If you’re a high school student interested in law, a summer internship can help you explore the field. A law internship will allow you to participate in mock trials, do legal research, work on case studies, and occasionally visit courts or law firms. You could intern at the district attorney’s office, the state attorney general’s office, or the Department of Justice to learn how the legal system works and gain public service experience.
Many universities, law firms, and government agencies offer internships where you can explore fields like civil law, criminal justice, or legal advocacy. These experiences will enable you to enhance skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, and problem-solving while exploring career paths, learning from professionals, and establishing connections for the future.
Getting early exposure to the legal field will also help you understand how it works. To help you begin your search, here are 14 summer law internships for high school students.
1. Internship Program at CAIR-Chicago
Location: CAIR-Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Cohort Size: Each summer session accepts 15 interns
Dates: May 15 – August 31 (summer session)
Application Deadline: April 15 (summer session); rolling admissions
Eligibility: High School Students in grades 9–12
CAIR-Chicago’s Internship Program helps students explore various career paths while engaging in grassroots advocacy within a mission-focused setting. It runs year-round and allows you to earn academic credit or community service hours. The program partners with more than 120 colleges and universities, including Ivy League schools, HBCUs, and schools in the University of California and Texas systems, as well as Carnegie Research I institutions. As an intern, you’ll commit to at least 144 hours over a minimum of 8 weeks, which means putting in over 10 hours a week. Internships are available in areas like Civil Rights Law, Communications, Government Affairs, Operations, and Outreach. You’ll go through orientation and training, participate in an exit interview, and submit a final evaluation upon completion. If you do well, there’s a chance you could be invited back for future sessions, depending on availability.
2. Memphis Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program
Location: Law firms, governmental agencies, and corporate legal departments across Memphis, TN
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn a $500 stipend
Dates: June 2 – June 27; orientation takes place on May 30, and the closing ceremony is held on July 11
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good academic standing are eligible to apply if they reside in or attend high school in Shelby County, TN. Past participants are not eligible.
The Memphis Bar Association’s Summer Law Intern Program enables high school students to experience what it’s like to work in various legal settings, including law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. During the program, you’ll be expected to complete 60 hours of work over the summer. Applicants are assessed on their interest in law, participation in activities, work experience, access to legal professionals, writing, and oral skills. If selected, you’ll be placed at a legal workplace and guided by a site mentor and supervisor, often a prosecutor. You’ll also get to meet law students from the University of Memphis and observe real court trials, watching lawyers cross-examine witnesses, argue cases, and speak with judges.
3. Atlanta Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP)
Location: Law firms, government offices, and nonprofits across Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn a $2,000 stipend
Cohort Size: 35 students
Dates: May 27 – July 18
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors studying in Atlanta high schools
The Atlanta Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP) offers a paid opportunity for high school students interested in law. If you’re at a law firm or corporation, your host covers your stipend, but if you’re a Public Intern, the Atlanta Bar Foundation pays for it. You must attend weekly All Intern Meetings (AIMs), which include progress tests, guest speakers, and legal discussions. Each week, you’ll complete a short written “Enrichment” assignment and, by the end of the program, submit a 750-word essay on a U.S. Supreme Court case for the Terrence Croft Essay Competition. The program will enable you to gain real-world work experience, learn about the law, and establish mentor connections. You can find more information about the internship here.
4. Miami-Dade State Attorney High School Volunteer Internship Program
Location: Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Dates: Minimum three months
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
The Miami-Dade State Attorney High School Volunteer Internship Program gives students a solid introduction to the criminal justice system and the work of the State Attorney’s Office. After initial training, you’ll handle tasks like assisting the public with legal questions, taking sworn statements, attending bond hearings, contacting victims, conducting background checks, interviewing defendants, counseling victims, helping with protection orders, managing criminal complaints, researching case law, and reviewing evidence to assess charges. While many interns plan to become attorneys, paralegals, or legal assistants, others are interested in social work or criminal justice. You may also be able to earn school credit for your work. You’ll be expected to commit 16–20 hours per week for at least three months.
5. Baltimore Law Links Internship
Location: University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn $15 per hour
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: April 5
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who live in Baltimore City and attend a Baltimore City public high school
The Law Links Internship is a 7-week paid summer program for Baltimore City public high school juniors and seniors, placing students in law firms or law-related agencies. You’ll work full-time, Monday through Friday, and also participate in the Law & Leadership Institute, a 50-hour educational seminar that begins with a 2.5-day orientation and continues every Wednesday morning throughout the program. As part of the program, you’ll receive professional clothing from Ann Taylor or Joseph A. Banks at no cost, and you’ll be expected to wear it daily during your internship. To participate, you must be available for the full 7 weeks starting in late June.
6. Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program
Location: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn a minimum wage
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Around 30 students are accepted for the summer cohort
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who reside in Manhattan
The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program is a five-week, in-person experience where you will get a closer look at the criminal justice system through the work of the Manhattan DA’s Office. The program features practical activities and learning sessions such as workshops and discussions on topics like civic engagement, criminal justice, leadership, and police brutality. You’ll also get to participate in a mock trial, where you’ll see how courtroom procedures work and experience different legal roles in action. At the same time, you’ll build professional skills by working in an office and connecting with legal professionals.
7. Saper Law Immersion Program
Location: Saper Law Offices, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $875; need-based scholarships are available | Unpaid
Cohort Size: Maximum 40 people per class
Dates: August 4 – August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school and college students
The Saper Law Immersion Program offers an opportunity for students curious about the legal field. The program is led by Principal Attorney Daliah Saper and her team, with guest speakers joining in from different areas of law. While not a traditional internship, the program includes a mix of writing and negotiation exercises, mock legal activities, and field trips, all with a focus on entertainment, business, and internet law. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from lawyers practicing in areas such as immigration, environmental law, and civil rights, as well as meet legal professionals working in government, corporate, and nonprofit settings. In addition to talks and visits to legal workplaces, you’ll also spend time working on personal statements and trying out LSAT-style questions, giving you a solid introduction to both the academic and professional sides of law.
8. Dallas Bar Association — Summer Law Intern Program
Location: Law firms and corporate legal departments across Dallas, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free | Information about a stipend is not provided
Dates: June 9 – July 3 (Session 1) | July 7 – August 1 (Session 2) | June 9 – August 1 (Full Session)
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Current high school juniors in the Dallas Independent School District. An academic average of 85 or higher, fewer than 10 absences, and an interest in law are preferred.
The Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP), run by the Dallas Bar Association and Dallas ISD, matches high school students with law firms and corporate legal departments around Dallas for up to eight weeks in the summer. Your schedule, whether full-time for 4 weeks or part-time for 8, will be arranged by your employer. After placement, you’ll complete a Summer Learning curriculum that explains expectations and workplace norms in the legal field. You’ll also participate in educational events organized by the DBA, with the program concluding at a closing reception. To successfully finish the program, you must attend all orientations, educational sessions, the final reception, and complete your learning curriculum.
9. The Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program
Location: Various locations across New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Information about a cost or stipend is not provided
Dates: The internship runs in July, with orientation held in May
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who live and attend school in one of NYC’s five boroughs can apply. A Student General Employment Certificate from their school is required.
The High School Division of the Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program is for diverse and underrepresented high school students from all five NYC boroughs who are interested in law. Every summer, chosen students intern with state or federal judges and participate in educational workshops. Additionally, you must attend an orientation, typically in May, which can be virtual or held in Manhattan. Along with the internship, the program includes mentorship, college preparation, and other learning opportunities.
10. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program (TMSLIP)
Location: Law firms, government organizations, and nonprofits across New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns typically earn $16–$22 per hour on a bi-weekly basis
Dates: June 18 – August 28; virtual workshops run from April 2 to April 16
Application Deadline: January 13
Eligibility: New York City public high school students
The Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program is a 6–8 week summer opportunity for diverse NYC public high school students to intern with legal employers like law firms, corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies. Along with the internship, you’ll take part in career prep sessions to help you explore the legal field. You will also attend training sessions, panel discussions, and networking events. Most of your tasks will be administrative, including filing paperwork, managing records, answering phones, and assisting paralegals or support staff. In addition to your daily responsibilities, you’ll also join professional development activities offered by your host organization, giving you more exposure to the legal profession.
11. Nashville Bar Association — High School Intern Summer Program
Location: Law firms, corporate legal departments, and government law offices across Metro Nashville, TN
Cost/Stipend: Free | Both paid ($10–$15 per hour) and unpaid opportunities are available
Dates: June 2 – July 18; orientation takes place on May 30
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Diverse rising and current high school seniors
The Nashville Bar Association’s High School Intern Program offers an opportunity for students to intern at law firms, corporate legal departments, and government law offices across Metro Nashville. The program will help you explore careers in law through real-world experience, mentorship, and opportunities to network with legal professionals. As part of the internship, you’ll also join an eight-week “Lunch and Learn” series organized by the Diversity Committee. These weekly sessions include courthouse and law school tours, talks with judges and the mayor, as well as panels featuring local attorneys.
12. Louisiana State Bar Association’s Suit Up for the Future
Location: Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans, LA
Cost/Stipend: Free, but students must arrange their own housing and transportation | Students earn a stipend of up to $250
Dates: June 9 – June 27
Application Deadline: May 5
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, or college freshmen
The Louisiana State Bar Association offers a three-week summer program for high school students, combining a mini-law school experience with tours, job shadowing, and mentoring. In the classroom, you’ll explore topics like criminal law, legal research, and writing, and experience the Socratic teaching style. You’ll also work on a mock legal case, draft a legal memo, and present your oral argument to a panel of judges. Outside the classroom, you’ll shadow attorneys and judges at law offices and courts agencies. You’ll tour different departments, attend depositions, hearings, or trials, have lunch with your mentor, and get support on your legal writing and argument. Throughout the program, you’ll hear from guest speakers, get tips on building a strong resume, preparing for the LSAT, and learn about professionalism, ethics, and workplace etiquette.
13. Judicial Youth Corps Program
Location: Courts in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free | Paid
Dates: The summer internship runs for six weeks from July through August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students who live and attend school in Boston, Springfield, or Worcester are eligible, based on the location of the internship they’re applying to
The Judicial Youth Corps (JYC) Program is a summer internship for high school students interested in learning how the Massachusetts court system works. From July to August, students participate in paid internships at courthouses in Boston, Springfield, or Worcester, depending on their location and the location of their school. Throughout the program, you’ll learn about legal concepts like juvenile law, criminal procedure, the jury system, and appeals. You’ll also participate in activities like mock trials, shadowing court staff, group discussions, and field trips. Judges, lawyers, probation officers, and other court staff volunteer as mentors and supervisors, helping guide you through the experience.
14. Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago (FJLOC) Program
Location: Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Cohort Size: In the most recent edition, 11 high schoolers participated in the program
Dates: January 11 – August 8; meetings are held monthly from February to May, then weekly from June to July
Application Deadline: December 19
Eligibility: High school students who live and attend school in the Chicago area
The Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago (FJLOC) program provides an opportunity for local high school students interested in pursuing a career in law with a focus on justice. Managed by the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts and the Chicago Council of Lawyers, this program aims to help you understand the legal system and connect you with lawyers, law students, and other students dedicated to combating systemic injustice. Participants will attend speaker panels on justice issues, engage in workshops on argumentative writing and editing, and complete both individual and group projects under the supervision of legal professionals. There’s also one-on-one advising, research projects, and other activities that give you a clearer picture of what it’s like to work in law and help you build skills you’ll need in the field.
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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