8 Law Internships for High School Students in California
If you're a high school student in California interested in law, internships offer a practical and cost-effective way to gain firsthand experience in the legal field. These programs provide early exposure to legal research, courtroom processes, policy discussions, and professional mentorship, enabling you to develop practical skills and gain insight into potential career paths.
California’s diverse legal landscape and strong academic institutions make it a great place to find high-quality legal internships. Many of these opportunities are free or offer stipends, making them accessible to a broad range of students.
We have compiled a list of 8 law internships for high school students in California, prioritizing programs with strong legal learning components, hands-on experience, and accessibility, whether in-person or virtual.
1. California Innocence Project High School Internship
Location: San Diego, CA (California Western School of Law)
Dates: Part-time internships during spring, summer, and fall trimesters (flexible hours; 15–35 hours/week)
Application Deadline: Spring – November 1 | Summer – March 1 | Fall – July 1
Eligibility: High school, college, law, and post-bar students
Cost/Stipend: None
The California Innocence Project (CIP) provides high school students with a unique and meaningful opportunity to participate in authentic legal work centered on wrongful convictions. Interns can assist attorneys and staff by helping with case reviews, organizing legal documents, conducting initial research, and engaging in public education or outreach efforts.
This immersive experience offers students an inside look at post-conviction law while revealing the systemic challenges faced by the criminal justice system. By participating, students develop a more profound comprehension of legal ethics, investigative techniques, and the wider consequences of justice reform.
Location: Virtual
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!
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
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 span a variety of industries, including legal tech, public policy, and social justice.
In this selective program, students are paired with organizations addressing real-world issues, allowing them to participate in tasks such as legal research, policy analysis, content creation for legal platforms, and support with compliance and documentation. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
3. YMCA Youth and Government: Model Legislature & Court
Location: Statewide California (with local YMCA delegations and state Capitol sessions in Sacramento)
Dates: Multi-month program: local delegation meetings (fall/winter) and annual conferences
Application Deadline: Varies by local YMCA
Eligibility: High school students attending California schools
Cost/Stipend: Varies; financial assistance may be available
The Youth & Government Program, typically run through local California YMCAs, engages high school students in a hands-on, simulated experience of state government. Participants assume roles such as legislators, lobbyists, attorneys, and journalists, gaining insights into government operations by actively engaging in mock legislative sessions, court trials, and political debates.
Throughout the program, students draft and propose legislation, develop persuasive arguments, and debate real-world issues — all while honing their leadership, public speaking, and collaborative skills. The program culminates in a multi-day conference at the California State Capitol, where students step into the shoes of elected officials in a fully immersive environment.
4. Teach Democracy – Expanding Horizons Institute (EHI)
Location: Los Angeles, CA (program office and partner law firms)
Dates: June 16 – July 28
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: 10th–11th graders at Title I high schools in LA County; first-generation college-bound (neither parent has a 4-year degree)
Cost/Stipend: Stipend is provided
Teach Democracy, organized by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, combines academic instruction with real-world internships that focus on law, civic engagement, and public policy. Students begin the program with workshops and seminars on topics such as the U.S. legal system, constitutional law, and civic responsibility, taught by experienced educators and legal professionals.
Following the academic phase, participants are assigned internships at law firms, government agencies, or nonprofit legal organizations, where they engage in various projects.
5. District Attorney’s Justice Academy (DAJA)
Location: Alameda County, CA
Dates: 6-month program (spring seminars + summer internship)
Application Deadline: Typically in January/February
Eligibility: High school students (16+) county-wide (any Alameda HS).
Cost/Stipend: Paid summer internship
The Diversity and the Administration of Justice Academy (DAJA) is a comprehensive six-month program designed to immerse high school students in the workings of the justice system and local government. Through a series of interactive seminars and workshops, participants explore key topics including criminal justice, public policy, and community leadership.
In addition to their academic studies, students undertake paid summer internships at local government offices, law enforcement agencies, or legal nonprofits, where they gain firsthand public service experience. The program also emphasizes mentorship and professional development, enabling students to build valuable skills such as critical thinking, communication, and civic responsibility.
6. UCLA Mock Trial Summer Institute
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Dates:
Residential/Commuter: July 6 – 12 | July 13 – 19
Virtual: August 3 – 9
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: High school students at least 15 years old
Cost/Stipend: $1,288 – $2,126 depending on format
The UCLA Mock Trial Summer Institute is a rigorous week-long program designed to immerse high school students in the fundamentals of the American legal system via practical courtroom experience. Students learn how to craft persuasive opening and closing statements, conduct direct and cross-examinations, and apply legal reasoning in a courtroom setting.
While not a traditional internship, students learn how to craft persuasive opening and closing statements, conduct direct and cross-examinations, and apply legal reasoning in a courtroom setting. A highlight of the program includes a visit to a Los Angeles courthouse, where students observe real-world proceedings and deepen their understanding of legal protocols.
Location: Remote (virtual/hybrid) or in-person in Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire, Kern County, CA
Dates: Internships run during the summer, fall, winter, and spring terms
Application Deadline: Varies depending on term
Eligibility: High school and college students
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid internship
The ACLU of Southern California provides a range of internship opportunities for high school students who are interested in civil rights advocacy and legal reform. Interns assist with active campaigns centered on racial justice, immigrant rights, educational equity, and police accountability, collaborating with attorneys, organizers, and policy specialists.
While specific duties vary by department and season, interns may assist with research, community outreach, communications, and organizing events. Offering both in-person and remote options, ACLU SoCal internships allow students to enhance their skills in critical analysis, civic engagement, and leadership, all while making a meaningful contribution to advocacy within their communities.
8. DOJ Summer Law Intern Program (Pathways for HS Students)
Location: U.S. Department of Justice offices (Washington, DC, or field offices nationwide)
Dates: Typically 6-8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the opportunity
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+, part of the Pathways Intern Program (some roles limited to law students)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; some volunteer roles available
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Pathways Internship Program provides high school students with an opportunity to engage directly in the work of federal law enforcement and legal administration. Through paid placements in DOJ offices across the country, interns can assist with legal research, case organization, or administrative support in departments such as the Office of Legal Policy or the Attorney General’s Office. Interns have the opportunity to engage with the everyday operations of government attorneys and policy experts.