11 Law Internships for High School Students in Massachusetts

If you are a high school student in Massachusetts with an interest in law, human rights, criminal justice, or related fields, then a law internship in the state can be a great way to spend your summer. 

Law internships designed for high school students offer real-world experience, insights into various career paths in the field, and skill-building opportunities to succeed in the legal field.

As an intern, you will get early exposure to litigation, courtroom procedures, and practices as well as law and policy research. You will also engage in activities that help you develop critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills. Internships may also come with stipends to help offset the cost of commute, food, and accommodation.

Massachusetts offers a bunch of great opportunities for students seeking to pursue a legal career. Many of them offer mentorship, on-the-job training, and networking platforms to help you build a foundation in the industry. Some programs may not be structured like traditional internships but offer internship-like hands-on work opportunities and career exploration. 

To help you get started, here are 12 law internships for high school students in Massachusetts.

1. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Judicial Youth Corps Program

Location: Local courthouses in Boston/Worcester/Springfield, MA
Program dates: Six weeks in the July–August period; dates not specified
Application deadline: March 28 (tentative, based on previous years’ details)
Eligibility: High school students in Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: None. Students are paid for internships and educational sessions

The Judicial Youth Corps program offers paid law internships to high school students, combining an intensive educational experience with exposure to real-world legal settings. You will learn about the Massachusetts court system and the rule of law through sessions led by probation officers, lawyers, judges, clerks, and other court personnel. Over six weeks, you will participate in field trips, group discussions, and mock trials to get insights into the fundamentals of legal concepts, principles, and procedures. You may also get to shadow law professionals during the program. This experience can offer you insights into the practice of law and careers in the field. 

2. Ladder Internships

Location: Virtual
Program dates: Multiple eight-week cohorts throughout the year; Summer Cohort II starts on July 14
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines; June 23 for Summer Cohort II
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8 to 12 weeks; undergraduates and gap year students can also apply
Cost: Starts at $2,490; need-based financial assistance is available

Ladder Internships offers selective law internships for high school students who are interested in working with high-growth startups and nonprofit organisations around the world. Opportunities are available in several areas, including law, human rights, policy, and political science. The program’s global nature can offer you some exposure to different work cultures and opportunities to explore the different aspects of law. As an intern, you will work on a real-world project that adds value to the company under the supervision and guidance of the organization’s manager. You will also have access to a Ladder Coach who will support you in meeting your objectives. At the end of the internship, you will have the opportunity to present your work and project findings to the company. You can opt for this Startup Internship Program, or choose the CEO Internship Program, where you will work directly with a CEO/founder from a FAANG (Facebook, Google, etc.) background.

3. Court Service Center (CSC) Internship and Volunteering Program

Location: Remote and in-person opportunities at various locations in Massachusetts
Program dates: Flexible, year-round options available
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Residents of Massachusetts and students who attend school in the state
Cost: None

This program offers unpaid law internships and volunteering opportunities to high school students interested in getting real-world exposure to the Massachusetts legal system. It is hosted by the Massachusetts Trial Court and is designed for students interested in learning about public service and law, as well as helping underserved populations navigate complex legal processes. In this program, you will support self-represented litigants in the Probate & Family Court, Housing Court, and Boston Municipal and District Courts. Your daily tasks will include interviewing self-represented litigants to identify their needs, sharing information about available services, making referrals, learn about community resources, and working on individual and group projects. This opportunity can help you explore trial court departments as well as learn how to navigate court forms and formalities and conduct legal interviews. The program offers flexible part-time and full-time schedules, making the opportunity flexible and accessible for students.

4. Youth for Innocence Internships 

Location: Virtual
Program dates: June 16 – August 10
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school and college students who can work for 20 hours/week
Cost/Stipend: No cost; community service hours and letters of recommendation offered

Youth for Innocence is a student-led non-profit that works on getting wrongful convictions overturned. The organization offers virtual internship opportunities to high school and college students interested in supporting its mission and getting some hands-on experience in meaningful legal work. Here, you will spend eight weeks engaging in tasks like cataloguing, case file organisation, tracking witnesses, conducting interviews with experts and witnesses to discover new evidence. While engaging in these activities, you will take detailed notes and summarize the cases you investigate. You will also get to interact with guest speakers and learn about various aspects of law, such as the legal process involved in criminal trials, professional investigative tools, and filing post-conviction motions. The program also offers insights into the impact of student advocacy in exoneration, ways in which wrongful convictions can be summarized and investigated, and how to research false confessions and misidentification.

5. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI)

Location: Remote options available for Massachusetts students
Program dates: Fall: September – December | Spring: February – May | Summer: June – August; exact dates not specified
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students with U.S. work authorization
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a limited number of stipend-based internships available + unpaid part-time internship opportunities offered

The FPRI offers policy research internships to high school students interested in learning about different aspects of foreign policy, diplomacy, international law, and engaging in legal research. The program can help you explore the inner workings of foreign policy development, communications, operations, and research. You will be matched with departments based on your interests and application preferences. Each department offers mentorship training from scholars and professionals and hands-on opportunities to contribute to the organisation’s mission. Students in Massachusetts can choose research internships, which involve remote collaboration with scholars to explore key policy and law-related topics through guided investigations. These internships, while not typical law programs, help you learn about foreign policy, diplomacy, and the workings of international government, which are useful insights for a career in international law and politics. The program also offers access to career panels and policy seminars.

6. USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future High School Summer Internship Program

Location: Virtual
Program dates: June 1 – August 1
Application deadline: May 19
Eligibility: High school students who have a minimum 3.5 GPA; not open to graduating seniors
Cost/Stipend: Not specified

The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, in collaboration with the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability, offers a virtual summer program in public policy and environmental legislation. This is an opportunity to engage in real-world political research by analyzing and writing about legislation focused on sustainability or environmental issues at the local, state, or federal level. You will complete two major projects in this program: a legislative policy memo and a legislative process analysis. These assignments will help you refine your writing, research, and critical thinking skills, which are essential for pursuing a career in law. You will attend five virtual check-in sessions, meet deadlines, and revise your work based on feedback to complete the program. Upon completion, you will have one of your projects published online.

7. New England Innocence Project (NEIP) Volunteering Opportunities

Location: Not specified, but opportunities in Cambridge, MA, might be available
Program dates: Depends on the opportunity 
Application deadline: Not specified 
Eligibility: Open to all; requirements for volunteer opportunities vary based on team and community needs
Cost/Stipend: None

As an organization that aims to correct and prevent wrongful convictions, NEIP works in all six New England states, offering support to those released from long-term incarceration. The organization offers students opportunities to get involved and support its efforts through internships and volunteer positions. As a volunteer, you may get to work on tasks like scanning documents and organizing files, hosting awareness-building events and fundraisers, and offering court support during legal proceedings. You will also get to observe court proceedings and make a meaningful impact through your presence in court. This opportunity can also offer you some insights into the legal process, legal paperwork, and case documentation.

8. Worcester County District Attorney’s Office Internship Program

Location: Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, Worcester, MA
Program dates: Fall: Early September – early December | Spring: Mid to late January – early May | Summer: Mid to late June – early August
Application deadline: Not specified 
Eligibility: High school students and college students
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid internships

The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office offers students in-person opportunities to learn about the daily operations of a government organization and courtroom procedures. As a high school intern, you will get to observe courtroom proceedings, including pleas, trials, arraignments, and motion hearings. You will also assist office staff in tasks like filing paperwork, shredding documents, archiving, and maintaining lists. You will also attend presentations led by the District Attorney and other office staff on topics like prosecuting animal cruelty, sexual assault, drug, OUI, murder, domestic violence, and arson cases. The program will offer opportunities to build leadership skills and explore the inner workings of the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.

9. Boston Mayor’s Youth Council

Location: Sites in Boston, MA
Program dates: September – May
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 – 19 years old and city of Boston residents
Cost: Free

The Boston Mayor’s Youth Council offers teens opportunities to build leadership skills and explore the fields of policy, advocacy, and public service. The program is selective, with just 20 students accepted through a competitive application process based on community involvement and leadership potential. During the program, you will work directly with city officials, including the Mayor, as a council member and voice youth perspectives and influence city policies that impact your community. You will also engage in structured discussions, policy reviews, and youth-led initiatives. The program offers insights into civic engagement, public service, and the workings of the local government, which are crucial for a career in law. 

10. Internships at the Office of Senator Sal DiDomenico

Location: Hybrid at the State House Office, Boston, MA
Program dates: Session 1: May–August | Session 2: September–December; exact dates not specified 
Application deadline: Session 1: March 31 | Session 2: June 15
Eligibility: High school students, recent graduates, and college students who are 18 or older; preference given to those who attend high school/college in or have permanent residency in the Middlesex and Suffolk District.
Cost/Stipend: No cost or stipend; limited reimbursement for travel expenses offered

Senator Sal DiDomenico, the State Senator for the Middlesex and Suffolk District of Massachusetts, offers internships to students interested in exploring public policy, government, and the legislative process in action. The experience can offer insights into the beginning stages of policymaking. During the internship, you will get hands-on exposure to key functions within a Senate office, including policy research, legislative briefings, constituent services, and administrative tasks. The program will help you explore your interests in law and governance. You will also get to attend seminars that offer deeper insights into different aspects of the state government.

11. YMCA High School Youth Assembly

Location: Wyndham Beacon Hill, Boston, MA
Program dates: April 6 – 8 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application deadline: March 9
Eligibility: High school students interested in government and law
Cost: $425 registration fee

The YMCA High School Youth Assembly program offers high schoolers opportunities to be an active part of a youth-run model state government. While not an internship, the program offers internship-like hands-on learning opportunities and exposure to the workings of government. Here, you will participate in a Model Government Conference, mock trials, and debates, and create bills in a setting that resembles a traditional legal assembly. You have the option to choose from three program areas. 

The first option is the Legislative (House and Senate), where you will serve as a Representative/Senator and choose a state policy issue to research and frame as a bill, which will be presented and debated during the assembly. The second area is Executive (Cabinet), in which you will be a part of the Youth Governor’s Cabinet and advocate for the Governor’s legislative agenda. You will also advise the cabinet on policy issues related to your role. The third option is Media Corps, where you will act as a reporter, journalist, or any other press/media representative and cover all aspects of the program through blogs, articles, social media, and print media.