12 Law Internships for High School Students in Seattle, Washington
High school internships provide a low-cost way for students to gain insight into future careers. They offer practical learning, industry exposure, and the chance to build a network of mentors and peers. Many leading colleges and organizations offer these programs to help students prepare for their careers early, and some even offer stipends, making them more accessible.
For students in Washington interested in law, government, or justice, internships can provide invaluable early experience. Whether you're thinking about becoming an attorney, policymaker, or advocate, there's a program that fits your needs. To simplify your search, we’ve compiled a list of the top 12 law internships in Seattle, Washington, for high school students.
Location: Available in different locations
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: April 5
Dates: Washington, D.C.: July 7 – 11 | Seattle, WA: August 11 – 14
Eligibility: High school students
The Summer Legal Institute (SLI) offers a five-day experience for high school students nationwide to engage with the legal profession. Through interactive workshops, you’ll strengthen essential capabilities like analytical reasoning, effective communication, persuasive writing, and professional conduct. Partnering with volunteer attorneys from top firms and corporations, you’ll engage with legal cases, debates, and simulated negotiations. You’ll also discover how the legal system operates through practical examples and insights into corporate legal practices. Beyond the classroom, you’ll form connections with professionals who can offer mentorship, internship pathways, and scholarship leads.
Cost: Varies based on program type
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Deadlines depend on the cohort:
Spring - January
Summer - May
Fall - September
Winter - November
Program dates: Multiple cohorts are offered throughout the year
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks.
Ladder Internships connects driven high school students with exclusive opportunities at cutting-edge start-ups. You’ll work in industries like tech, AI, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. All available internships are viewable through their application portal. On average, start-ups that have participated in the program have gone on to raise over $1 million in funding.
You’ll collaborate with both a company manager and a Ladder Coach, delivering a final project presentation to your start-up. The internship is fully remote and runs for about eight weeks.
3. ConnectED
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: June 30
Dates: August 4 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students
ConnectED is a free virtual program that introduces you to law. Designed for high school students, the program features federal judges who share their personal journeys to the bench. You'll also engage with attorneys, learn about legal career paths, and explore different areas of practice. Along the way, you'll build practical career skills that can help you in any professional field. Whether you’re already curious about law or just starting to explore your interests, this program provides valuable exposure.
4. Compliance, Privacy and Regulatory Careers at Kaiser Permanente
Location: Kaiser Permanente Centers across the country. Click here to find your location.
Stipend: $23/hour
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 6
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: Current high school students and/or graduating seniors; ages 16 – 19 by June 1
If you're looking to make a difference in healthcare beyond the clinical side, Kaiser Permanente’s Compliance, Privacy, and Regulatory program offers a rewarding path. As part of this team, you’ll help uphold ethical standards and ensure that policies and laws are followed at every level of the organization. Your work supports patient safety, builds trust with members, and protects both employees and physicians. This career path involves collaborating with internal teams to promote accountability and transparency.
5. Legal Careers at Kaiser Permanente
Location: Kaiser Permanente
Stipend: $23/hour
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 6
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: Current high school students and/or graduating seniors; ages 16 – 19 by June 1
Legal careers at Kaiser Permanente offer the chance to work within one of the nation’s largest healthcare organizations across a variety of legal domains. With eight practice groups—including Health Care Business Law, Litigation, Labor & Employment, and Government Programs—you can explore roles that align with your interests. Opportunities include Counsel, Paralegal, Legislative Representative, and even Research Assistant. You’ll provide guidance on critical legal matters that impact hospitals, health plans, and corporate governance. Teams also support leadership through board and policy advisory work.
6. U.S. DOJ Pathways Internships
Location: U.S. Department of Justice
Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: Depends on the internship
Dates: Depends on the internship
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program at an accredited school
The U.S. Department of Justice Pathways Internship Program presents high school students with meaningful opportunities to enter federal service. As an intern, you’ll contribute to agency efforts while gaining experience in legal affairs, policy, and administration. The program features structured mentoring, skill-building sessions, and the possibility of securing a long-term government role. Positions are offered nationwide and posted on USAJOBS.gov.
7. HRC Foundation’s Youth Ambassador Program
Location: Virtual
Stipend: At least $100 per engagement
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: TBA
Eligibility: Students who are 13-21 years old at the time of application, identify as LGBTQ+, and are comfortable publicly sharing their identity
The HRC Foundation’s Youth Ambassador Program gives LGBTQ+ students the tools to lead change and support youth well-being across the country. As an Ambassador, you’ll join monthly virtual calls, use your voice through blogs, videos, and events, and spotlight vital HRC programs like Welcoming Schools and Project THRIVE. The program builds advocacy experience that can support future legal ambitions. You’ll also receive personalized training in media and public speaking. Ambassadors should be ready to travel to Washington, D.C. (all expenses covered) to attend HRC’s Equality In Action convention.
8. Criminal Law: Inside the Courtroom
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,495
Acceptance Rate: Low to moderate selectivity
Application Deadline: Depends on the session you apply for.
Dates: Multiple 1-, 2- and 4-week sessions are available
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and above
Criminal Law: Inside the Courtroom gives you a peek into what goes on behind legal battles. It’s not your average internship, but it still provides insight into life as a lawyer. You’ll learn what it takes to prove probable cause, manage evidence, and push back against illegal searches. You'll break down the key differences between hearings and trials and sharpen your skills by cross-examining witnesses in practice sessions. Plus, you’ll look into college majors and career paths tied to law and criminal justice.
9. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Location: Virtual / In-person at FPRI
Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort; Rolling
Dates: Spring: February – May | Summer: June – August | Fall: September – December
Eligibility: High school students skilled in writing and research
The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) offers remote internships for high school students. By joining, you’ll team up with industry experts, developing specialized skills and vital workplace habits like clear communication, collaborative work, and managing your time effectively. You’ll attend foreign policy briefings and skill-building sessions, join exclusive FPRI events, and contribute to research with publication potential. You can pick a path that suits your goals—be it research, events, outreach, or internal ops.
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance Rate: Low-moderate selectivity
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Dates: Opportunities are available year-round
Eligibility: High school students
Pasquines offers high school students virtual internships focused on journalism, policy, and political reporting. The nonprofit is driven by volunteers and committed to raising awareness of U.S. territories such as American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. As an intern, you will develop strong reporting skills, write about critical regional developments, and analyze key political topics. The internship provides a deeper understanding of overlooked communities through thoughtful communication. It’s especially well-suited for those pursuing future careers in government, media, public affairs, or law, as it builds skills in research, argumentation, and understanding policy frameworks.
11. Interns 4-Good
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Low to moderate selectivity
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; opportunities are available year-round
Dates: Depends on the opportunity you apply to
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12)
Interns4Good connects high school students with online internships at nonprofit organizations. The site is regularly updated with opportunities in marketing, communications, law, and more, allowing you to build skills while making a difference. You'll log your hours and tasks weekly. While the internships are unpaid, the program is free to join. You can apply anytime during the year, and your schedule will be coordinated by the nonprofit you’re matched with.
12. Remote Legal Support for Human Rights Advocacy Internships: Hosted out of Tanzania
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,099 – $1,799
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Dates: Available year-round; you can start when you like
Eligibility: High School Students aged 16+ with relevant study experience in marketing, communications, journalism, or a related field such as political science, sociology, African studies, etc.; Knowledge of social media marketing and digital communications is required
If you care deeply about justice, this remote internship in Tanzania lets you work with legal teams supporting vulnerable populations. You’ll learn about family law, labor rights, discrimination, and women’s rights cases. Supervised by licensed lawyers, you’ll draft content, prep legal documents, and research policy. You might join anti-trafficking efforts or analyze how Sharia law blends with Tanzania’s legal code.