For students interested in careers related to law, government, or public policy, exploring legal studies during high school can be an excellent first step. Law programs allow students to examine how legal systems work and how arguments are developed in courtrooms and policy discussions.
In many programs, you will participate in activities such as mock trials, legal research exercises, and case analysis. These experiences help students understand how lawyers evaluate evidence, interpret laws, and present arguments.
Why should you choose a program in Arizona?
Arizona hosts a variety of educational programs that introduce high school students to the legal field. Universities and civic organizations often run programs where students can learn about constitutional law, public policy, and the legal profession.
These opportunities allow students to gain early exposure to legal studies while interacting with instructors and peers who share similar interests. They can also add depth to college applications by showing that you actively explored potential career paths.
With that in mind, here are 15 law programs for high school students in Arizona! While this blog focuses on a wide variety of law programs, if you’re interested in criminal justice specifically, you can check out a list of relevant programs here. We also have a list of multidisciplinary pre-college programs for high schoolers in Arizona here.
15 Law Programs for High School Students in Arizona
1. ASU Future Lawyers Institute
Location: ASU West Valley Campus, Glendale, AZ
Cost: Free (with $50 refundable deposit)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – 5 or June 8 – 12
Application Deadline: April 13
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students
The Future Lawyers Institute provides a five-day immersion into the legal profession within a university setting. You will attend interactive workshops and seminars led by Arizona State University faculty and industry professionals to understand the fundamental principles of law. The curriculum focuses on developing skills in legal reasoning and professional communication through collaborative group projects. You will also participate in guest speaker sessions where you will hear from practicing attorneys about their career paths and daily responsibilities. Finally, there are also plenty of networking sessions with legal professionals as well as law school students.
2. Arizona State Senate Page Program
Location: Arizona State Capitol, Phoenix, AZ
Cost: No cost, interns earn a $12/hour wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective, only 15 positions available
Dates: Two alternating days per week alongside the Arizona State Senate operations, starting January 12 to estimated April 21
Application Deadline: November 7
Eligibility: Students at least 18 years old
This rare and exclusive opportunity allows you to serve as a Page for the Arizona State Senate, where you will facilitate the legislative process by assisting Senators during floor sessions and committee meetings. You will gain a first-hand understanding of how laws are drafted, debated, and enacted within the state government. Your responsibilities could include distributing legal documents, managing legislative materials, and performing administrative tasks essential to the Senate’s operation. You will observe the interaction between law and policy while working in the heart of the Arizona legislative district. While most page positions go to college students, this is not a mandatory requirement, and graduating high school seniors can apply.
3. Surprise City Court Academy
Location: Surprise City Court, Surprise, AZ
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: January 21 – May 5
Application Deadline: December 19
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
In this interactive career education program, you will learn the fundamental values of the American justice system by working closely with professionals at the Surprise City Court. You will attend regular meetings held twice a month where you will observe active cases and interact with judges, attorneys, and police personnel. The program includes a field trip to the Arizona Supreme Court to observe oral arguments and gain insight into appellate procedures. The academy concludes with a final mock trial, providing the opportunity to practice case preparation and courtroom skills, and a reception where you will meet with city officials.
4. Pima County Attorney’s Office High School Internship
Location: Pima County Attorney’s Office, Tucson, AZ
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Positions available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in Pima County
This volunteer internship allows you to gain hands-on experience in the criminal justice system by assisting the County Attorney’s staff with administrative and legal support tasks. You will have the opportunity to observe courtroom proceedings and will learn about the stages of a criminal case from initial appearance to sentencing. The program allows you to work in specialized divisions such as Victim Services or Community Outreach, depending on office needs and your professional interests. You will interact with investigators, paralegals, and deputy county attorneys to see how they collaborate to represent the public.
5. Pima County Summer Youth Employment Program (Legal Placements)
Location: Various public service and legal offices, Tucson, AZ
Cost: No cost, students are paid $16.54 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1–June 26 or July 6–July 31
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Students ages 14–21
Pima County’s employment program places students in a professional office environment, which can include public service or legal departments (such as the Pima County Attorney’s Office, Public Defense Services, or Court Services) within the Pima County government. You could work as a receptionist or administrative assistant, and handle legal documentation or assist with daily office operations. It’s a good way to develop general professional skills such as time management, communication, and office etiquette under the supervision of county employees. You will receive a paycheck for your work and benefit from an introduction to the professional world of local government and law.
6. Arizona High School Mock Trial Competition
Location: Regional sites, State finals in Phoenix, AZ
Cost: $300 per team
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all Arizona high school teams
Dates: March 7 for regional competition, March 28 for state competition
Application Deadline: Varies by region
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
This is a statewide competition where you and your team will simulate the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a pre-determined legal case. The program requires you to analyze a case packet containing witness statements, exhibits, and relevant statutes to build your legal strategy. You will practice giving opening statements, conducting direct and cross examinations, and making objections based on the rules of evidence. The trials are presided over by real judges and scored by legal professionals who provide feedback on your performance. Successful teams advance from regional tournaments to the state championship held in Phoenix, and from there on to the National Finals.
7. CSI Arizona Competition
Location: Maricopa County Superior Court, Phoenix, AZ
Cost: Keep an eye on the website for details
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive, top 5 teams are invited to the state competition in Phoenix
Dates: May for the state competition
Application Deadline: January 16 registration deadline, March 13 qualification scenario submission deadline
Eligibility: Arizona high school students
In this program, you will explore the intersection of forensic science and the law by participating in a simulated crime scene investigation. The qualifier stage requires you to go through the processes of evidence collection, analysis, and preservation as they relate to building a legal case. You will learn from training materials and strategies by forensic experts and legal professionals to understand how physical evidence is presented and challenged in court. You will also learn about the different types of expert testimony and the legal standards for admitting scientific evidence. The top 5 teams that clear the qualifier get to participate in the in-person state competition. This experience provides a unique perspective on the preparation required for criminal trials.
8. Arizona Mock Mediation
Location: Chandler, AZ
Cost: Keep an eye on the website for confirmation; the last iteration of the challenge was free for participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Teams of 3 from 8 schools only
Dates: Tentatively in November
Application Deadline: Keep an eye on the website for details
Eligibility: High school students
Through the Mock Mediation challenge, you will learn the techniques used in alternative dispute resolution by participating in simulated mediation sessions. It focuses on developing negotiation and problem-solving skills as you help parties reach a mutually agreeable settlement. You will learn the role of a mediator and how to remain neutral and facilitate productive communication between conflicting parties. Volunteer attorneys help you cover the stages of the mediation process, including opening statements, private caucuses, and the drafting of settlement agreements.
9. Arizona Project Citizen
Location: Statewide (Regional and State Showcase in Phoenix, AZ)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all Arizona high schools and classrooms
Dates: March 13 – May 6
Application Deadline: Typically Late Feb
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
In this program, you will research a local community problem and propose a public policy solution that could be implemented by a government agency. You will learn how to identify problems, evaluate existing policies, and develop a systematic plan for change. The program requires you to gather information from various sources, including government officials and community members. You will then create a portfolio and a speech to present your findings and recommendations to a panel of judges or community leaders. This process helps you understand the legislative and administrative processes of government at the local and state levels.
10. Columbia University Online Pre-College: Legal Reasoning
Location: Online
Cost: $4,017
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6–July 17 or July 20–July 31
Application Deadline: February 2 for early registration, April 2 for regular registration
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
In this course, you will examine the methods and tools of legal reasoning used by practicing attorneys to analyze complex cases. The program is structured as an introductory first-year law school class that teaches you to marshal evidence and create persuasive written arguments. You will be taught how to use the lawyer’s toolbox to solve problems and analyze legal sources such as judicial opinions and statutory law. The curriculum will focus on developing your skills in critical thinking, public speaking, and legal writing, and will help build a rigorous foundation in the analytical standards expected in legal education.
11. Northwestern University Pre-College Online: Law: From Interview to Argument
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Multiple 2- and 4-week sessions available throughout the year
Application Deadline: 1 week before each session
Eligibility: High school students ages 13+
In this online course from Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development, you take on the role of a trial attorney and follow the process of building a legal case from the initial client interview to courtroom argument. Through interactive workshops, you examine evidence, practice questioning witnesses, and learn how attorneys construct opening and closing statements. Lessons also introduce courtroom procedures such as presenting evidence and making objections under established rules of evidence. The course concludes with a capstone assignment where you prepare an oral legal argument using the CRAC method: Conclusion, Rule, Analysis/Application, and Conclusion.
12. Harvard Secondary School Program: Legal Studies
Location: Online
Cost: $4,180 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 20 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 7 for early, February 11 for regular
Eligibility: High school students ages 15–18
Harvard’s Secondary School Program provides the opportunity to take college-level courses in legal studies for transcripted credit in an online format. You can choose from a variety of courses, such as Intellectual Property Law, Law in War, or Introduction to the Philosophy of Law, all of which are taught by university faculty. The program requires a high level of academic independence, as you will complete the same workload as university students. You participate in online lectures, discussion sections, and exams that will test your understanding of complex legal theories.
13. Cornell University Summer/Winter Online: International Human Rights in Theory and Practice
Location: Online
Cost: $1,940 per credit, for a total of $7,760
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22–July 10 for the summer cohort
Application Deadline: April 28
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors aged 15 – 19
This course sits at the intersection of law, theory, and international human rights. You’ll learn the origins and foundations of human rights, how global institutions enforce these rights, and the relationship of the United States to the international system for the protection of human rights. This credit-bearing course provides a strong foundation for future studies in both law and the humanities.
14. Wake Forest University Online Immersion: Law
Location: Online
Cost: $1,595
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Multiple 1-, 2-, and 4-week sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: 1 week before each session
Eligibility: High school students ages 13+
You will delve into the anatomy of a criminal case through the dual lenses of prosecution and defense strategies. The program guides you through the 4th Amendment protections regarding search and seizure and the rules of evidence in a criminal trial. You will learn the specific skills attorneys need to direct and cross-examine witnesses in a courtroom setting. The curriculum includes video lessons from Wake Forest faculty and a final capstone project where you will act as an appellate judge, providing a practical application of your analytical skills by issuing a written opinion on a case you have studied throughout the course.
15. Rice University Online Pre-College: Law: Shaping a Just and Equitable World
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795 (The Rice Advantage Bundle offers two courses for a total of $3,000)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Multiple 1-, 2-, and 4-week sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: 1 week before each session
Eligibility: High school students ages 13+
This course teaches you the mechanics of the legal system and its intersection with civil rights. You’ll learn how the legal system shapes society via the interpretation of property rights, workers’ rights, education rights, and the concept of justice. You will also understand various legal career options in different sub-domains. The course concludes with a final capstone project that challenges you to identify three interconnected challenges across labor, property, and education rights and draft a legal proposal to tackle them. You will receive a certificate of completion from Rice University upon successfully fulfilling all course requirements.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like criminal, civil, corporate, property, tort, and constitutional, 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!
Image source – Arizona State University