related to grants, IP, and international operations.
- → Look into current AI regulation proposals (e.g., EU AI Act, US executive orders) to discuss how they might affect FAR AI.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't submit a generic legal resume without tailoring it to AI or nonprofit experience—show specific interest in the mission.
- Avoid focusing solely on corporate law without addressing the unique risks of AI, such as algorithmic accountability or safety.
- Don't overlook the remote aspect—failing to mention experience with distributed teams or cross-jurisdictional work can be a red flag.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!