12 Law Internships for High School Students in Washington
If you’re a high school student in Washington interested in exploring the field of law, this blog is for you. Washington offers a wide range of law internships tailored for teens to explore legal career paths without committing to costly programs or courses. Many top colleges, non-profits, and government organizations provide insight into the field, from courtroom procedures to legal research and advocacy.
Participating in these programs can help you build skills, gain industry exposure, and form connections that will be helpful in the future. Some of these opportunities also offer stipends, which not only help cover costs but also recognize your time and effort.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of the top 12 law internships for high school students in Washington.
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work 10–20 hours per week, for 8–12 weeks
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year, varies with the cohort
Program dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring
The Ladder Internship Program is a virtual program that connects ambitious high school students with high-growth startups and nonprofits worldwide across various industries, including health tech, AI/ML, journalism, and consulting. You’ll work on projects under the guidance of a startup manager and a Ladder coach. The program also includes one-on-one training sessions that help develop communication, time management, and leadership skills. The internship culminates in a final presentation to startup leadership that allows you to network with industry professionals and build a professional portfolio.
2. JTB’s Summer Legal Institute
Location: Seattle, Washington
Cost/Stipend: Free
Eligibility: High school students
Application deadline: Not mentioned
Program dates: August 11 – 14
The Summer Legal Institute is a five-day summer program for high school students interested in exploring the legal field. Through interactive sessions led by attorneys from corporations and law firms, you’ll gain insight into their experiences and skills aimed at inspiring you to pursue advanced degrees and careers in this field. These sessions will help you develop skills, including reading, writing, critical thinking, professional etiquette, financial literacy, and public speaking.
3. CAIR-WA Outreach and Advocacy Internship
Location: CAIR-WA Office, Seattle, Washington|
Stipend: Paid. Amount not specified
Eligibility: High school students
Application deadline: April 1
Program dates: June 15 – September 15
CAIR-WA offers high school students experience in legal and community-focused work through an internship in their outreach and advocacy department, which connects the community in the state with one another and provides resources to enhance civic engagement. As an intern, you’ll work closely with the Community Legal Advocate and Community Organizers to support social justice campaigns, organize “Know Your Rights” workshops, and build relationships with local community groups. The role also involves mobilizing volunteers, promoting events, and helping educate the public on key policy issues and immigration services.
4. Port of Seattle High School Internship
Location: Seattle, Washington
Stipend: Paid. Amount not specified
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years of age and authorized to work in the United States
Application deadline: Summer: May 18 | Winter: November
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer and 10 weeks in winter
The Port of Seattle’s Internship Program offers high school students an opportunity to explore careers within the port’s operations in diverse departments such as aviation operations, maritime operations, governance, community engagement, and green jobs. If you are interested in law, you can opt for a place in their governance department. The program will teach their code of conduct, communications technology, and business skills. You’ll also participate in career awareness activities like mentorship meetings, facility tours, and resume workshops.
5. World Scholars Academy Law Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to the class
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18 years
Application deadline: Depends on the sessions
Program dates: Every Saturday or Sunday for 4 weeks
World Scholars Academy law internship invites high school students to examine and engage in discussions around various issues in law, such as jurisprudence, political economy, antitrust law, and government censorship. You’ll also work alongside an expert legal scholar to research and co-author an academic paper on a topic of your choice. Throughout the program, you’ll learn research techniques and review relevant literature, equipping you with technical and practical skills for researching cases and succeeding as a lawyer. The final paper will be submitted to the World Scholars Review academic journal or another scholarly legal publication.
6. Foreign Policy Research Institute Internships
Location: Remote and in-person (Philadelphia, PA) options available
Stipend: Both paid and unpaid internship opportunities are available
Eligibility: High school students who are authorized to work in the US
Application deadline: Typically in November (Spring Session) (Dates TBA) | March 1 (Summer Session) | Typically in July (Fall Session) (Dates TBA)
Program dates: February – May (Spring Session) | June – August (Summer Session) | September – December (Fall Session)
If you’re interested in gaining a deeper insight into foreign policy, you can consider an internship at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. The program pairs high school students with a scholar or professional in the field who will work with you to develop industry-specific skills and general skills, such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and time management. You can select to be a research intern, a special events/development intern, a communications intern, or an operations intern. You’ll have the opportunity to attend weekly career-focused and foreign policy seminars with guest speakers and gain access to all FPRI’s in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. Additionally, you’ll work on a research paper that can be considered for publication in the organization’s intern corner.
7. Department of Justice Pathways Internship Program
Location: Multiple locations across the country, including Washington
Stipend: Paid. The amount depends on the role
Eligibility: High school students authorized to work in the US
Application deadline: Varies according to the role
Program dates: Varies according to the role
The US Department of Justice Internship Program is a great way to gain insight into the workings of federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and more. The program provides a combination of fieldwork and academics, which requires you to perform tasks including labour management negotiation, personnel hiring, and worker compensation reporting. Depending on the department, you could also be asked to interpret data, provide general official support duties, draft legal documents, assist with hearings and trials, and more. The DOJ internships are a great way to learn how the BOP functions and prepare yourself for careers in the justice system.
8. U.S. Senate Page Program
Location: U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
Stipend: A stipend is provided
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, varies depending on summer or semester program. Check details here
Application Deadline: Varies by senator
Program dates: Spring: January 26 – June 6 | Summer Session I: June 8 – June 27
Summer Session II: July 8 – August 1 | Fall: September 1 – January 23
The U.S. Senate Page Program offers high school students an opportunity to experience the legislative process. Pages assist in various Senate activities while learning about government and public service. This program provides an understanding of the workings of the Senate and allows you to engage with lawmakers. To apply, you have to send a letter of interest, your transcript, and letters of recommendation to your senator’s office.
9. Summer Legal Institute
Location: Available in different locations, including Washington
Cost/Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: April 5
Program dates: Washington, D.C.: July 7 – 11 | Seattle, Washington: August 11 – 14
The Summer Legal Institute (SLI) is a five-day program that provides high school students the opportunity to explore the field of law in depth. Throughout the program, you’ll take part in interactive sessions that strengthen skills like critical thinking, public speaking, and professional etiquette. With guidance from attorney volunteers at top law firms and corporations, you’ll explore legal cases, join debates, and practice negotiation exercises. These activities not only introduce you to the legal field but also help you build connections with professionals who may offer mentorship, internship leads, or scholarship opportunities.
10. JTB’s ConnectED
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school students interested in the legal field
Application deadline: June 30
Program dates: August 4 – 8
JTB’s ConnectED is a virtual program that introduces high school students to the legal field. During the program, you’ll listen to federal judges speak about their experiences, attend virtual courthouse tours, discuss current legal topics, and participate in legal skill-building workshops. You’ll be required to complete additional pre-recorded content and meet virtually in small groups for discussions and engagement. The program culminates in a social justice project.
11. Pasquines High School Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school students
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Program dates: Indefinite terms throughout the year
Pasquines offers remote internships for high school students interested in journalism, public policy, and U.S territorial affairs. Your tasks will include researching and writing articles on political and policy issues affecting Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You’ll collaborate with students and professionals interested in government and civic reporting, while developing writing, editing, and digital publishing skills.
12. USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future’s High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school with a minimum 3.5 GPA and interested in politics or public service
Application deadline: May 19
Program dates: June 1 – August 1
The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future invites high school students interested in civic engagement, public policy, and environmental politics to a virtual summer internship. You’ll be required to complete two projects, which are a legislative policy memo and a legislative process analysis. The project should be on an environmental policy or sustainability bill of your choice on the local, state, or federal level. You’ll receive structured mentorship and writing feedback while working on projects that strengthen your research, writing, and critical thinking skills.