Law shapes public policy, social systems, and institutional decision-making across countries. Law research programs for high school students allow you to examine how legal systems operate, how courts interpret statutes, and how legal arguments are constructed using evidence and precedent. You learn to read case law, apply legal reasoning models such as IRAC (Issue-Rule-Application-Conclusion), evaluate constitutional principles, and interpret statutes.
These programs help you build transferable skills in argumentation, structured writing, policy evaluation, and logical reasoning. Law research programs for high school students also provide exposure to legal scholarship, policy research, and interdisciplinary legal topics such as human rights, intellectual property, and international law.
Why Should You Choose a Law Research Program?
Participating in structured law research programs for high school students allows you to simulate the analytical processes used by lawyers, judges, and legal scholars. They introduce you to case law analysis, legal writing methodologies, argument construction and rebuttal logic, policy interpretation frameworks, and constitutional reasoning models. You also gain exposure to legal subfields such as criminal law, constitutional law, international law, and civil litigation. These programs help you determine whether legal research aligns with your academic interests.
Below is a curated list of 15 law research programs for high school students. If you want to explore additional structured academic experiences, you can also read our guides to free law programs for high school students here and summer law programs for high school students here.
1. University of Pennsylvania’s Provost Summer Mentorship Program
Location: University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free | A stipend is paid on completion
Dates: July 6–31
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th-grade students attending high school in Philadelphia or nearby counties | Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
The University of Pennsylvania’s Provost Summer Mentorship Program offers a four-week learning experience to high school students. You’ll understand the role of a lawyer, learn from five professional schools, and understand the impact of law on modern society. Along with the academic knowledge in law, you’ll also gain access to financial literacy courses, develop life skills, and receive support for college applications and test preparation. On the completion of the program, you’ll receive a monetary stipend. The program offers a great opportunity to gain legal knowledge and develop self-confidence.
2. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, | University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Free
Dates: June 21–July 25
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and sophomores ages 15-17
Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) is a free, educational program for high school students. You’ll gain knowledge about the role of power and privilege in shaping social structures. The program offers two areas of study: TASS-CBS and TASS-AOS. By applying in one of the areas of study, you’ll get to attend seminars on a range of topics, including politics, art, history, and literature, and explore the cultural and intellectual contributions from people of African descent. You’ll participate in discussions, attend faculty-led lectures, read books and articles, and also write essays. The program allows you to understand transformative justice, engage in community service projects, and develop critical thinking skills.
3. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program (TMSLIP) by the New York City Bar
Location: New York City
Cost/Stipend: Free | $16/hour-$22/hour stipend is paid
Dates: June 18–August 28
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: NYC public high school students
The Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program offers a paid learning opportunity to high school students. The program will allow you to gain professional development training from legal employees. You’ll have the opportunity to understand law through working full-time at law firms, government organizations, non-profits, and corporations. The program includes a competitive application and interview process for selection. You’ll perform a range of administrative duties, including record-keeping, mail filing, assisting paralegals and support staff, participating in development programs, and more.
4. Judicial Youth Corps Program – Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Location: Boston, Worcester, Springfield, MA
Cost/Stipend: A wage of $15/hour is paid
Dates: July 1–August 14
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 | Must be a resident of Boston and a Boston Public School student | Must have a good academic standing and attendance record
The Judicial Youth Corps Program offers an intensive summer internship opportunity for high school students. You’ll receive mentorship and guidance from a range of professionals, including lawyers, judges, clerks, probation officers, and more. You’ll go on field trips, participate in mock trials, and engage in group discussions. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in paid work at local courthouses, develop an in-depth understanding of legal concepts and principles, and the rule of law. The program is a great opportunity to gain hands-on learning experience in the field of law.
5. Summer Law Institute (SLI) – Legal Outreach NYC
Location: New York City (hosted at law schools including Columbia and NYU)
Cost: Free
Dates: July to August (5 weeks)
Application Deadline: Typically February–March
Eligibility: Rising 9th-grade students from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens | Limited to 30 students per school
The Summer Law Institute (SLI), offered by the Legal Outreach, is a five-week learning experience for rising 9th-grade high school students. You’ll engage in professional activities and gain knowledge of various topics in criminal justice, including stop-and-frisk, evidence, search and seizure, arraignment, and bail. You will have the opportunity to participate in mock trials, develop the skills required to become an attorney, and take field trips to legal organizations. You will also develop a range of valuable skills, including critical thinking, public speaking, writing, and persuasion. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll get to participate in a mock trial competition supervised by practising attorneys and judges.
6. International Law: Protecting the World’s Interests
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895
Dates: Vary by sessions | 1-week intensives, 2-week sessions, and 4-week sessions available
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
This online course introduces you to public international law and global governance systems. You examine how treaties are formed, how jurisdiction operates across borders, and how international courts enforce agreements. The curriculum includes analysis of maritime law, airspace regulation, outer space law, sovereignty disputes, and humanitarian law. You evaluate case studies involving international conflict resolution and examine how legal institutions balance state interests with global norms. Coursework emphasizes policy analysis, legal interpretation, and comparative legal systems, culminating in a final capstone project.
7. Pre-Law and Mock Trial Summer Academy – Rutgers University
Location: Rutgers–New Brunswick, New Jersey
Cost: $2,899
Dates: Week 1 Civil Case: July 12–18 | Week 2 Criminal Case: July 19–25
Application Deadline: April 12 (international students) | May 24 (domestic students)
Eligibility: High school juniors and sophomores ages 16–18
This one- or two-week academy introduces you to litigation procedure through structured mock trial simulations. In the civil litigation week, you analyze tort-based fact patterns, prepare opening statements, conduct direct and cross-examinations, and apply evidentiary rules. The criminal law week focuses on procedural safeguards, burden of proof, and constitutional protections. Coursework emphasizes trial strategy, structured argument development, and courtroom communication. You work in teams to prepare case theory and present arguments under timed courtroom conditions.
8. Law Academy – Georgetown University
Location: Washington, D.C., at Georgetown University
Cost: Residential+ Meals: $3,725 | Commuter: $3,095
Dates: June 21–27 | July 12–18 | July 26–August 1
Application Deadline: January 31 (early bird deadline) | April 15 (final deadline)
Eligibility: Students across grades 8-12 with a minimum GPA of 2.0
Law Academy is part of Georgetown’s pre-college programming and focuses on constitutional interpretation, judicial decision-making, and contemporary legal debates. You’ll attend lectures, listen to guest speakers, and participate in discussions. You’ll have the opportunity to understand the administration of law, examine contemporary controversial issues, and study the process of change in America’s legal institutions as popular values, perspectives, and standards evolve. The program will allow you to learn from Georgetown faculty and connect with peers with similar interests.
9. ACLU National Advocacy Institute – High School Program
Location: Washington, D.C
Cost: $3,500 | Travel and tuition assistance available
Dates: July 20–29
Application Deadline: Early decision: March 2 | Regular decision: April 13 | Applications received on April 15th or later will be considered on a rolling basis
Eligibility: U.S. high school students ages 15–18
The ACLU National Advocacy Institute – High School Program offers a ten-day immersive learning experience for high school students. You’ll learn through interactions with ACU lawyers, community activists, and experts, attend classroom sessions, lectures, participate in policy discussions, go on site visits, and form meaningful connections with your peers sharing similar interests. You’ll understand the complex nature of legal strategy, real-world political decision-making, and issue advocacy. You will have the opportunity to attend keynote sessions, seminars, and daily homeroom sessions where you’ll discuss the impact of present-day issues on young people.
10. Criminal Justice: From the Crime Scene to the Courtroom – NYU SPS High School Academy
Location: New York University School of Professional Studies, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: $2,579 per course + $50 Application fee
Dates: Vary by sessions | You can check the specific dates here
Application Deadline: March 14 (international student deadline) | April 29 (residential student deadline) | June 12 (commuter student deadline)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9–11
This pre-college course examines how criminal cases move from investigation to trial. You’ll explore a range of topics, including forensic investigations, civil and criminal trials, evidence admissibility, criminal justice policies and procedures, present-day issues, criminology and criminal behaviour, and more. You’ll develop an in-depth understanding of criminal investigations through evidence analysis, reconstruction of events, death investigation, and crime scene investigation. The program allows you to develop a better understanding of legal concepts and the institutional structure of the U.S. criminal justice system.
11. Columbia Law School High School Program
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: Vary by semester | you can check out the specific dates here
Application Deadline: Typically in September
Eligibility: High school students
Columbia Law School High School Program is a free academic opportunity focused on constitutional law, moot court, and criminal law. You’ll attend lessons, participate in classroom activities, and work on homework assignments. The program will allow you to develop critical thinking, advocacy, and collaboration skills. The first-, second-, and third-year students will participate in foundational classes in criminal law and constitutional law, the Moot Court program, and the advanced seminar, respectively. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from current Columbia Law School students about the evaluation of legal and policy arguments, understand the impact of the legal system on society, and explore a future career in the field of law.
12. Yale Young Global Scholars – Politics, Law, & Economics
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $7,000 + $80–95 application fee | Need-based financial aid available
Dates: Vary by sessions | You can check the specific dates here
Application Deadline: December 17 (early action) | January 7 (regular decision)
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors, ages 16–18
The Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE) track within Yale Young Global Scholars examines how legal systems interact with political institutions and economic structures. You’ll gain knowledge about a range of topics, including marketing regulation, international policy, public policy, human rights, and border conflict and cooperation. You’ll develop an understanding of legal frameworks, develop critical thinking and analytical skills, and engage in the analysis of social systems and issues from the perspective of legal, economic, and political theory. The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary analysis rather than courtroom simulation, integrating legal theory with political economy and institutional design.
13. Notre Dame’s Online – Thinking Like a Lawyer
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795
Dates: Vary by session length (2- and 4-week sessions available)
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and above
Thinking Like a Lawyer is a structured online pre-college course focused on legal reasoning frameworks. You’ll learn to analyze legal issues using the IRAC method, gain knowledge of the major aspects of the international legal system, and study the protection of brands, ideas, and designs under intellectual property law. You’ll learn the methods used by successful lawyers and understand the process of legal reasoning. The program will allow you to review and compare constitutional designs, explore sports law, and gain knowledge about a future career in law.
14. Stanford Intensive Law and Trial Program
Location: Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Cost: $5,699
Dates: June 24–July 3 | July 6–15 | July 17–26
Application Deadline: Varies by session | Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited
Eligibility: Grade 9th-12th high school students
The Stanford Intensive Law and Trial Program offers a ten-day, hands-on learning experience for motivated high school students. You’ll gain practical experience in theory, trial preparation, public speaking, and litigation. You’ll participate in mock trial simulations, gain knowledge from Stanford law faculty and experienced attorneys. You’ll learn a range of topics, including tort law, evidence, courtroom procedures, and hearsay. The program will equip you with legal writing, analytical thinking, and public speaking skills.
15. NSLC’s Law & Advocacy Program
Location: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI), Yale University (New Haven, CT), Georgetown University (Washington, DC),
Cost: $4,395 (Georgetown University) | $4195 (University of Michigan)
Dates: Multiple sessions | Exact dates vary by location
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 18
NSCL’s Law & Advocacy Program offers high school students a hands-on learning opportunity. You’ll participate in mock trials, learn to make strong opening and closing statements, and learn strategies to conduct direct and cross-examination. You’ll participate in experiential workshops, learn how to apply constitutional principles to complex cases, and understand the importance of decision-making, analysis, and argumentation in defining justice. The program also offers engaging field trips and tours to help you experience the world of law firsthand.
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!
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