If you’re a high schooler curious about what a career in law looks like, law internships can give you an early start on skills that most people only build in college. Such internships expose you to practical legal systems, whether that’s shadowing attorneys in a courtroom, conducting case research, or learning how client files are organized.
While many law internships are designed for undergraduates, several programs across the U.S. open doors for motivated high schoolers each year to experience the world of law firsthand. Because they are competitive and sometimes limited to certain regions, it can be challenging to find the right program. That’s why we’ve pulled together a list of 15 of the top law internships for high school students. These are designed to help you develop legal writing, research, and analytical skills, while introducing you to the structure of law firms, courts, and advocacy organizations and giving you a clearer picture of whether law is the right path for you.
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote; You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Starting at $1,990; Financial aid is available
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks; Undergraduates and gap year students can apply as well
Ladder Internships is a selective program where you can work with nonprofits and startups across the world, including legal-tech start-ups. These organizations work in fields such as law, media and journalism, machine learning and AI, finance, environmental science and sustainability, business and marketing, healthcare and medicine, and more. Here, you’ll work with both a direct manager from the organization and a Ladder Coach, culminating in a final project at the end of the program. Along the way, you’ll also take part in structured 1-on-1 and group professional development sessions on communication, project management, and leadership.
2. School Internships, Jimmerson Birr Law Firm
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Cost: No cost
Dates: 4-6 weeks in the summer; Specific dates not mentioned
Application Deadline: Typically due in spring; Apply here
Eligibility: High school students who can work at their office in Jacksonville
This program provides you with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the world of business law. During the application, you will be asked to choose the department you want to work with, like accounting, communications and marketing, legal services, or information technology. Over 4-6 weeks, you will work closely with department leaders across fields such as legal services, communications, marketing, accounting, and information technology, assisting in case research, analytics, and legal documentation.. You will gain exposure to diverse networking opportunities while enhancing your critical thinking and communication skills. This internship equips you with transferable knowledge in business administration and offers valuable insights into a corporate workspace..
3. Annual High School Internship Program, McDivitt Law Firm
Location: Colorado Springs, Denver, Pueblo
Cost: No cost
Dates: Typically in summer
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Junior and Senior students in high school and college
In this program, you will be introduced to how an actual law firm operates. Here, you will work alongside attorneys, paralegals, and case managers and take part in day-to-day tasks like legal research, document preparation, or client interaction. You will also gain exposure to the judicial process through involvement in the Colorado Springs Teen Court, offering insight into how community-based legal systems function. The program concludes with a short report of your work experience to colleagues and family, and a letter of recommendation from Michael W. McDivitt upon completion.
4. Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP), Dallas Bar Association
Location: Dallas, TX
Cost: No cost; Interns receive a stipend (typically varies depending on the employer)
Dates: Session 1 (June 9 – July 3); Session 2 (July 7 – August 1); Full Session (June 9 – August 1)
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Open to Dallas Independent School District (ISD) high school juniors during the current school year
SLIP, organized by the Dallas Bar Association in collaboration with the Dallas Independent School District, shows you the daily operations of legal offices through placements in law firms and corporate legal departments across Dallas. The employer determines your work schedule–full-time for 4 weeks or part-time for 8 weeks. Here, you will take part in orientations and educational events, designed to broaden your understanding of the law. You will also be required to complete a Summer Internship Learning curriculum that will introduce you to the basics of how a law firm functions. The program concludes with a reception where you will share your learning experiences with attorneys and peers, thus strengthening both your legal insight and professional network.
5. Law Links Internship, Maryland Youth and the Law (MYLAW)
Location: Baltimore, MA
Cost: No cost; Students will receive a stipend of $15/hour
Dates: 7 weeks in summer (June 23 – August 7)
Application Deadline: April 5
Eligibility: Applicants must be residents of Baltimore City, currently in sophomore or junior year of high school, and attend a Baltimore City public high school
This internship, offered by the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, is a 7-week, full-time program that will place you in different law firms and legal agencies across Baltimore. Here, you will learn about the daily realities of legal practice, engage in discussions with professionals, and take part in field trips to Citi Watch and the Baltimore FBI Bureau. Alongside this, you will participate in the Law & Leadership Institute, a 50-hour seminar that combines orientation sessions, weekly classes, and discussions to build skills in legal research, professional communication, and workplace ethics.
6. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program (TMSLIP), New York City Bar
Location: Varies according to the internship firm
Cost: No cost, stipend ranges from $16/hour to $22/hour
Dates: 6-8 weeks during summer, 35-40 hours per week
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: Open to students attending a New York City public high school
TMSLIP provides you with hands-on exposure to various legal processes, research methodologies, and advocacy techniques by placing you in law firms, corporations, non-profits, or government agencies across New York City. Here, you will be assigned different administrative tasks such as maintaining records, mail filing, faxing, fielding phone calls, etc., while also participating in development programs to gain substantive legal experience. This combination of practical assignments and guided programming helps you build critical workplace skills, develop confidence in professional environments, and understand the pathways available within the field of law.
7. Peña Aleczander Summer Internship Program
Location: McAleen, Texas
Cost: None
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to high school, college, and law school students
This program offers high school students an opportunity to explore legal practice with a focus on catastrophic injury, commercial litigation, white-collar defence, and business counsel. Here, you will work alongside attorneys on case preparation, legal research, and organizational tasks, while also observing real legal proceedings, including depositions, mediations, client meetings, and even trials. This direct exposure helps you develop practical skills in legal analysis, professional communication, and case strategy.
8. Hall-Jackson and Associates Internships
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: None
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to high school, college, and law school students
This Chicago-based law firm internship gives you direct exposure to core litigation and corporate law practices. As an intern, you will draft legal documents, assemble case materials, and assist with trial preparation. You will also conduct legal research, study statutes and case law, and work with trial briefs, subpoenas, discovery requests, and motions. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, giving you insight into how attorneys build cases and manage evidence.
9. Suit Up for the Future High School Summer Legal Institute and Intern Program, Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA)
Location: New Orleans, LA
Cost: Free; Stipends go up to $250
Dates: June 9– 27
Application Deadline: May 5
Eligibility: Incoming high school juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates
In collaboration with the Louisiana Supreme Court, Just the Beginning, and Louisiana law schools, this three-week program is designed as a condensed law school experience for rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates. In the classroom, you’ll take part in “Suit Up” sessions that use Socratic teaching methods to introduce subjects like criminal law, legal research, and courtroom procedure. You’ll also prepare a mock trial problem and present an oral argument before a panel of judges. Outside the classroom, you’ll shadow attorneys in law offices and courts, tour law schools, and observe real legal proceedings. The program emphasizes both academic rigor and hands-on exposure to professional legal practice.
10. Summer Law Institute (SLI), Legal Outreach
Location: Various law schools in New York City
Cost: Free Stipend is paid upon completion
Dates: First week of July through the first week of August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising ninth-grade students from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens
This five-week program introduces you to the foundations of criminal law, courtroom procedure, and the skills of legal argument. A typical day runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes classroom lessons on criminal justice topics, discussions with legal professionals, and field trips to courts and law schools such as Columbia and NYU. You will prepare for and participate in a full mock trial before a sitting judge, gaining early experience in oral advocacy and public speaking. Graduates also become eligible for Legal Outreach’s four-year College Bound program, which offers SAT prep, mentoring, and support through the college application process.
11. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Advocacy Institute
Location: American University in Washington, D.C.
Cost: $2,700; Full and partial tuition assistance and travel stipends are available based on need
Dates: July 13 – 19; July 20 – 26; July 27 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 3 (Early Decision); April 14 (Regular Decision)
Eligibility: High school students (aged 15-18)
This week-long program brings together high school students to train with ACLU lawyers, lobbyists, and policy advocates on the front lines of civil liberties work. You will take part in issue electives taught by communications experts, organizers, lawyers, policy advocates, and other professionals. You will learn how to analyze current legal and social justice issues, develop advocacy strategies, and practice skills such as legal writing, persuasive communication, and policy analysis. Daily homeroom sessions create space for discussion of current issues, and the program culminates in a Day of Action, where participants engage in real advocacy through lobbying, rallies, or participate in writing campaigns. This program not only provides exposure to real-world legal challenges but also emphasizes collaboration with professionals and peers, giving you a foundation in both the substance and strategy of social justice lawyering.
12. High School Internship Program, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office
Location: Manhattan, NY
Cost: Free; Stipend is minimum wage
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors in Manhattan
This five-week paid internship introduces you to the inner workings of the criminal justice system through direct engagement with legal professionals and structured learning. Offered by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the program allows you to develop skills in legal research, critical thinking, and public speaking while exploring key areas such as gun violence prevention, hate crime prosecution, white-collar crime investigations, and criminal justice reform. You will learn how cases are built and tried, strengthen professional communication in an office environment, and gain hands-on experience by preparing and presenting arguments in a mock trial. Beyond classroom-style workshops, you will collaborate with prosecutors, attorneys, and staff working on pressing legal issues, giving you both exposure to the realities of law in practice and the opportunity to present work in a professional legal setting.
13. Evan Guthrie Law Firm Internship
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Cost: No cost, stipend paid to all interns
Dates: Flexible dates
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: Open to all high school, college, and law school students
This internship offers flexible, real-world exposure to legal practice in a Charleston firm known for estate planning, probate, personal injury, divorce, elder law, and related areas. Here, you will learn through assisting with legal research and document analysis, working at your own pace and based on genuine interests. The program provides a welcoming environment for beginners, helping them gain comfort in legal workflows.
14. Judicial Youth Corps Program
Location: Massachusetts (Boston, Worcester, and Springfield)
Cost: Stipend paid
Dates: Six-week program from July through August
Application Deadline: Rolling applications (varies by city)
Eligibility: High school students residing in or attending school in the specific city (Boston, Worcester, or Springfield)
This program, run by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, introduces you to the state court system through both classroom learning and practical experience. In the first phase, you will attend workshops led by judges, attorneys, and court staff that cover subjects such as juvenile law, criminal procedure, family law, landlord–tenant disputes, and the appeals process. The second phase places you as a paid intern at a local courthouse, where you will observe court proceedings and assist with day-to-day tasks. Together, these two components give you both an academic overview of legal processes and firsthand exposure to how courts function.
15. Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program
Location: Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free; Includes a stipend of $2,000 for the six-week term
Dates: May 28 – July 18 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
This internship places you inside Atlanta’s legal community to learn about the daily operations of law firms and courts. Your tasks may include document preparation, summarizing depositions, answering phones, and organizing trial notebooks. You will also have opportunities to attend depositions or court hearings for direct exposure to legal practice. Before beginning, you will complete an orientation on confidentiality and professionalism, followed by weekly check-ins to review progress. The program is designed to help you understand both the administrative and professional responsibilities involved in legal work.
Bonus Item: Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Dates: Varies by cohort: Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum GPA of 3.3
This 12-week program offers an intensive research experience to high school students who are willing to explore a particular subject in depth. Here, you will be selecting a topic that aligns with your interests and working one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to plan and carry out an independent project. Over the course of the program, you will conduct in-depth research and organize your findings into a final paper. This structure gives you the chance to develop your skills in academic writing and critical thinking while gaining a clearer understanding of your subject. To be a part of this research-intensive experience, click here.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
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