If you’re a high school student interested in law, structured programs can provide an early introduction to how legal systems operate beyond what you encounter in school civics courses. Many of these opportunities involve activities such as mock trials, policy debates, legal research exercises, or workshops on constitutional law and public policy. By participating in simulations and discussions led by legal professionals or educators, students can begin to understand how arguments are constructed, how legal reasoning works, and how courts and legislative systems function in practice.
Why should you choose a program in Utah?
Utah offers several opportunities for students to explore law through programs connected to universities, community organizations, and l.egal institutions across the state. Some initiatives partner with local courts, law firms, or civic organizations, allowing participants to observe legal processes, engage with practicing attorneys, or take part in youth-focused legal simulations. These experiences can help students better understand the legal profession while developing skills in argumentation, research, and public speaking.
To help you get started, here are 13 law programs for high school students in Utah. To explore options beyond Utah, you might also be interested in our guide to 15 Law Programs for High School Students in Chicago, or for diverse local summer choices, check out 17 Summer Programs in Utah That Every High Schooler Should Know About.
13 Law Programs for High School Students in Utah
1. Utah High School Mock Trial Competition
Location: Courthouses in Utah
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: January – February
Application Deadline: November 3
Eligibility: High school students
In this Utah law program, you act as an attorney and a witness in a simulated courtroom environment using a provided legal case file. You study the Utah Rules of Evidence to argue objections and present opening statements, direct examinations, and closing arguments. Teams compete in real courtrooms before local judges and practicing attorneys who provide scoring and feedback. The program culminates in a state championship held at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City.
2. We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
Location: Utah Valley University and Weber State University, UT (Finals)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: February 12 and 26
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
This law program for high schoolers in Utah features a simulated congressional hearing in which you testify as an expert witness on constitutional issues. You prepare formal statements regarding the history, philosophy, and modern application of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Following the testimony, you must answer unscripted questions from a panel of legal scholars, judges, and lawyers. The competition tests deep knowledge of Supreme Court case law and the ability to apply constitutional principles to current events.
3. Salt Lake Peer Court
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students
This program uses a restorative justice model in which high school volunteers serve as jurors, judges, and advocates in real juvenile cases. You hear cases involving minor offenses referred by the police or schools and determine appropriate dispositions aimed at restoration rather than punishment. You’ll receive extensive training in mediation, legal ethics, and courtroom procedure before hearing cases. The program focuses on resolving conflicts through peer-led questioning and the development of creative sentencing. Members commit to weekly evening sessions and regular ongoing training in Utah’s juvenile justice laws.
4. Utah Girls State
Location: Weber State University, Ogden, UT
Cost: $485
Dates: May 31 – June 5
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
This leadership and law program enables young women to manage a simulated state government over one week. Participants are divided into political parties to campaign for positions, draft bills, and run a mock judicial system. The program includes a mock court where you play the roles of lawyers and justices, resolving disputes and evaluating the constitutionality of legislation. Educational sessions highlight Utah’s legislative and judicial branches, with mentorship from current female leaders in Utah’s legal field. The program ends with a visit to the Utah State Capitol, where you’ll meet legislators and observe legislative proceedings.
5. Utah Boys State
Location: Weber State University, Ogden, UT
Cost: $475 (check or money), $490 (electronic pay)
Dates: June 7 – 13
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising seniors with a minimum 2.0 GPA
In Utah Boys State, you’ll be organized into a mythical ‘51st State’ to build a functional government from the ground up. You run for offices, including city attorney, county prosecutor, and state judge, drafting and debating your own legislation. The program includes a full judicial branch simulation where you conduct trials based on the state laws you have passed. Guest speakers include Utah Supreme Court justices and state legislators who provide lectures on administrative and criminal law.
6. Salt Lake City Youth City Council
Location: South Salt Lake, UT
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Bimonthly meetings during the school year
Application Deadline: September
Eligibility: High school students who live or have a strong tie to South Salt Lake
The Salt Lake City Youth City Council serves as an official advisory body to the City Council, providing a formal platform for youth to influence local public policy. You engage in legislative simulations, research community-specific legal and social issues, and draft formal recommendations for city officials. You’ll receive direct mentorship from city attorneys and department heads to understand the legal framework of municipal governance. The program includes participation in Local Officials Day at the Utah State Capitol, where you engage in mock floor debates. Beyond policy, you lead community service projects and prevention efforts focused on city-wide justice and safety initiatives.
7. Provo Youth Court
Location: Provo, UT
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Bi-monthly meetings year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 8th to 12th graders
High school students in Utah serve as the courtroom staff and jury for real-life juvenile cases within the Provo City justice system. You’ll be trained to conduct hearings for first-time offenders who have been charged with misdemeanors such as shoplifting or curfew violations. The court follows a restorative justice framework, requiring you to interview defendants and assess appropriate consequences. You’ll gain practical experience in courtroom etiquette, neutral questioning, and the legal requirements of confidentiality.
8. Magna Kearns Youth Court
Location: Magna, UT
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Operating under the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District, this youth court allows high school students in Utah to adjudicate cases for their peers. You participate as judges and mentors who facilitate hearings for youth referred for low-level crimes. The program focuses on accountability and skill-building, teaching you how to create sentences that address and repair community harm. You meet weekly to hear cases and undergo periodic training in communication, ethics, and legal procedure.
9. West Valley City Youth Council
Location: West Valley City Hall, West Valley City, UT
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: June
Eligibility: High school students who live or attend school in West Valley City
As part of the West Valley City Youth Council, you work closely with the West Valley City Council and the Mayor to understand municipal law and policy. You participate in mock floor debates, draft proposed ordinances, and provide a youth perspective on actual city council agenda items. The program includes attendance at the Local Officials Day at the Utah State Capitol, where you engage in a mock legislative session on the floor of the House. You learn about zoning laws, public safety regulations, and the legal structure of city government.
10. Utah Academic WorldQuest
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: December – March (local competition), April (national competition)
Application Deadline: December
Eligibility: High school students
This competition tests high school teams on knowledge of international law, foreign policy, and global constitutional issues. The current curriculum highlights the history of constitutional debates regarding the U.S. President’s war powers versus Congressional authority. You must study a comprehensive guide of legal and policy resources provided by the World Affairs Council. The state competition involves several rounds of intensive questioning on current global legal frameworks and treaties. Winning teams receive a funded trip to compete in the national championship in Washington, D.C.
11. Utah State Board of Education Student Advisory Council
Location: Virtual/Salt Lake City, UT
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: May 21
Eligibility: Students in grades 11-12 (16+)
The Student Advisory Council (SAC) provides a formal avenue for Utah high school students to advise the State Board of Education on public policy and administrative rules. You’ll be tasked with researching educational initiatives and gathering feedback from your local peers to present at quarterly advisory sessions. During meetings, you collaborate with policy analysts and Board members to evaluate the impact of proposed legislation on Utah’s K-12 system. The program emphasizes developing civic leadership by directly involving students in the state’s executive decision-making process.
12. Harvard Online: Justice
Location: Virtual
Cost: $209; free to audit
Dates: On demand; 12 weeks
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to all
This course provides a critical analysis of classical and contemporary theories of justice by examining landmark legal cases and political controversies. You examine primary-source texts by philosophers such as Aristotle, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and John Rawls to build a foundation in moral and political philosophy. The curriculum focuses on specific legal applications, including affirmative action, property rights, income distribution, and same-sex marriage. You engage with the Socratic method via filmed lectures and will have to subject your own moral viewpoints to critical examination through interactive quizzes and discussion prompts.
13. Yale University: A Law Student’s Toolkit
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free to audit; typically $49 for a certificate
Dates: Flexible
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to all
This technical program introduces you to the fundamental vocabulary, concepts, and analytical tools used by legal academics and practicing attorneys. The curriculum is divided into seven modules covering core dichotomies such as Ex Ante vs. Ex Post reasoning, Rules vs. Standards, and Property vs. Liability rules. You learn interdisciplinary approaches to law by exploring its intersection with economics (The Coase Theorem), philosophy (Rawlsian Veil of Ignorance), and psychology. Practical skill-building components include specific instructions on how to brief a case, read a statute, and apply the Two-by-Two Box for legal analysis.
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!
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