15 Pre-Law Internships for High School Students

TL;DR

You’ll find 15 pre-law internships and programmes here, from paid bar association placements in New York, Atlanta, and Dallas to federal court fellowships and university law camps. The key difference is that most are local, open only to students who live or study in a specific city or school district, so where you live shapes your options. Most suit high school juniors and seniors, and Atlanta’s programme pays $2,000 over six weeks. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights pathway offers a two-week Law course in Cambridge and Oxford for ages 13 to 18.

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If you’re thinking about a career in law, a pre-law internship lets you see legal work up close long before you apply to law school. Instead of only reading about courtrooms and contracts, you spend time in law firms, judges’ chambers, and government offices, watching how attorneys and staff handle their work. 

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Pre-law internships for high school students come in several shapes, from paid summer placements arranged by local bar associations to courthouse fellowships and short law camps run by universities. You might organise case files, support legal research, sit in on court proceedings, or prepare for a mock trial in front of a judge. 

What are pre-law internships for high school students?

Pre-law internships for high school students are structured placements or programmes that introduce you to legal work, legal education, and the justice system before college. Most run over the summer and combine time in a legal workplace with training on professional conduct, legal writing, or courtroom skills.

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A large share of these opportunities are local. Bar associations in cities such as New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston place students from nearby schools with law firms and legal departments, and many of these roles are paid. Others, like federal court fellowships or university law camps, focus more on observation, coursework, and mock trials than on office tasks.

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To help you compare your options, we’ve put together a list of 15 pre-law internships for high school students!

15 Pre-Law Internships for High School Students

1. New York City Bar - Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program

Location: Legal employers across New York City, NY
Stipend: Paid; rate not specified on the programme page
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; students are chosen through an application and interviews
Application Deadline: 12th January 2026 for the 2026 programme (2027 dates not yet posted)
Dates: 6 to 8 weeks in the summer, with pre-employment training from the spring
Eligibility: NYC public high school students who are at least 16 by the programme start | International eligibility not specified

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The Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program gives you an opportunity to gain practical experience in New York City’s legal sector through a structured summer placement. Before interviewing with employers, you complete a mandatory three-part pre-employment training that helps you strengthen your application materials and prepare for professional settings.

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During your placement, you may support a legal employer such as a law firm, corporation, nonprofit, or government organisation with tasks like organising case files, carrying out basic research, or preparing documents. Depending on your placement, you may also observe how legal professionals handle work outside an academic setting. A networking training and a speed networking event hosted by a law firm let you meet volunteer attorneys, and the programme ends with a graduation ceremony and certificate of completion.

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Why it stands out: You combine paid legal work experience with professional training and exposure to different areas of New York City’s legal sector.

2. Immerse Education's Law Summer School

Location: Cambridge and Oxford

Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; an average of 7 participants per class

Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions

Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer

Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school; open to international students

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Immerse Education's Academic Insights pathway in Law provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with expert tutors from leading institutions in small seminar groups averaging 7 students, alongside two 1:1 tutorials, masterclasses, and guest speakers. 

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Through interactive seminars, case studies, and discussions intended to replicate the intellectual rigor of undergraduate law courses, you investigate fundamental topics of law, including contracts, criminal justice, human rights, and constitutional principles. The program helps you develop the abilities necessary for success in legal and related academic fields by emphasizing analytical reasoning, persuasive communication, and disciplined arguments. By the end of the program, you will complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.

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Why it stands out: You'll be taught by top faculty, work on an independent project, and live on campus, giving you a complete experience of future university life.

3. Ladder Internship Program

.Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

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Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to law, international relations, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. 

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Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Apply now!

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Why it stands out: You work one-on-one with a manager at a high-growth start-up and present your finished project to the company, all remotely and in just eight weeks.

4. The Nelson Fellowship Program

Location: John J. Moakley U.S. District Courthouse, Boston, MA
Stipend: Not specified on the programme page
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; approximately 10 to 12 fellows each year
Application Deadline: Not specified on the programme page
Dates: Six weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school students from Boston and Worcester | International eligibility not specified

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The Nelson Fellowship Program introduces you to the federal court system through a combination of courses, field trips, an internship in a judge’s chambers, and time spent attending court proceedings. You spend time with judges, law clerks, attorneys, and other court professionals, gaining a closer understanding of the roles they play and how proceedings are conducted.

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Through courses, you explore subjects such as civil rights, writing, current social issues, and public speaking. You also meet community leaders, tour local colleges, and visit organisations that support the college application process. The fellowship ends with a mock trial tried before a federal judge, which you prepare for throughout the summer with guidance from legal professionals.

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Why it stands out: You combine work in a judge’s chambers and court observation with legal coursework and a mock trial before a federal judge.

5. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) - Pathways Internship Program

Location: Federal agencies across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; varies by posting
Application Deadline: Varies by posting on USAJOBS
Dates: Varies by posting
Eligibility: Currently enrolled students from high school to graduate level | Federal hiring requirements apply, so check each USAJOBS posting for citizenship rules

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The U.S. Department of Justice Pathways Internship Program places currently enrolled students, from high school to graduate level, into paid and unpaid roles in federal agencies. Your responsibilities vary by placement and may include organising case-related materials, preparing reports, conducting research, maintaining records, or contributing to projects that support justice-related functions. 

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As you work in a professional setting, you also develop practical skills such as communicating with colleagues, managing tasks, maintaining accurate records, and meeting workplace expectations. All Pathways openings are posted on USAJOBS, and some appointments can later be converted to permanent positions.

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Why it stands out: You gain firsthand exposure to how legal, policy, and administrative responsibilities are handled within a federal government agency.

6. Atlanta Bar Association - Summer Law Internship Program

Location: Law firms, corporations, and public placements in Atlanta, GA
Stipend: $2,000 total for six weeks, paid by your host or the Atlanta Bar Foundation
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; 35+ internships planned for 2026
Application Deadline: 19th March 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Dates: 27th May to 17th July 2026
Eligibility: Georgia high school juniors and seniors (for 2026, the classes of 2026 and 2027) | International eligibility not specified

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The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program combines paid work in a legal setting with an educational component for high school students interested in law. During your placement, you may assist attorneys and legal staff with tasks such as researching legal materials, preparing documents, organising case information, or handling administrative responsibilities. You also attend four mandatory orientations, follow a strict dress code, and are expected to commit fully to the programme dates.

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Alongside your placement, weekly All Intern Meetings bring in guest speakers and include progress tests on what you’re learning. You complete short written enrichment tasks each week, write a 750-word essay on a U.S. Supreme Court decision for the Terrence Croft Essay Competition, and compete in an Oralist Competition.

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Why it stands out: You combine paid workplace experience with weekly legal study, mentorship, and a Supreme Court essay and oral competition.

7. Dallas Bar Association - Summer Law Intern Program

Location: Law firms and corporate legal departments throughout Dallas, TX
Stipend: Not specified on the programme page
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Application Deadline: 1st April 2026 (extended deadline for the 2026 programme)
Dates: Session 1: 8th June to 3rd July | Session 2: 6 to 31st July | Full Session: 8th June to 31st July 2026
Eligibility: Dallas ISD high school juniors with an academic average of 85 or above and no more than 10 absences | Open only to Dallas ISD students

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The Dallas Bar Association Summer Law Intern Program, run with the Dallas Independent School District, places you with a law firm or corporate legal department for up to eight weeks. Your day-to-day responsibilities depend on your placement and may include organising files, preparing documents, conducting basic research, completing administrative tasks, or supporting other work assigned by your supervisor.

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Alongside your placement, you complete a summer internship learning curriculum and attend orientations, educational events, and an end-of-programme reception. To apply, you submit an essay, a cover letter and resume, a reference, and your transcript, then interview over Zoom with potential employers or committee members. Placements can be four or eight weeks, part-time or full-time, depending on the employer.

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Why it stands out: You gain workplace experience at a Dallas legal employer alongside a structured learning curriculum and professional events.

8. Future Latino Leaders Summer Law Camp - Hispanic National Bar Foundation (HNBF)

Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: Not specified on the application page
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Application Deadline: 1st March 2027 (applications open 1st December 2026)
Dates: 18 to 25th July 2027
Eligibility: Students in 9th to 12th grade, including those graduating in 2027, with a demonstrated interest in law, community service, and leadership | Open to all students regardless of background; international eligibility not specified

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The Future Latino Leaders Summer Law Camp brings high school students to Washington, D.C., for a week focused on the legal profession, civic engagement, and leadership. You learn about different paths into law and the skills legal careers require, with a schedule built around workshops and time with legal professionals.

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Through conversations with lawyers and other leaders, you learn about different roles within the legal profession and the routes that can lead to them. The camp is part of the HNBF’s wider mission to build a pipeline of students from high school through to law school. Selected students hear back in the first week of April, giving you time to plan your summer.

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Why it stands out: You spend a week in Washington, D.C., learning about legal careers and leadership alongside students who share your interest in law.

9. UPenn Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)

Location: University of Pennsylvania, including Penn Carey Law, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend paid on successful completion, plus daily lunch and a SEPTA TransPass
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Application Deadline: Listed on the Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program website
Dates: Four weeks, beginning the first Monday in July after the holiday
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th graders attending high school in Philadelphia and surrounding counties, with a focus on first-generation and underrepresented students | International eligibility not specified

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Through the University of Pennsylvania’s Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program, you partner with five of Penn’s professional schools, including Penn Carey Law. At the law school, you experience what law school is like, what it means to be a lawyer, and what role the law plays in modern society.

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Alongside the academic curriculum, you receive test prep, financial literacy courses, life skills sessions, and help with the college application process. The programme aims to show first-generation and underrepresented students in Philadelphia that higher education is an achievable goal.

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Why it stands out: You combine an introduction to law school with campus-based college preparation and a stipend for completing the programme.

10. Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program

Location: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid; amount not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Application Deadline: Not specified on the 2026 programme flyer
Dates: 29th June to 31st July 2026
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who live in Manhattan | International eligibility not specified

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The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program introduces you to criminal law and the work of a prosecutor’s office through workshops, networking, and professional development. You get an inside look at the criminal justice system while learning how different professionals in the office contribute to its work.

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As part of the programme, you take part in a mock trial and develop a policy proposal, working with other interns to build and present your ideas. You also join the office’s network of youth leaders, giving you connections that last beyond the summer. The mock trial gives you an opportunity to practise courtroom communication, legal reasoning, and public speaking.

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Why it stands out: You combine paid exposure to a major prosecutor’s office with workshops, a mock trial, and a policy proposal.

11. Houston Bar Association Communities In Schools (CIS) Summer Interns

Location: Houston-area law firms, TX
Stipend: Paid eight-week internship; rate not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; 11 host firms took part in 2026
Application Deadline: Not specified on the programme page
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Academically outstanding high school students at schools served by Communities In Schools of Houston | International eligibility not specified

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Through the Houston Bar Association Communities In Schools Summer Internship, you spend eight paid weeks in a professional legal environment and observe how attorneys, legal staff, and office teams handle their daily responsibilities. Depending on your placement, you may help with administrative duties, organise documents, or contribute to routine office projects while learning how work is divided within a legal organisation.

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The programme also includes enrichment activities and mentoring, developed by the Houston Bar Association’s CIS committee. The summer begins with an orientation where you meet the rest of your cohort and hear advice from attorneys. Through mentorship, you can discuss legal careers, professional expectations, and the different routes into the field with practising legal professionals.

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Why it stands out: You combine a paid legal workplace placement with enrichment programmes and mentoring from Houston attorneys.

12. Summer Legal Academy - Office of the Harris County Attorney

Location: Harris County Attorney’s Office, Houston, TX
Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Application Deadline: Priority deadline 2nd March 2026, final deadline 23rd March 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Dates: 13 to 24th July 2026
Eligibility: Harris County high school students entering grades 10 to 12, with priority for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students | International eligibility not specified

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The Summer Legal Academy gives you a two-week, paid introduction to legal study through a classroom-style programme covering the law school process, different areas of law, and career planning. You attend lectures, read case studies, practise for the LSAT, and sit in on panel discussions with subject matter experts.

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You also hear from attorneys and community leaders about different areas of law and what it takes to pursue a legal education. Workshops cover legal writing, argumentation, and resume crafting, and courthouse visits give you a closer look at the legal system in action.

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Why it stands out: You practise core legal skills through law school-style lectures, LSAT prep, writing workshops, and discussions with legal professionals.

13. Jimerson Birr - School Internships

Location: Jimerson Birr, Florida
Stipend: Not specified on the programme page
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Application Deadline: Not specified on the programme page
Dates: 4 to 6 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school students preparing for college who can work in person at the firm | International eligibility not specified

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Jimerson Birr’s High School Summer Internship Program gives you an opportunity to see how a business law firm functions beyond the work carried out by attorneys. Depending on your interests, you may work with teams involved in legal services, accounting, communications and marketing, or information technology, gaining an understanding of how these functions support the firm’s overall operations.

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You work closely with department heads and their teams, and you’re given substantive work from your first day. By working alongside different teams, you can see how a legal organisation manages areas such as client communication, administration, technology, and business operations alongside legal services.

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Why it stands out: You gain exposure to both legal and non-legal departments, giving you a broader understanding of how a law firm operates as a professional organisation.

14. Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program

Location: State and federal judges’ chambers across New York City, NY
Cost: Not specified on the programme page
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Application Deadline: 9th January 2026 for the 2026 programme (2027 dates not yet posted)
Dates: July, following a one-day orientation in May
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who live and attend school in NYC’s five boroughs and provide a Student General Employment Certificate | International eligibility not specified

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Through the Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program, you spend the summer interning for a state or federal judge in New York City and learn how judicial offices handle legal matters. Your responsibilities may include conducting legal research, organising case materials, and observing proceedings, depending on your placement. This gives you an opportunity to see how judges, clerks, and court staff review legal issues and manage cases.

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The programme also includes supplemental educational programming, college preparation, and mentorship opportunities. To apply, you submit an online application, one letter of recommendation, and your working papers, followed by interviews in March.

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Why it stands out: You gain experience inside judicial chambers while combining legal research and court observation with mentorship and college preparation.

15. UTEP’s Patti and Paul Yetter Center for Law LSPI High School Law Camp

Location: University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX
Cost: Free, with lunch and snacks provided Monday to Thursday
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Space is limited
Application Deadline: Applications are not currently open
Dates: 22nd June to 3rd July 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, plus recent graduates, with priority for El Paso students | Students from outside El Paso are considered after local applicants; international eligibility not specified

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At the University of Texas at El Paso, the Law School Preparation Institute’s High School Law Camp gives you a two-week, all-day introduction to legal study and the law school pathway. You take part in case law instruction and professional skills development while building your analytical reading and writing. The camp also includes a mock trial exercise, allowing you to apply legal concepts while practising structured reasoning and courtroom communication.

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Field trips to legal community organisations give you an opportunity to see different aspects of the legal profession outside the classroom. The camp aims to show you that law school is within reach, and if you enjoy this format, you can compare more law summer camps for high school students.

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Why it stands out: You combine free introductory legal study and mock trial practice with field trips to legal organisations on a university campus.

Frequently asked questions: Pre-Law Internships for High School Students

Do law firms hire high school interns?

Yes, but most high school students reach law firms through structured programmes rather than direct applications. The Thurgood Marshall programme places NYC public school students with law firms, corporations, nonprofits, and government offices, while the Dallas Bar Association places Dallas ISD juniors with firms and corporate legal departments. In Houston, firms such as Jones Day and Gibbs & Bruns hosted CIS interns in 2026. You can also contact local firms directly, though formal programmes usually offer more support and training.

What internships should pre-law students get?

The most useful internships show you how legal work is done day to day, whether that’s in a court, a prosecutor’s office, a law firm, or a government agency. A judge’s chambers, like those in the Sotomayor programme, shows you how cases are reviewed, while a district attorney’s office introduces criminal law. Try to build research, writing, and communication skills along the way. It also helps to choose classes to take in high school for law that strengthen those same skills.

Can a high school student get a law internship without connections?

Yes, most selective pre-law programmes choose students through formal applications rather than personal contacts. The Atlanta Bar Association interviews every applicant in person, and Dallas asks for an essay, cover letter, resume, reference, and transcript. The Sotomayor programme needs a recommendation letter and working papers. If nothing suitable exists near you, law job shadowing opportunities can be an easier first step into the profession.

Are pre-law internships for high school students paid?

Many are, especially those run through bar associations and government offices. The Harris County Summer Legal Academy pays the equivalent of $15 per hour, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s programme and Houston’s CIS internship are both paid. Penn’s Summer Mentorship Program gives you a stipend when you complete it. Some programmes, like UTEP’s law camp, are free to attend but don’t pay, so check each listing before you apply.

When should you apply for pre-law internships?

You should start looking in the autumn, since most deadlines fall between December and March. The Sotomayor programme closed on 9th January 2026, and Thurgood Marshall applications ran from mid-December to 12th January. HNBF’s 2027 camp takes applications from 1st December 2026 to 1st March 2027, while Atlanta’s deadline was 19th March. Harris County set a priority deadline of 2nd March, so applying early can work in your favour.

What can you do if there’s no pre-law internship near you?

You can still build legal experience through online courses, summer programmes, and local volunteering. Most internships on this list only accept students from a specific city or district, so many students look further afield. Online law programs for high school students let you study from home, and Immerse Education’s Academic Insights pathway in Law runs for two weeks in Cambridge and Oxford for students aged 13 to 18 from any country, with a bursary programme available.

Your first real look at legal work

Sorting case files, sitting in on hearings, and hearing attorneys talk through their work shows you what a legal career looks like day to day.

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Pre-law internships for high school students give you that view early, while you still have plenty of time to explore different areas of law.

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Since most programmes are local and deadlines fall early, it pays to research options in your area carefully, well before winter arrives.

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To keep planning your next step, explore our Career Exploration blogs for practical guides on legal careers, work experience, and other professional paths.