11 Law Internships in Miami for High School Students
As a high school student applying to college, you’re evaluated not only on your grades but also on whether you’ve gained experience beyond the classroom. Doing an internship in a field that interests you is one way to demonstrate such experience. Internships provide structured exposure to professional settings, helping you build your resume, strengthen your college applications, and develop practical skills. They also give you an early opportunity to explore your interests, including identifying fields you want to pursue, while learning workplace norms and expectations.
Why should I participate in a law internship?
Law internships for high school students allow you to observe courtroom proceedings, assist with legal research, or support attorneys and policy professionals. This practical experience can set you apart in the competitive college admissions process, especially if you’re applying to pre-law undergraduate programs. Through these experiences, you will gain a clearer understanding of how the legal system operates and how legal concepts are applied in practice.
Miami’s legal environment, spanning corporate firms, public interest organizations, and government offices such as the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, exposes you to a range of legal roles and career paths. Because many legal internships are not designed with high school students in mind, this list focuses on opportunities that offer appropriate structure, meaningful exposure, and realistic expectations for students at your stage. Here are the 11 best law internships for high school students in Miami.
1. Miami-Dade County – Summer Youth Internship Program
Location: Miami-Dade County area
Stipend: Unpaid; academic credit offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 50 opportunities across departments
Dates: 5 weeks between July and August
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) students who are rising 10th-12th graders (ages 15–18) who have the right to work in the U.S.
The Miami-Dade County Summer Youth Internship Program places you in a paid, five-week summer internship designed to introduce high school students to real workplace environments. You are permitted to work up to 150 total hours during the program, typically running from July through August. Internships span a range of county departments and partner organizations, allowing you to explore different career pathways while developing professional skills. This law internship in Miami for high school students also provides mentorship, workplace readiness, and exposure to community-based careers. To apply, you must coordinate through your school counselor or designated school representative, who assists with eligibility and placement details.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, winter, spring, and fall
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and gap year students who can commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a competitive virtual program that connects you with startups and organizations for project-based work, including placements related to law and public policy. Over approximately eight weeks, you work remotely on a project aligned with your interests and the needs of the host organization. Legal-focused roles may involve research, policy analysis, or support work related to litigation or corporate law. Throughout the program, you receive guidance from both an industry mentor and a dedicated Ladder Coach who supports goal-setting and progress tracking. Ladder’s startups are typically backed by Y Combinator and have founders who have worked for the likes of Microsoft, Meta, and Google.
3. US Department of Justice (DOJ) Pathways Internship Program
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Varies by intern's education level, the specific position, and the duration of the internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; cohort size varies by type and year
Dates: IEP: Academic-year aligned | ITEP: May–August (Summer)
Application Deadline: Varies depending on position
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program at an accredited school; at least 16 years old; minimum GPA 2.0
The DOJ Pathways Internship Program allows you to gain early exposure to federal government work through paid or unpaid placements, depending on the role and office. As a high school intern, you may be assigned to areas such as legal policy, administration, or public affairs, based on your qualifications and agency needs. The internship introduces you to how federal legal offices function and how laws and policies are implemented at the national level. You could work within offices such as the Office of the Attorney General or related departments. Some placements may also offer pathways to continued federal employment.
4. Miami-Dade State Attorney High School Volunteer Internship Program
Location: Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round; requires at least 3 months at 16 – 20 hours/week
Application Deadline: Rolling throughout the year
Eligibility: All high school students who can clear a criminal background check
The Miami-Dade State Attorney High School Volunteer Internship Program places you inside prosecutorial offices to observe how criminal cases are handled from the state’s perspective. After completing orientation and training, you will be assigned to units such as Criminal Intake, Domestic Violence, or Victim/Witness Services. Responsibilities may include assisting with public inquiries, reviewing case materials, contacting victims, and attending bond hearings. You may accompany Assistant State Attorneys (ASAs) to various proceedings, help organize evidence and "discovery" materials, assist staff in contacting victims and witnesses, and help manage case files and enter data for several units. The internship serves as a well-rounded law experience for a future career.
5. Law Office of the Public Defender, Broward County, Summer Justice Internship Program
Location: Broward County Judicial Complex, Fort Lauderdale (40 minutes from Miami)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores who attend a high school in Broward County
This two-week Summer Justice Internship Program introduces you to criminal defense work through direct observation and guided activities. During the program, you will shadow public defenders, attend court proceedings, and engage in discussions about legal strategy and client advocacy. You may also participate in site visits to locations such as crime labs or medical examiners' offices to better understand forensic processes. The internship highlights how defense attorneys protect constitutional rights and navigate complex legal challenges. Case research and structured learning sessions help you connect courtroom observations with legal principles. The program concludes with a mock trial that allows you to apply what you have learned in a simulated setting.
6. The Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida High School Internship
Location: Various courthouse facilities within Miami-Dade County, Florida
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: Follow the academic school year
Application Deadline: December 26
Eligibility: High school junior or senior at a Miami-Dade County Public School with a 2.5 unweighted GPA or higher, and excellent school attendance records
In this internship, you will step directly into the inner workings of the Florida court system to observe how justice is administered from the bench. By working alongside a circuit or county court judge, you explore diverse legal topics ranging from criminal and civil procedures to courtroom ethics and administrative law. Your daily activities will include managing professional court calendars, reviewing case files for hearing readiness, and drafting confidential legal correspondence or orders. Throughout the academic year, you will sharpen your professional communication, refine your organizational skills, and learn to handle sensitive information with the high level of conduct expected in a judicial environment.
7. M-DCPS Honors Academic Year Internship Program
Location: Various professional sites throughout Miami-Dade County
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: August – May
Application Deadline: Mid-February
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors who have a minimum 2.5 unweighted GPA
In this honors-level program, you step into the daily operations of Miami-Dade’s legal system by working alongside judges, attorneys, or court administrators. The experience covers a broad range of topics, including criminal and civil procedure, case management, and judicial ethics. You will shadow courtroom proceedings, review case files for legal accuracy, and assist with the preparation of official correspondence and documents. This program is unique because it integrates directly into your school schedule as a for-credit honors elective, providing a bridge between high school academics and professional practice. By participating, you build essential skills in legal research, professional communication, and time management.
8. Miami-Dade County Teen Court (MDEAT)
Location: Multiple sites: Richard Gerstein Building, South Dade Government Center, North Dade Justice Center, Hialeah City Hall, and Miami Gardens City Hall
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; typically 15–40 student volunteers per session
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18
In this restorative justice program, you take on the roles of defense attorney, prosecutor, and juror to handle real cases involving your peers. The experience covers legal topics such as courtroom decorum, the rules of evidence, and the ethics of peer-sanctioning. You will question witnesses, deliver closing arguments, and deliberate with other students to determine fair consequences for first-time offenders. This program is unique because it allows you to operate in a real courtroom setting where your decisions directly influence the legal outcomes of actual juvenile cases. By participating, you build strong public speaking abilities and learn how to construct logical arguments.
9. Gulliver Preparatory School – Internship Program
Location: Various professional sites, primarily in Miami, FL
Stipend: Paid and unpaid roles available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Typically 4–6 weeks between May and August (Summer)
Application Deadline: Varies by position
Eligibility: Must be a current Gulliver Prep student (typically rising juniors/seniors) or a young alum
In this network-driven program, you gain professional experience by connecting with law firms and legal departments within the Gulliver Prep alumni and parent community. The internship focuses on the practical side of the law, covering topics like litigation, corporate contracts, and international diplomacy. You will shadow attorneys during client meetings, perform case research, and assist with the organization of trial documents or legal memos. This program relies on the "Raider Connect" network, providing you with a high-level mentor who is personally invested in your growth as a Gulliver student. By the end of the summer, you will have sharpened your professional networking abilities and improved your technical legal writing.
10. Miami-Dade Urban Debate League
Location: Various M-DCPS school sites and local colleges (e.g., University of Miami, Miami Dade College) for tournaments
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; typically, hundreds of students across 15+ participating high schools and middle schools
Dates: September – April (Monthly tournaments)
Application Deadline: Ongoing
Eligibility: M-DCPS high school students at participating league schools
In this competitive league, you learn to advocate for complex social changes by mastering the technical format of policy debate. Throughout the year, you focus on a single national resolution, exploring diverse topics such as criminal justice reform, environmental protection, or international diplomacy. Your primary activities will include conducting extensive legal and political research, drafting evidence-based arguments for both sides of an issue, and participating in multi-round tournaments hosted on local college campuses. A unique feature of this program is its focus on underserved schools, providing professional coaching and resources that allow you to compete at a national level regardless of your school's budget.
11. Youth for Innocence Summer Internship
Location: Remote
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: June 16 – August 10
Application Deadline: Rolling acceptance
Eligibility: All high school students
The Youth for Innocence Summer Internship places you in an eight-week program focused on reviewing and investigating wrongful conviction cases. You will work with case materials by organizing files, summarizing transcripts, tracking down witnesses, and assisting with interviews. This internship introduces you to post-conviction legal processes and the role of innocence advocacy in the justice system. Guest speakers, including lawyers and investigators, explain topics such as eyewitness misidentification and false confessions. You also contribute to outreach efforts through blog writing and social media work related to case awareness. The program requires a commitment of at least 20 hours per week and primarily focuses on detailed legal research and documentation skills.
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