Online law programs for high schoolers offer an opportunity to explore legal studies, helping you develop an understanding of how the legal system works and the processes of law practice. You’ll explore constitutional law, contract law, and civil rights. You’ll have the chance to engage with real-world case studies and learn how laws are applied in different scenarios.
Learning online allows you to manage coursework at your own pace and access various multimedia resources. Many of these programs allow you to participate in virtual discussions and simulations of the day-to-day tasks of lawyers, such as negotiating settlements or preparing legal briefs.
Here are 9 online law programs for high school students!
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP) — Law/Policy Track
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in subjects like data science, public policy, law, machine learning, biology, and more. After selecting your area of interest, you’ll be paired with a professor or PhD scholar from a top university, who will guide you through your research project.
If you’re interested in law, Horizon provides research topics on the intersection of psychology and criminal law. For example, you could examine how juror demographics influence verdicts or how social psychology can improve plea negotiation strategies. These topics aim to enhance fairness, reduce bias, and improve decision-making within the justice system. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Date: February 16, 2025, for the spring cohort and May 18, 2025, for the summer cohort
Program Dates:
- Spring seminar — March 3, 2025 onwards
- Summer seminar — June 16, 2025 onwards
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here
Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program offers a 7-week option that allows high school students to take college-level courses online for academic credit. You can choose one or two courses that align with your interests, including subjects in legal studies. For example, you might explore topics like global justice, human rights, and ethics, studying issues related to justice systems and international law. The 7-week program provides an opportunity to balance advanced coursework with extracurricular activities while building the skills needed for success in college. Each 4-credit course meets for 3 hours, two days a week, or choose a more intensive 8-credit course that meets five days a week.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,050 (4-credits) or $7,900 (8-credits)
Application Deadline: February 12, 2025
Program Dates: June 21 – August 9, 2025
Eligibility: Students must graduate from high school and enter college in 2025, 2026, or 2027; be at least 16 years old by June 21, 2025; and not turn 19 before July 31, 2025
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by experts from Harvard and Oxford, allows high school students to partner with PhD mentors and develop an independent research project in a field of their choice. If you’re interested in law, policy, or international relations, this virtual program allows you to research global issues, diplomatic strategies, and international conflicts. While working with a mentor, you’ll create a college-level research paper on a topic that interests you, with additional guidance from writing coaches to help you strengthen and refine your work. The program also offers options for publication, providing support for up to three rounds of submission to high school and undergraduate research journals.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: December 29, 2024, for the Winter Cohort II; multiple deadlines throughout the year
Program Dates: Vary according to cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Law Program introduces you to the legal profession. This program covers key topics for law majors and careers, including roles like lawyer, judge, or paralegal. Throughout the course, you’ll practice building fact-based arguments, analyzing evidence, and distinguishing between fact and opinion. You’ll also refine your decision-making skills and consider the ethical dimensions of your arguments. The program includes opportunities to assess real cases to explore the definition of crime, its causes, and the relationship between personal and societal values.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795
Application Deadline: Variable deadlines based on multiple upcoming course dates. See more here
Program Dates: Multiple 1-week intensives, 2-week sessions, and 4-week sessions
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
Columbia University’s Pre-College Program offers an online learning experience for high school students interested in business and law. The program lets you explore entrepreneurship, economics, and finance through interactive courses led by scholars and practitioners. One of the law-related courses available is Legal Reasoning: Thinking Like a Lawyer. In this course, you’ll focus on reading and interpreting case law, learning legal research and reasoning techniques, and developing legal writing skills. Structured like an introductory law school class, the course will help you build a foundation in legal methods and tools for crafting persuasive legal arguments. You’ll also interact with practicing lawyers through guest speakers and virtual law firm visits.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,810 per session (single course registration); each additional course costs $2,700
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted until spots are filled
Program Dates: Spring 2025: January 18 – March 23, 2025
Eligibility: Students must be in grades 9–12 while the program is running
Rice University’s Pre-College program offers virtual courses in a range of subjects. In this course, you’ll learn the fundamental principles of law and its societal impact, focusing on how law shapes fairness and opportunity. You’ll explore legal issues related to property ownership, employment rights, and education. You’ll also examine the ethical aspects of these laws. The course concludes with a Capstone Project, where you’ll be part of a legal task force. You’ll identify three connected societal issues and develop legal solutions for them. Upon completing the project, you’ll receive a certificate of completion from Rice University.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,495
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines based on the session. Deadlines are usually one week before the start date
Program Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
If you’re interested in law, understanding the U.S. Constitution is essential. In this course, you’ll explore how lawyers and judges use the Constitution to support cases. You will examine the judiciary’s role, how constitutional rights are interpreted, and why opinions differ on the document’s meaning. The course is offered by William and Mary, one of the country’s oldest universities, and gives you the chance to learn from constitutional scholars and law professors. You’ll study the history of the Constitution’s creation, the significance of the Bill of Rights, and conflicts between state and federal governments. This course is a good way to gain insight into a potential future in law.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,495
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines based on the session
Program Dates: Multiple year-round sessions
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
The World Lawyers Academy offers a two-week course on advanced legal concepts and practices. Led by a PhD candidate in law from Oxford, the program introduces you to the legal field. With a small class size of six students, you will study legal ethics, human rights, commercial law, and the history of law. The course concludes with a mock trial challenge, where you can apply what you’ve learned. You’ll receive a certificate of completion and a letter of recommendation.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,795
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: July 28 – August 8, 2025
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18
In Notre Dame’s ‘Law: Thinking Like a Lawyer’ course, you’ll learn how to apply legal rules using the IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion) method. This structured approach will help you analyze legal problems critically. You’ll explore the international legal system and sports law, focusing on how legal principles affect athletes, teams, and organizations. Additionally, the course covers intellectual property law, examining how it protects brands, inventions, and creative designs. You’ll gain practical insights into how law functions in the real world.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,495
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines based on the session; deadlines are usually one week before the program start date
Program Dates: Multiple 2-week sessions and 4-week sessions throughout the year
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.