21 Law Internships for High Schoolers in 2025
What’s Covered:
If you’re hoping to enter a career in law, you can begin to pad your resume in high school. There are many summer activities you can do as a hopeful future lawyer, including a law internship. Law internships are a great way to get exposure to law careers and see if they are right for you. The experience is also helpful to add to your college applications to demonstrate your interest and prove your commitment to the legal profession.
21 Law Internships for High School Students
1. Senate Page Program
Application Deadline: Varies
Duration:
- Spring: Eighteen weeks (January 26 – June 6)
- Summer Session 1: Two weeks (June 8 – 27)
- Summer Session 2: Three weeks (July 8 – August 1)
- Fall: Twenty weeks (September 1 – January 23)
The Senate Page Program is one of the most prestigious internships available to high schoolers. Senate pages date back to the early 19th century and were first staffed by relatives as young as nine years old. Today, however, pages are appointed and sponsored by a Senator and must be a high school junior, 16 or 17 years old, and enrolled in school.
Pages are primarily responsible for the delivery of correspondence and legislative material within the Capitol complex, while doing so, they get an unrivaled view of the legislative branch of government. Page positions are filled through the offices of individual Senators.
2. Internship with Congressman Jim Himes
Application Deadline: April 18 (Summer Cohort)
Duration: ~17 weeks
- Spring Cohort: January/February – May
- Summer I Cohort: May 19 – September 16
- Summer II Cohort Early July – August
- Fall Cohort: September – December
Interning under government officials is a great way to get first-hand law experience from those who are currently involved in public policy. You should reach out to people in government positions that reflect areas that you’re interested in or politicians whose platforms and policies intrigue you.
For example, Congressman Jim Himes provides a summer internship program to high school and college students living in his district. Interns conduct research, assist with constituent casework, and draft correspondence while gaining real-world experience in a Congressional office and experiencing government operations up close and personal. Stipends are available to interns with demonstrated financial need.
3. ACLU National Advocacy Institute
Application Deadline: April 14
Duration: One week
- July 13 – 19
- July 20 – 26
- July 27 – August 2
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offers high school students a chance to hone their knowledge of social justice and advocacy skills. Participants have the opportunity to engage with ACLU lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other experts working to defend the civil rights and liberties of vulnerable populations. While not an internship, the program provides classroom sessions, lectures, site visits, and policy discussions to help students navigate legal strategy, issues of advocacy, and real-world political decision-making in Washington, D.C.
4. Passport to Work Youth Employment Services Program
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
The District of Columbia Courts invites D.C. high school students to partake in their Passport to Work Youth Employment Services Program. This paid internship is designed to expose students to the inner workings of a variety of careers, including law. The program consists of seminars to teach high schoolers the skills required of successful lawyers, like communication and time management. While students’ tasks may be more clerical, this opportunity allows them to observe the legal process firsthand.
5. State Bar Association of North Dakota (SBAND) High School Mock Trial Program
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
Another great place to look for law internships is at your state’s bar association. Many regions or counties also have bar associations that offer internships to local high schoolers. Internships at bar associations can grant you an inside look at what lawyers and legal professionals do in their typical workday.
North Dakota’s State Bar Association has a Mock Trial Program for high schoolers. In this program, students are introduced to the American legal system and learn about the trial process while developing valuable critical thinking and reasoning skills. The program prepares students to compete in the National High School Mock Trial Championship, a competition that gathers students across the United States (and even some international teams) to conduct mock trials.
6. Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP)
Application Deadline: March 20
Duration: Six weeks (May 28 – July 18)
In addition to state bar associations, regional bar associations also commonly offer internship opportunities to high school students. For example, the Atlanta Bar Association has provided internships to Atlanta-area high school students interested in learning more about the legal profession for more than three decades.
By the end of this six-week paid internship, participants will have gained valuable work experience, a better understanding of the law, and developed a mentor relationship. Interns are paid $2,000 for their participation in the program.
7. Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program
Application Deadline: March 12
Duration: Five weeks (June 30 – August 1)
This rigorous program for Manhattan high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors provides first hand criminal justice experience in one of the nation’s premier prosecutors’ offices: the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Students will engage in workshops, participate in a mock trial, and build the professionalism required to work in an office setting. Interns are paid minimum wage for their participation in the program.
8. Miami-Dade State Attorney High School Volunteer Internship Program
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Three months minimum
This internship and volunteer program provides high schoolers with the opportunity to receive hands-on experience in which they will perform duties such as interviewing subjects/defendants, researching case law, running criminal history records, evaluating cases to determine sufficiency of evidence, and many more. In addition to these tasks, participants receive training/training materials about topics such as: relations with victims and other witnesses, Judges, court personnel, police officers, and the public, professional responsibility and ethics, and practice and procedures of the various courts.
The program is geared towards students who are aspiring attorneys, paralegals, or legal assistants, or those interested in social work and criminal justice.
9. Nashville Bar Association Summer Intern Program
Application Deadline: March 28
Duration: Six weeks (June 2 – July 18)
Sponsored by the Nashville Bar Association’s Diversity Committee, the Summer Intern Program offers paid ($10-15/hr) and unpaid summer internships to diverse juniors and seniors with an interest in becoming a lawyer. The program focuses on positions in law firms, corporate legal departments, and government law offices in Metro Nashville. This internship allows participants to learn more about a career path in law, how to apply to and be successful in law school, and more.
10. Dallas Bar Summer Law Intern Program
Application Deadline: April 4
Duration: Four weeks per session; Eight weeks for the full session
- Session 1: June 9 – July 3
- Session 2: July 7 – August 1
- Full Session: June 9 – August 1
Dallas high school juniors with an interest in law will want to check out this summer internship program. Students are placed in Dallas-area law firms and corporate legal departments for internships lasting up to eight weeks to learn about working in a professional environment while gaining firsthand experience with the legal community. Applicants should have an academic average of 85 or above, no more than 10 absences, and an interest in studying law is preferred.
11. Law Office of the Public Defender, Broward County, Summer Justice Internship Program
Application Deadline: May 1
Duration: Two weeks (June 16 – 27)
This two-week internship for rising high school sophomores who attend a high school located in Broward County introduces students to the inner workings of the criminal justice system, exposing them to things like criminal courts, law enforcement, the crime lab, and the medical examiner’s office. Interns shadow an attorney during the day, attend presentations, and meet a variety of personnel, including judges, bailiffs, and court reporters.
12. Suit Up for the Future High School Summer Legal Institute and Intern Program: Louisiana State Bar Association
Application Deadline: May 5
Duration: Three weeks (June 9 – 27)
This internship is available to incoming high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who are interested in the legal profession. Over the course of the three-week program, participants will learn from lawyers, peruse legal documents, and explore the legal system to help them address the question, “Do I really want to be a lawyer?”
The internship includes an abridged law school session, tours of various law schools and courts, and shadowing professionals at area law offices, courts, and agencies.
13. Baltimore Law Links Internship
Application Deadline: April 5
Duration: Seven weeks (June 23 – August 8)
This paid program places Baltimore City public high school juniors and seniors in law firms and law-related agencies. Interns build the skills needed to work in a professional setting and participate in an educational seminar focused on law and leadership. In addition to the on-site internship, students will also participate in the Law & Leadership Institute, a 50-hour educational seminar. Participants work full-time, are paid $15 an hour, and are outfitted with professional attire.
14. Judicial Youth Corps Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Duration: Six weeks (July 1 – August 15)
High school students from Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts will learn about the role of the courts and build a knowledge of legal concepts and principles in this unique internship program. Participants are taught and mentored by judges, lawyers, probation officers, and other court personnel.
The program fosters an opportunity for 10th – 12th graders to participate in paid summer internships at local courthouses from July through August. Interns are exposed to a wide variety of legal topics in the program, including juvenile law, criminal procedure, the jury system, and the appellate process. Interns also participate in numerous interactive activities, like mock trials, shadowing, and field trips.
15. Constitutional Rights Foundation’s Expanding Horizons Institute
Application Deadline: March 21
Duration: Six weeks (June 16 – July 28)
This program is aimed at high school sophomores and juniors who attend a Title I school and whose parents have not attended college. Along with preparing students for college via SAT prep and college admissions advice, this program provides civic engagement and exposure to professional career paths. Internships like this offer invaluable networking opportunities and can help guide you toward a career in law.
16. Summer Law Institute
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Five weeks (July – August)
This free summer program is open to rising high school freshmen from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. Participants are introduced to work in a professional environment, meet positive role models, and are exposed to potential career paths. Students will also explore criminal justice topics, perform a mock trial, and take field trips while developing the discipline and skills needed to succeed in high school and beyond.
17. UPenn Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Four weeks (July 7 – August 1)
The University of Pennsylvania’s Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program is a free four-week program aimed at first-generation and underrepresented students. The program is open to current freshmen and sophomores from Philadelphia and its surrounding counties and intends to help interns prepare for both a college and a career.
SMP is offered through five of UPenn’s professional schools—including the Law School. Students participate in enrichment activities focused on topics like standardized test preparation, personal growth, professional development, financial literacy, and wellness.
18. Communities in Schools (CIS) of Houston Summer Legal Internship Program
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Eight weeks
This eight-week internship places high school juniors and seniors in positions at Houston-area law firms, corporate legal departments, and public interest agencies. Participants learn about potential legal careers, gain experience in the field, build job readiness, and develop the life skills needed for a successful future. Students are paid for their participation in this program.
19. National Student Leadership Conference’s Law & Advocacy Program
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Nine days
High school students in grades 9-12 can attend the NSLC’s nine-day program to get a taste of what it is like to be a lawyer (this is more of an introductory program than an internship). The program is offered for various weeks from June to early August at Georgetown University, the University of Michigan, and Yale University. Throughout the nine days, students can simulate a criminal trial, visit a law school, and meet with trial, jury, forensic, and legal experts.
Though this program has a hefty tuition, if you’re passionate about a career in law, the hands-on experience in a mock courtroom with practicing attorneys can be an invaluable addition to your resume. Also, you can always apply for a scholarship to help cover the cost—the NSLC awards more than $500,000 in scholarships annually.
20. National Youth Leadership Forum: Law & CSI
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Eight days (July 5 – 12; July 19 – 26)
The National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) offers students a program with a focus on either legal or criminal science investigation careers. The Law program allows high schoolers to observe proceedings and participate in a mock trial at a local courthouse. Law school professionals will also help demystify the law school trajectory and introduce students to the various career paths in law.
This is another opportunity that is more of an introductory program than an internship. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to receive college credit(s) through George Mason University. There is also a cost to attend this program—tuition is $4,195.
21. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program (TMSLIP)
Application Deadline: January 13
Duration: Six to eight weeks (June 18 – August 28)
This internship program provides students from New York City public high schools with access to positions from renowned legal employers where they learn more about the field and acquire professional development training. The legal employers include law firms, corporations, nonprofits, and government organizations. TMSLIP is a paid program ($16-22/hr) and gives high school students the chance to gain hands-on experiences in the legal setting, performing tasks such as assisting paralegals and support staff, recordkeeping, and other administrative tasks.
How Much Do Internships Impact Your College Chances?
You probably know that all extracurriculars don’t carry the same weight in the admissions process. Despite being similar categorically, the internships listed above have varying levels of commitment and prestige and will be viewed differently by admissions officers based on several factors.
But even with that knowledge, choosing and prioritizing your extracurriculars can be a convoluted process. Admissions officers break these activities into a four-tier system. The more impressive and rare the extracurricular, the higher the tier; a law internship would likely fall under Tier 3 or potentially Tier 2 if it is extremely selective or prestigious. Some legal internships—like the Senate Page Program—will even qualify as a Tier 1 extracurricular.
By using CollegeVine’s free chancing engine, you can get a better sense of where your extracurriculars rank and how to boost your current involvement up a few tiers. You can also view your personalized chances of admission based on your profile and get tips for improving your chances.
