Top Law Internships for High School Students
by
Gabriela Davita
Indigo Research Team
&
& Indigo Research Team
Marketing Strategist at Indigo Research & International Relations Scholar
Published:
January 17, 2025
Last Updated:
January 19, 2025
Did you know that some lawyers start preparing for law school even before they go to college? If you're a high schooler interested in law, you can gain real-world experience through law internships. These programs go beyond the pages of textbooks, allowing you to watch a court hearing, help with research, and understand how legal practice works.
Getting early exposure instills self-confidence and also helps you become familiar with the day-to-day challenges and rewards of being a lawyer. So, if you plan to argue court cases or create influential legislation in the future, legal internships can be your stepping stone. This guide highlights some of the best internships for high schoolers.
Here are some of the best law internships for high school students:
The US Department of Justice Internship Program is a great way to learn about the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and other federal agencies through a high school course. This program combines fieldwork and academics to help students pursue careers in law and justice. Interns perform various tasks including labor-management negotiations, personnel hiring, and worker compensation reporting.
They also see first-hand how to interpret data, solve problems, and learn important communication techniques. The Department of Justice Internships also educates the students on how the BOP functions formally, preparing them for careers in the justice system. It's a great place to begin if you’re passionate about federal jobs.
The NYU High School Law Institute (HSLI) is one of the best NYC legal internships for enthusiastic high school students who want to learn the basics of law and public speaking. With free courses in constitutional law, criminal law, and debate, students learn to think analytically and advocate in a friendly, interactive atmosphere.
Under the supervision of experienced NYU Law and undergraduate students, students work on a project of their choosing and collaborate with peers on thought-provoking challenges. The program also teaches them about critical thinking and persuasive arguments, and this helps them to develop effective communication and problem-solving skills. For aspiring lawyers, HSLI offers the tools and guidance to learn about the law and how it applies to the real world.
The ACLU Summer Advocacy Program offers high school students a hands-on introduction to civil rights and civil liberties advocacy. Successful candidates talk to ACLU attorneys, lobbyists, and activists about the tactics used to advocate for liberty in a democratic society. They also receive lectures and participate in fieldwork to gain first-hand experience in issue advocacy, legal tactics, and political decision-making.
The program provides electives on different topics taught by industry professionals. Students receive seminars in small groups to investigate key social justice concerns. Past guests at the event include Kerry Washington and Anthony Romero. Students not only learn, but they also develop deep relationships with colleagues and professionals.
The Baltimore Law Links internship program is one of the most comprehensive law opportunities for high school students in Baltimore. During the 7 week program, interns work full-time in law offices and law agencies from Monday to Friday. In addition to the internship, they participate in the Law & Leadership Institute, a 50-hour course at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
The seminar starts with a 2-1/2 day training course and runs each week on Wednesday mornings. Students get professional uniforms from Ann Taylor or Joseph A. Banks, so everyone abides by the same dress code. The aim of the program is to introduce students to the realities of the legal workplace and basic legal concepts through practical training and formal instruction.
The Legal Outreach Summer Law Institute (SLI) is one of the best summer legal internships in New York. This five-week course introduces students to law through daily contact with lawyers, and field trips to the legal institutions. Students also receive lectures on criminal justice and are taught how to play attorneys in a mock trial. These experiences give them the knowledge and discipline to improve their academic performance in high school.
The SLI program ends with a mock trial competition judged by real judges. Upon completion of the internship, graduates can then apply to Legal Outreach’s 4-year College Bound program, where they will receive further mentorship and career development.
Brooklyn District Attorney's Office gives high school students the opportunity to work in a fast-paced legal office and get an inside look into how a district attorney's office works. Interns assist with research, attend trials, create paperwork, and file them. They also review financial reports, research legal, and assist in outreach efforts.
Interns are either assigned to a trial zone or to one of the specialized bureaus/units (Homicide, Special Victims Unit, Violent Criminal Enterprises, and so on). This framework gives particular real-world law students opportunities in one segment of the legal system. By the end of the internship, they become familiar with actual casework and court proceedings.
The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) Law & Advocacy Program introduces students to the law through interactive workshops and courtroom simulations. Participants take on the role of trial attorneys, which means they practice courtroom techniques, examine evidence, and argue a challenging murder case.
Another highlight of the program is the mock trial. Here, students are taught to use their trial advocacy abilities to plead a criminal case. They also learn jury selection, which is basically how to research potential jurors' backgrounds and prejudices during the pre-trial screening process. College credits make the NSLC internship different from other law opportunities for high school students. At the end of the program, students earn a college credit from American University (AU).
The Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) is a partnership between the Dallas Bar Association and the Dallas Independent School District to provide high school students with a placement with a law firm, non-profit, or corporate legal department across the Dallas metro area.
This paid internship gives students real-life experience at a law office. Students receive lectures and get the opportunity to tour the courthouse and college campuses. These learning experiences help them build self-confidence and professionalism for a legal career. The Dallas Bar Association also offers other intern programs. Applications are welcome from students who speak Spanish or who have competed in mock trials, speeches, debates, or history competitions.
The Judicial Youth Corps (JYC) Program is an educational summer internship that immerses high school students in the Massachusetts court system and the rule of law. Students are mentored by judges, lawyers, clerks, probation officers, and other court personnel who volunteer their time to teach and guide them.
Participants engage in a variety of learning activities, including mock trials, field trips, and group discussions. The six-week program, run by the Supreme Judicial Court's Public Information Office, offers students a hands-on, interactive learning experience that covers legal concepts and principles. Accepted students must attend the entire session to fully benefit from the program’s educational and mentorship opportunities.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program is a five-week intensive course that gives students an inside look at criminal justice. To get into the program, you have to submit a one-page resume, and a 300-word essay discussing your interest in criminal justice.
Successful candidates attend workshops and lectures, participate in mock trial competitions, and get professional practice in the office. This internship is an all-around experience. It combines hands-on tasks and learning experiences about the operation of the District Attorney's Office and the criminal justice system in general.
The National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Law & CSI is one of the best legal internships in the nation's capital. The program provides high-school students with a hands-on approach to law and crime scene investigation. Interns are taught through real-world evidence analysis and simulations. They experience the entire process from crime investigation and evidence gathering, to courtroom proceedings and a criminal trial.
They may enroll in the legal or CSI track, depending on what interests them most. Participants in the law track go to a local courthouse to watch the proceedings. They participate in a mock trial and are advised by legal professionals about their professional and academic journeys. Interns on the CSI track are introduced to university professors and forensic scientists who teach them the latest investigative methods and career opportunities. They also take field trips to the University of Maryland and George Mason University.
These law internships expose you to the legal profession and set you up for academic and career success in the future. Always check eligibility and application instructions for each program that you apply to. Most internships require you to be passionate about the legal field, and there's no better way to prove that than by participating in relevant extracurricular programs.
If you want to improve your chances of competing for coveted internship positions, then an extracurricular such as the Indigo Research High School Program is good for you. Our program will help build your expertise and sharpen your critical thinking and research skills. This will give you a competitive advantage when applying for an internship or college. Start investing in your future today, get in touch with us for more information about the Indigo Research Program.
Yes, many companies such as law firms, government agencies, and nonprofits are planning to sponsor internships in the summer of 2025 for undergraduates.
Here's how to find law internships: check out internet job sites such as Handshake, LinkedIn, and Indeed. You can also visit your university career services office and local bar associations to find local law internships.
Yes, NYC has law-focused high schools, such as the High School for Law and Public Service, and the Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology.
Here's how to get an internship at a law firm: reach out to lawyers, go to career fairs, consult with your school, and apply directly through the law firm's website or internship site. Develop your application around specific skills and interests.
Legal internships provide excellent field exposure, but combining this with research experience can truly distinguish you. Through Indigo Research's 1:1 programs, you'll develop critical analysis skills under the guidance of professors from top law schools, with flexible scheduling to match your needs. Our personalized research programs help you explore legal concepts through an academic lens, providing the foundation for both future internships and law school applications.
