If you’re considering a future in law, exploring pre-law opportunities for high school students can help you understand what the profession actually looks like. Law is often associated with courtroom arguments and dramatic cases, but much of the work happens through research, writing, negotiation, policy analysis, and problem-solving.

Imagine spending your summer sitting in on court hearings, helping with legal research, supporting a nonprofit advocacy group, observing attorneys at work, or learning how legal issues affect businesses, governments, and communities. These experiences can provide insights that are difficult to gain from classes, books, or online research alone.

Why should I look for a pre-law opportunity in high school?

One reason is clarity. Many students are interested in law, but these internships help you understand whether you’re interested in the day-to-day work that comes with it. It can also introduce you to different areas of the field that you may not have considered before.

Another reason is skill development. Legal work requires strong communication, critical thinking, attention to detail, and analytical reasoning. Internships often help students begin developing those skills long before college. For students considering law school in the future, early exposure can also provide a stronger sense of direction when choosing future courses, extracurricular activities, and college majors.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 15 pre-law opportunities for high school students!

For related opportunities, also consider having a look at the online law program.

Key Takeaways

• Stipends vary widely, from no pay at the Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program to $2,000 at the Atlanta Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program.
• Most internships on this list are restricted to specific cities or counties, including the Manhattan District Attorney’s program and the Summer Legal Academy in Harris County.
• Program length ranges from a single week, as with the Law Office of the Public Defender’s Summer Justice Internship Program, to a full semester, as with internships in Senator Chris Van Hollen’s office.
• Several programs culminate in a mock trial, including the Nelson Fellowship Program, the George P. Kazen Fellowship Program, and the Law Office of the Public Defender’s program in Broward County.
• The Pre-Law and Mock Trial Summer Academy at Rutgers stands out as one of the few options open to international students, letting them work through a full civil or criminal case under law faculty guidance.
• Most government and bar association programs require US citizenship or legal residency in a specific city, making this list one of the more geographically restrictive categories for international applicants.
• Immerse Education’s Law Summer School is one of the few options open to students worldwide aged 13 to 18, combining undergraduate-level seminars with academics from institutions like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard.

15 Pre-Law Opportunities for High School Students

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

Location: Various locations across New York City, NY
Stipend: $15 to $21/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; around 45 students per cohort
Dates: 6-8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January 12th
Eligibility: NYC public high school students aged 16 or older by program start and legally eligible to work in the U.S.

The Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program gives you a structured introduction to legal work across New York City’s professional legal community. Before entering your placement, you take part in training sessions focused on legal ethics, interview preparation, workplace conduct, and professional communication. Once placed with a legal employer, you may assist with organizing case materials, conducting basic research, preparing documents, or supporting day-to-day office operations.

Some interns also observe hearings or client-facing interactions, giving you a clearer sense of how legal teams work beyond the classroom. Career panels and networking events add another layer to the experience by introducing you to attorneys in firms, nonprofits, government offices, and corporate legal departments.

Why it stands out: It combines paid legal workplace experience with pre-internship training, career panels, and access to New York City law firms, nonprofits, government offices, and corporate legal departments.

2. Immerse Education’s Law Summer School

Location: Cambridge, Oxford, London, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
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

As one of the most globally accessible pre-law opportunities for high school students, the Law Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor.

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.

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

Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid opportunities available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Extremely selective; variable cohort sizes
Dates: Varies by internship, academic year, and full-time during summer or school breaks
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Enrolled high school students who are at least 16 years old by the closing date of the announcement; must be in good academic standing and be able to pass a background check; not open to international students

The U.S. Department of Justice Pathways Internship Program introduces you to legal, policy, and administrative work inside the federal government. Depending on your placement, you may support teams by organizing documents, compiling reports, assisting with research, or helping with projects connected to justice-related operations. The experience shows you how legal work functions inside a major public institution, including the coordination required between offices, departments, and policy teams.

You also begin to understand how law is applied through systems that extend far beyond courtrooms and public hearings. Daily responsibilities help build workplace communication, reliability, organization, and attention to detail in a formal professional environment. 

Why it stands out: It offers early exposure to federal legal and policy work, giving students a practical look at how justice-related research, documentation, administration, and public service operate inside a major government agency.

4. Atlanta Bar Association – Summer Law Internship Program

Location: Atlanta, GA
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; 35+ positions available
Dates: May 27th – July 17th
Application Deadline: March 19th
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors studying at high schools in the Atlanta area; international student eligibility not specified

The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program is one of the more structured pre-law opportunities for high school students, combining legal workplace experience with academic programming designed to strengthen your understanding of the law. During your placement, you may support attorneys or legal staff through research, document preparation, case organization, or administrative work. Before and during the internship, you receive guidance on professionalism, confidentiality, workplace expectations, and legal conduct.

Weekly programming adds structure through guest speakers, legal discussions, and written assignments that push you to think more carefully about legal issues. One major component asks students to analyze a U.S. Supreme Court decision, helping you practice legal reasoning and formal writing.

Why it stands out: It pairs hands-on legal placement with weekly academic programming, mentorship, and a Supreme Court essay component that helps students build legal reasoning and analytical writing skills.

5. The Nelson Fellowship Program

Location: John J. Moakley Federal Courthouse, Boston
Stipend: Paid; travel expenses provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 10-12 interns each year
Dates: July 6th – August 14th
Application Deadline: March 27th
Eligibility: High school rising juniors and seniors from Boston and Worcester who attend area city schools; U.S. citizens or legal residents

The Nelson Fellowship Program stands out among the many pre-law opportunities for high school students by giving you direct exposure to the federal court system through a mix of observation, mentorship, legal education, and skill-building. As a fellow, you spend time learning from judges, law clerks, attorneys, and other court professionals while observing how court proceedings unfold in practice.

Courses and workshops introduce you to topics such as civil rights, constitutional issues, legal writing, current social questions, and public speaking. You also strengthen critical reading and analytical skills by connecting what you learn in sessions to what you observe in court. The program concludes with a mock trial, where you apply your learning in a courtroom-style setting before a federal judge.

Why it stands out: It gives students direct access to the federal court system through court observations, mentorship from legal professionals, courses on civil rights and writing, and a mock trial before a federal judge.

6. Pre-Law and Mock Trial Summer Academy – Rutgers University

Location: Rutgers-New Brunswick in New Jersey
Cost/Stipend: Tuition varies; includes housing and activities
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderate, selective
Dates: Week I (Civil Case): July 12-18; Week II (Criminal Case): July 19-25
Application Deadline: Domestic: May 24th; International: April 12th
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors, ages 16-18; international students welcome

The Pre-Law and Mock Trial Summer Academy at Rutgers lets you learn law through sustained mock trial practice rather than lectures alone. You study the basics of civil and criminal law while working through a real case, guided by a Rutgers law faculty member.

You build core trial skills like case analysis, witness examination, and persuasive argument through structured exercises and mock trials. Each week focuses on a different case, allowing you to see how legal strategy changes between civil and criminal contexts. You also hear from legal professionals and explore how courtroom skills connect to careers across law and government.

Why it stands out: You can choose to complete one or two full trial cases, each taught by law faculty and centered on realistic courtroom advocacy rather than simulations on paper.

7. Dallas Bar Association – Summer Law Intern Program

Location: Various law firms and legal organizations throughout Dallas, TX
Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective | 80-100 students
Dates: Session 1: June 8th – July 3rd | Session 2: July 6-31 | Full Session: June 8th – July 31st
Application Deadline: April 1st
Eligibility: Dallas ISD high school juniors with an academic average of 85 or above and no more than 10 absences

The Dallas Bar Association Summer Law Intern Program places you in a professional legal environment, such as a law firm, nonprofit organization, or corporate legal department. As an intern, you may assist with administrative tasks, basic research, document preparation, file organization, or other work assigned by your placement.

A comprehensive learning curriculum introduces you to professional expectations, legal workplace norms, and the responsibilities that come with working in a law-related setting. Educational activities organized through the program help you connect your daily tasks to larger legal concepts and career pathways. Since placements can vary, you also get a useful look at how different legal employers operate and how legal teams divide responsibilities. 

Why it stands out: It combines legal workplace placements with a strong learning curriculum, giving Dallas students a guided introduction to law firm norms, professional conduct, and legal career pathways.

8. Internships at Senator Chris Van Hollen’s Office

Location: Senator Chris Van Hollen’s Rockville and Baltimore offices, MD
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Fall and Spring sessions are open to high schoolers; Fall: September 1st – December 18th | Spring: January 5th – May 15th
Application Deadline: Fall: June 12th | Spring: October 23rd
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; Maryland residents are prioritised; international student eligibility not specified

Internships with Senator Chris Van Hollen’s Office give you a close look at how law, policy, government operations, and constituent service overlap. Depending on the office, you may assist with phone calls, constituent correspondence, casework support, legislative research, media clips, memo drafting, or preparation for community events and briefings.

The experience helps you understand how elected officials and staff respond to public concerns, communicate with agencies, and track policy developments. You may also observe meetings or briefings that show how legislative and administrative decisions are discussed in real time. You also build practical skills in writing, research, communication, and professional office coordination.

Why it stands out: It introduces students to the connection between law, policy, and constituent service through tasks such as correspondence, casework, legislative research, memos, briefings, and community engagement.

9. George P. Kazen Fellowship Program

Location: Downtown Laredo, TX
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Extremely selective | About 20 students
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: January 26th
Eligibility: High school students enrolled at a high school in the City of Laredo

The George P. Kazen Fellowship Program provides an immersive introduction to federal and state court systems through observation, mentorship, and legal learning. You spend time inside courthouse settings, where you can observe proceedings, interact with judges and attorneys, and learn how different parts of the judicial system work together. Field visits and guided sessions help explain the relationship between courtrooms, legal offices, and public institutions.

Along the way, you begin to understand how legal professionals prepare for cases, manage courtroom responsibilities, and uphold procedural rules. Mentorship from legal and judicial professionals gives you room to ask questions about legal careers and courtroom practice. The program concludes with a mock trial, allowing you to apply what you have learned in a practical, courtroom-style exercise.

Why it stands out: It offers courthouse-based exposure to both federal and state legal systems, combining courtroom observation, judicial mentorship, field visits, and a mock trial experience.

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

Location: Houston area law firms, TX
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; around 20 students
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who attend campuses supported by CIS of Houston

The Houston Bar Association Communities In Schools Summer Internship places you in a professional legal environment where you can observe the daily work of attorneys, legal staff, and law office teams. You may assist with administrative tasks, help organize materials, support office projects, or learn how responsibilities are distributed across a legal workplace.

The experience also includes enrichment programming, such as courthouse visits, workshops, mentoring sessions, and exposure to legal education spaces. These activities help you connect what you see in the office to the broader structure of the legal system. Mentorship is an important part of the program, giving you access to professionals who can explain legal career paths and workplace expectations. 

Why it stands out: It pairs paid legal office experience with enrichment activities such as courthouse visits, workshops, and mentoring sessions with attorneys and judges.

11. Summer Legal Academy – Office of the Harris County Attorney

Location: Harris County Attorney’s Office, Houston, TX
Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; around 30 students per session
Dates: July 13-24
Application Deadline: March 23rd
Eligibility: Students in high schools in Harris County who are entering grades 10-12

The Summer Legal Academy introduces you to the study and practice of law through a classroom-style format focused on reasoning, writing, legal analysis, and career exploration. You participate in mock law school lectures, case discussions, LSAT-style logic exercises, and workshops that help you understand how lawyers break down facts and arguments.

Guest speakers, including attorneys, judges, and community leaders, offer insight into different legal fields and the realities of law school and legal practice. The program also includes guidance on legal writing, argumentation, resume building, and pathways to law school. 

Why it stands out: It focuses on legal readiness through mock law school lectures, case studies, LSAT-style logic exercises, legal writing workshops, and panels with practicing legal professionals.

12. Manhattan District Attorney – High School Internship Program

Location: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Manhattan, NY
Stipend: Minimum wage
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: June 29th – July 31st
Application Deadline: Opens in January
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12 who live in or attend school in Manhattan

The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program introduces you to prosecutorial work inside a large urban criminal justice office. Through workshops, discussions, court observation, and professional development activities, you learn how criminal cases move through investigation, preparation, and trial. You may observe assistant district attorneys, explore topics such as criminal law and ethics, and participate in group projects connected to legal issues.

The program also includes exposure to trial advocacy, helping you understand how prosecutors evaluate evidence, prepare arguments, and work within the justice system. Courtroom observation gives you a direct view of legal proceedings and the roles played by attorneys, judges, witnesses, and other participants.

Why it stands out: It provides focused exposure to criminal law and prosecution through court observation, trial advocacy workshops, ethics discussions, group projects, and professional development inside a major district attorney’s office.

13. Jimerson Birr – School Internships

Location: Jimerson Birr office, Jacksonville, FL
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; typically 40 students
Dates: 4-6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically spring
Eligibility: High school students based in Florida who can work at the Jimerson Birr office in Florida

Jimerson Birr’s school internship program introduces you to a law firm as both a legal workplace and a business operation. Your responsibilities may include assisting with work across departments such as legal services, accounting, communications, marketing, and information technology. This kind of exposure helps you understand that modern law firms depend on more than attorneys alone; they also require strong operations, client communication, project management, and administrative systems.

Depending on your placement, you may support research, internal projects, office coordination, or department-specific tasks. Working with different teams gives you a broader view of the professional roles that exist inside a legal organization.

Why it stands out: It shows students how a modern law firm operates across both legal and business departments, including legal services, accounting, communications, marketing, and information technology.

14. Law Office of the Public Defender, Broward County – Summer Justice Internship Program

Location: Broward County Judicial Complex, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Cost: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; around 30 interns
Dates: June 15-26
Application Deadline: May 1st
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores who are between the ages of 15-18 and attend a high school located in Broward County; minimum 2.0 GPA; never been a client of the Public Defender

The Summer Justice Internship Program at the Law Office of the Public Defender in Broward County gives you an early look at criminal defense and courtroom advocacy. During the program, you shadow attorneys, observe court proceedings, and participate in discussions that explain how public defenders represent clients at different stages of a case.

You may also visit institutions such as crime labs or medical examiner offices, which show how forensic and investigative work can support legal arguments. Conversations with legal professionals help clarify the ethical responsibilities involved in defending clients and protecting due process. The experience highlights how attorneys, judges, forensic specialists, and other justice system professionals interact in real cases. The program concludes with a mock trial.

Why it stands out: It gives students a concentrated introduction to criminal defense through attorney shadowing, court observation, forensic site visits, legal discussions, and a final mock trial.

15. Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program

Location: Various courthouses across New York City, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; small cohort sizes
Dates: 4 weeks in July
Application Deadline: Late January
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who reside and attend school in NYC’s five boroughs; must provide working papers; international student eligibility not specified

The Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program places you in the chambers of a state or federal judge, giving you direct exposure to the judicial side of legal work. During your placement, you may assist with legal research, help prepare case-related materials, and observe court proceedings connected to active matters. This helps you understand how judges, clerks, and court staff approach legal questions, manage cases, and support the decision-making process.

Weekly educational sessions broaden the internship through topics such as public speaking, critical thinking, college preparation, and legal careers. Mentorship is central to the program, giving you regular opportunities to learn from judges and legal professionals.

Why it stands out: It places students directly in judges’ chambers while combining legal research, court observation, judicial mentorship, and weekly sessions on critical thinking, public speaking, and college preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions: Pre-Law Opportunities for High School Students

What is a pre-law opportunity for high school students?

A pre-law opportunity gives high school students early exposure to legal work through court observation, legal research, mentorship, or mock trial practice. Most US-based programs place students with a law firm, courthouse, or government legal office, often pairing them with an attorney or judge as a mentor. Programs run from a single week to a full semester. Many conclude with a mock trial, presentation, or written legal analysis.

Do I need to already know I want to become a lawyer?

No, most pre-law opportunities are designed to help students figure out whether the field interests them. The Dallas Bar Association’s Summer Law Intern Program and similar placements expose students to a range of legal and administrative tasks without requiring prior commitment. Immerse Education’s Law Summer School similarly introduces foundational legal topics like contracts and criminal justice from the ground up.

Are pre-law internships paid?

Many are paid, though amounts vary by program. The New York City Bar’s Thurgood Marshall program pays $15 to $21 per hour, while the Atlanta Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program offers a $2,000 stipend. Some programs, including the Law Office of the Public Defender’s Summer Justice Internship Program, are unpaid but provide structured mentorship and courthouse access instead.

Can international students apply to these programs?

Most US-based legal internships, including the Manhattan District Attorney’s program and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Pathways Internship, require US citizenship or legal residency in a specific area. The Pre-Law and Mock Trial Summer Academy at Rutgers is a notable exception, explicitly welcoming international students. Immerse Education’s Law Summer School is open to students worldwide aged 13 to 18.

What age do I need to be to apply?

Age requirements vary by program, generally falling between 15 and 18. The Atlanta Bar Association’s program targets high school juniors and seniors, while the Law Office of the Public Defender’s program accepts rising sophomores aged 15 to 18. Immerse Education’s Law Summer School accepts a broader range of students aged 13 to 18 from anywhere in the world.

Will I get to observe real court proceedings?

Yes, several programs include direct courtroom exposure. The Nelson Fellowship Program has students observe federal court proceedings and learn from judges and law clerks, and the George P. Kazen Fellowship Program offers similar access to both federal and state courts. Immerse Education’s Law Summer School takes a more academic approach, using case studies and seminars rather than live courtroom observation to build legal reasoning skills.

How do these programs help with college applications?

Completing a pre-law opportunity demonstrates genuine interest in the field and exposure to real legal work, both of which admissions officers value. Programs like the Atlanta Bar Association’s internship have students analyze a US Supreme Court decision, giving them a concrete writing sample. Immerse Education’s Law Summer School provides a personal project, written feedback, and a certificate of completion that students can reference in personal statements and interviews.

Explore Law, Then Shape Your Future

Law can help you understand how decisions are made, rights are protected, and arguments are built with evidence, clarity, and purpose.

The 15 pre-law opportunities for high school students listed here show routes through courts, law firms, government offices, policy work, and mock trials.

Some programmes offer paid placements and mentorship, while others focus on legal writing, case analysis, courtroom observation, public service, or courtroom advocacy.

Ready to explore where legal skills could take you? Browse our Career Exploration blogs for role guides, pathway ideas, and practical next steps.