Law programs for high school students introduce you to the foundations of legal systems, constitutional principles, criminal and civil law, and the structure of courts. Through mock trials, case studies, debates, and guided discussions, you’ll learn how to analyze legal arguments, interpret statutes, and construct persuasive reasoning. Many law programs also incorporate writing exercises, public speaking components, and exposure to legal professionals, helping you build both academic and practical skills. You’ll also gain insight into how law is studied at the college level and how it connects to careers in public policy, advocacy, and government.
Why should you choose a program in Illinois?
Participating in a program in Illinois places you in a state with a strong legal and civic landscape, including major courts, law schools, and policy institutions. Programs in this region often connect you to practicing attorneys, university faculty, and legal organizations, providing meaningful networking and mentorship opportunities. If you live in or near Illinois, choosing a local program can also reduce travel and accommodation costs while still offering academically rigorous experiences. To help you explore your options, we’ve curated a list of 15 law programs for high school students in Illinois, selected for their academic structure, experiential learning components, and mentorship opportunities.
You can also check out these guides on free law programs and law research programs.
15 Law Programs for High School Students in Illinois
1. Saper Law Immersion Program
Location: Saper Law Offices, Chicago, IL
Cost: $875
Cohort Size: 40 students per class
Dates: August 10 – 14
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school and college students
The Saper Law Immersion Program, hosted by Saper Law Offices and led by Daliah Saper, is a one-week, in-person introduction to the practical side of legal work. You’ll participate in negotiation exercises, legal writing workshops, and mock proceedings while exploring case studies focused on digital media, entertainment, business, and technology law, areas central to the firm’s practice. The program also includes field trips to courts and law offices, along with guest speakers from government, corporate, and nonprofit legal settings. In addition to hands-on legal training, you’ll receive early exposure to law school preparation through personal statement guidance and LSAT-style practice, making the experience both skill-focused and career-oriented.
2. University of Chicago’s Pre-College Summer Immersion Program: Legal Reasoning and Institutions
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300; Financial aid offered
Cohort Size: Small cohort sizes
Dates: June 13 – July 3
Application Deadline: February 11 (priority); March 12 (regular)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11
The Pre-College Summer Immersion Program at the University of Chicago offers a three-week academic experience in which you’ll complete a graded, college-level course for 100 units of credit, equivalent to a full quarter. Within this program, Legal Reasoning and Institutions introduces the foundations of legal analysis and the structure of the U.S. legal system. Through lectures, discussions, simulations, and research-based assignments, you will examine how rule-based reasoning applies to everyday scenarios before expanding into broader institutional frameworks such as constitutional law, criminal law, torts, and the court system. The course emphasizes analytical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and structured argumentation, with added exposure to practicing attorneys, legal scholars, and court proceedings.
3. Mikva Summer Fellows Program
Location: Various offices across Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $17/hour stipend
Cohort Size: ~50 students
Dates: 6 weeks from June – August
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Eligibility: Rising or graduating seniors (16+) in Cook County
The Mikva Challenge Summer Fellows (MSF) program is a six-week paid internship that will place you in the offices of city, county, state, and federal officials across Chicago. Working approximately 30 hours per week between June and August, you will contribute to day-to-day public service tasks while observing how legislation, policy decisions, and constituent services operate in practice. In addition to your placement, you’ll participate in weekly workshops focused on leadership development, goal setting, civic engagement, and workplace readiness. Through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services Youth Investment Program, you will earn $17 per hour as a fellow, making this both a professional and paid learning experience.
4. Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago
Location: Chicago Loop, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort Size: 11 high school students were selected in the previous year
Dates: January – October
Application Deadline: September 23 – November 15
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students in the Chicagoland area
The Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago (FJLOC) is a year-long program that examines law through the lens of justice, reform, and systemic change. You will be paired with a Lawyer Advisor who mentors you through two major outputs: a group research report analyzing a specific injustice within the legal system and an individual persuasive essay advocating for reform. Court-watching experiences, interviews with legal professionals, and writing workshops deepen your understanding of how legal institutions operate in Chicago, Cook County, and beyond. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based analysis, professional writing, and practical advocacy skills grounded in real legal and policy debates.
5. CTD’s Academic Summer Camps – Pre-Law Seminar: Jurisprudence and Legal Theory
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston Campus, IL
Cost: Tuition: $3,025; Residential fee: $2,405
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 19 – August 7
Application Deadline: 1 week before the program starts
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
CTD’s Academic Summer Camps at Northwestern University include Pre-Law Seminar: Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, which is designed for students in grades 6-12 who want to examine law at a conceptual level. In this seminar, you’ll explore foundational questions such as what law is, how judges determine legal meaning, and how competing schools of thought shape judicial decisions. You’ll evaluate major legal theories, including positivism, legal realism, critical legal studies, and natural law, and apply them to real cases to see when theory meaningfully influences outcomes and when it does not. Through close reading, structured discussion, and case breakdowns, you’ll strengthen analytical reasoning and argumentative skills while gaining a deeper understanding of how American law is interpreted and developed.
6. Illinois Tech Summer Programs: Summer Legal Academy
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost: $1,500
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students who are ages 14-17 (must be at least 15 years old for residential program)
The Summer Legal Academy at Illinois Institute of Technology is a five-day immersive program designed to introduce you to the foundations of the legal system and civic engagement. Throughout the week, you’ll explore topics related to governance, rights, and justice while strengthening core skills such as critical thinking, structured argumentation, and public speaking. Classroom discussions and interactive activities help you understand how laws are created, interpreted, and applied in real-world contexts. Held on a college campus, the program also gives you exposure to academic life and collaborative learning with peers who share an interest in law. As a tuition-based program, it offers a focused and structured introduction to legal studies within a university setting.
7. CAIR-Chicago Internship
Location: Various locations across Chicago
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Winter-Spring: January 1 – May 15, Summer: May 15 – August 31, Fall: September 1 – December 31
Application Deadline: Winter-Spring: December 1; Summer: April 15; Fall: August 1
Eligibility: Chicago high school students
The CAIR-Chicago Internship Program offers high school students an opportunity to engage directly with civil rights advocacy and public interest law. Over a minimum eight-week commitment, you’ll work alongside staff on issues involving civil liberties, discrimination, and public policy, particularly those affecting Muslim communities. Your responsibilities may include conducting legal research, drafting case summaries, observing client intakes, and supporting advocacy campaigns related to First Amendment rights, anti-discrimination protections, and civic engagement. Rooted in grassroots activism, the program provides insight into how a civil rights organization navigates legal systems, media outreach, and community organizing. Internships are available year-round, may count toward community service or academic credit, and offer practical exposure to law as a tool for social change.
8. CTD’s Academic Summer Camps: Equal Justice Under the Law
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Cost: Tuition: $3,025; Residential fee: $2,405
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 28 – July 17
Application Deadline: 1 week before the program starts
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
CTD’s Academic Summer Camps offer the Equal Justice Under the Law camp, a focused exploration of how laws take shape in the United States. In this course, you’ll trace landmark cases, pocket vetoes, and constitutional amendments back to their origins in appellate courts, state legislatures, and grassroots movements, examining how public opinion evolves into enforceable policy. Through structured discussions and case analysis, you’ll study the interconnected roles of institutions within the legal system. The program concludes with a simulation and bench argument in which you reverse-engineer a legal outcome, applying analytical and institutional reasoning to understand how legal change is achieved.
9. City of Chicago Department of Law Pre-Law Volunteer Program
Location: City of Chicago Law Department offices, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Year-round; flexible
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Highly qualified high school students, college students, or graduates
The Pre-Law Volunteer Program at the City of Chicago Department of Law is an unpaid externship designed for highly qualified high school and college students interested in public service law. Through this program, you’ll gain exposure to one of the largest municipal law offices in the country while working alongside attorneys on complex and varied legal matters. Responsibilities may include conducting legal research, assisting with drafting motions on constitutional or procedural issues, observing negotiations and client meetings, and learning how the City is represented in court and administrative tribunals. The department seeks academically strong, well-rounded applicants who demonstrate a clear interest in serving the community. Because fingerprinting and background checks are required, early application is encouraged.
10. Hall-Jackson & Associates Internships
Location: Hall-Jackson & Associates, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not mentioned
Dates: Varies based on placement
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school and college students
The internship at Hall-Jackson & Associates places you inside a working law firm environment in the Chicago Loop, where you’ll assist attorneys with active cases. You’ll contribute to drafting legal documents, including complaints, motions, pleadings, and discovery requests, while learning how formal court filings are structured. The role also involves organizing case files, summarizing evidence, and conducting legal research using statutes, regulations, constitutions, and court opinions to support ongoing matters. You may assist in trial preparation by assembling exhibits, briefs, subpoenas, and supporting documentation, offering exposure to litigation procedures. Designed for motivated students from high school onward, the program provides direct mentorship and practical insight into day-to-day legal practice.
11. UChicago Career Insight: Law and Social Impact
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $5,890; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 13 – 26
Application Deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Eligibility: Current 9th-11th graders (14+)
Hosted by the University of Chicago, Career Insight: Law and Social Impact introduces you to how legal systems intersect with public policy, social science research, and institutional reform. Through morning sessions led by faculty and researchers, you’ll explore foundational concepts in law and policy using lectures, readings, discussions, and applied activities. The program emphasizes analytical thinking and problem-solving around complex social issues, helping you understand how legal and policy frameworks address real-world challenges. In the afternoons, you’ll engage with practitioners through presentations, informational interviews, and career treks across Chicago, gaining exposure to work in courts, legislatures, nonprofits, and research institutions. The experience concludes with a small-group final project and reflective assignments that synthesize your learning and connect it to future academic and career pathways.
12. Just the Beginning: Summer Legal Institute
Location: Various locations, including Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Unspecified
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: April 5
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization Summer Legal Institute (SLI) is a one-week legal immersion program designed to introduce you to the structure and practice of law. Through interactive workshops and guided exercises, you’ll study how the legal system operates while building core skills in reading, writing, critical thinking, public speaking, and professional etiquette. You’ll analyze selected cases, debate legal issues, and participate in negotiation or oral argument simulations alongside attorney and judge volunteers. The program also includes exposure to law schools, law firms, and local courts across its host cities, offering a practical look at different legal environments. In addition to legal training, you’ll receive guidance on college preparation, financial aid, and pathways into the profession.
13. Chicago Bar Association Law & Debate Club
Location: Chicago‑area; meetings are held virtually (Zoom) or in person at the Chicago Bar Association, Chicago Loop, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort Size: Limited space
Dates: September – April (meets monthly)
Application Deadline: Before the first meeting in September
Eligibility: Chicago-area high school students ages 14-20
The Chicago Bar Association Law & Debate Club is a school-year program designed for high school students interested in law, government, and advocacy. Meeting on the third Thursday of each month from September through April, the club blends legal simulations, structured debates, and ethics-based role plays to introduce you to courtroom-style reasoning. Volunteer attorneys lead each session, guiding you through how to construct arguments, question opposing viewpoints, and refine opening and closing statements. Guest speakers from different areas of the legal profession provide insight into career pathways while reinforcing practical skills such as negotiation, public speaking, and analytical thinking. With most sessions held over Zoom and select in-person meetings, the program offers both accessibility and direct engagement at no cost.
14. Georgetown University’s Law Pre-College Online Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Enrichment: $1,895, College credit: $3,995; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines based on the session
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
The Law Pre-College Online Program at Georgetown University provides a structured introduction to legal reasoning and advocacy in a fully online format. Through real and hypothetical case studies, you’ll practice core lawyering skills such as issue-spotting, fact investigation, evidence evaluation, and structured argument development. The curriculum covers foundational areas, including constitutional principles, criminal law basics, and the ethical responsibilities lawyers navigate when balancing individual rights and societal interests. With guided instruction and mentorship, you’ll analyze courtroom strategy, draft written arguments, and examine how attorneys build and defend cases. The program concludes with a capstone project and a Certificate of Completion, giving you a solid academic starting point for future pre-law study.
15. Pasquines Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Opportunities are available year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students
The Pasquines Internship offers a remote, research-focused experience centered on how legal frameworks and public policy affect U.S. territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa. In this role, you’ll analyze governance structures, track policy developments, and produce explanatory writing that breaks down complex political and institutional processes for a broader audience. The work strengthens law-adjacent skills by requiring you to interpret statutes, evaluate sources, and understand jurisdictional systems tied to territorial rights and representation. Through collaborative editorial feedback, you’ll refine structured argumentation and evidence-based analysis. With flexible scheduling, the internship allows you to contribute consistently while building a clearer understanding of how law, policy, and media intersect in civic discourse.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program, 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: Georgetown University