15 Summer Law Programs for High School Students in Georgia

Law summer programs are a good option for high school students who want early exposure to the legal field. Summer law programs offer experience in legal reasoning, debate, mock trials, policy analysis, and civic engagement. They often provide access to attorneys, judges, professors, and advocacy professionals who can mentor you, connections that are otherwise hard to find at the high school level. 

Why participate in a summer law program in Georgia?

If you’re interested in law, public policy, criminal justice, or related fields, exploring a summer program can help you test whether the discipline aligns with your interests before applying to college. Georgia is home to many institutions that offer solid summer law programs that allow you to build skills, understand how legal systems work in practice, and strengthen your academic profile through meaningful learning. You’ll also benefit from exposure to the legal world through courts, advocacy, policy, or legal education.

To help you navigate the many options available, we’ve narrowed this list down to the top 15 summer law programs for high school students in Georgia. 

1. Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program

Location: Placements across law firms, government agencies, and corporations in  metro Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free to participate
Cohort Size: ~15-20 students per cycle
Dates: June 8 – July 17  
Application Deadline: February 6 – March 19
Eligibility: High school students from metropolitan Atlanta 

This six-week internship program places you in professional legal environments across metro Atlanta, including law firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments. You’ll gain exposure to the daily work of legal professionals while developing workplace skills such as professional communication, time management, and legal observation. The program includes structured orientations and weekly engagement meetings that connect your internship experience to broader discussions about legal careers and access to the profession. Mentorship from judges and attorneys is a core component, offering insight into pathways to law school and legal practice. The program is designed to encourage long-term academic and professional engagement with the legal field, supported by an established alumni network.

2. Ladder Internship Program

Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students 

Ladder Internships is a selective startup internship program for ambitious high school students. During the program, you’ll get to work on an eight-week internship with a fast-growing startup. Many of these startups span industries like tech/deep tech and AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. They’re also usually high-growth companies, often raising over a million dollars. As an intern, you'll work closely with your manager and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. Here’s the application form

3. Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office — Junior DA & Investigator Mentorship Program

Location: Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, Lawrenceville, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 11 – 25 (tentative)
Application Deadline: April 14 – May 2 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students (ages 15-18) attending a Gwinnett County public school 

This mentorship program provides a structured exposure to the criminal justice system through direct interaction with a county prosecutor’s office. You’ll learn how cases move through the courts by exploring the roles of assistant district attorneys, investigators, law enforcement, and corrections. The program emphasizes practical legal understanding, including how criminal cases are evaluated, prepared, and managed within a district attorney’s office. You’ll participate in supervised training sessions focused on law, professional conduct, accountability, and core life skills relevant to public service careers. The experience allows you to earn community service hours while gaining first-hand insight into prosecution-side legal work in Georgia.

4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students 

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a challenging research program that offers in-depth 1-on-1 research opportunities across a wide variety of subjects you can explore as a high schooler. During the program, you will be paired with a Ph.D. mentor, who will work with you and offer guidance on an independent research project. You’ll get to pick research topics from fields like psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. By the end of the 12-week program, you'll have a solid independent research paper. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here

5. Georgia Innocence Project Summer Internship Program

Location: Georgia Innocence Project, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: May – August
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school, college, graduate, and law students

The Georgia Innocence Project Summer Internship offers you exposure to real post-conviction legal work focused on wrongful convictions in Georgia. As a high school intern, you will support case screening and intake efforts, assisting with preliminary legal research, document review, transcript summarization, and open records requests under staff supervision. The program emphasizes how factual investigation, procedural law, and evidentiary review intersect in innocence litigation. You’ll work alongside attorneys and case staff, gaining insight into how legal teams evaluate claims, communicate with clients, and prepare cases for potential court action. With a substantial time commitment across the summer, this program is best suited for students seeking a serious, hands-on introduction to public-interest law rather than a short exploratory camp.

6. Emory University Pre-College Program – U.S. Law Unlocked

Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $5,510 (residential); $3,925 (commuter); Partial need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 14 – 27 or July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until seats are filled
Eligibility: High school students; No prior law coursework required

The U.S. Law Unlocked course introduces you to the constitutional foundations of the U.S. legal system and the relationship between law and society. During the first week, you’ll study constitutional principles, governmental structures, and how courts evaluate cases within federal and state systems. The second week shifts to legal advocacy, where you’ll analyze real legal arguments, observe oral arguments in court, and prepare your own case positions. You’ll also develop core legal skills such as issue spotting, jurisdictional analysis, and persuasive reasoning. The program culminates in delivering oral arguments before a panel of mock judges, offering direct exposure to courtroom-style advocacy within a college academic setting.

7. University of Georgia Legal Camp

Location: University of Georgia School of Law, Athens, GA
Cost: $530 
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified 
Dates: June 8 – 12
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until filled; Opens on December 1
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14-17; No prior law experience required

This in-person legal camp introduces you to core legal concepts through hands-on activities anchored in courtroom practice and legal reasoning. You’ll work with practicing attorneys, law professors, and experienced mock trial competitors to understand how lawyers argue cases, evaluate evidence, and engage with juries. The curriculum emphasizes trial advocacy, public speaking, and analytical thinking through simulated court proceedings. You’ll also participate in mock trials that mirror real criminal cases, helping you build confidence in oral argument and structured legal analysis. The program also exposes you to the range of legal careers, from litigation to policymaking, within a university law school setting.

8. Lawyer Up: Summer Law Camp

Location: Master of MyFate, Inc., Columbus, GA
Cost: $50 registration fee
Cohort Size: Approximately 8-12 students
Dates: June 1 – 5
Application Deadline: May 19
Eligibility: High school students 

The Lawyer Up Summer Law Camp provides a concentrated introduction to the legal and judicial system through applied, skills-based learning. You’ll study court structure, criminal and civil procedure, and legal ethics while engaging with practicing lawyers and judges. The program emphasizes experiential learning through mock trial practice, allowing you to explore advocacy, argument structure, and courtroom roles. Daily panel discussions expose you to legal careers, leadership, and pathways to law school. The camp concludes with a mock trial presentation, allowing you to apply legal concepts in a simulated courtroom setting.

9. University of Georgia Mock Trial Academy

Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens, GA
Cost: $1,255
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: Rolling until capacity is reached; Opens on December 1
Eligibility: High school students (ages 13-17); No prior mock trial or legal experience required

The University of Georgia Mock Trial Academy is a week-long, residential program focused specifically on trial advocacy and courtroom procedure. Hosted by the nationally recognized UGA Undergraduate Mock Trial team, the academy introduces you to litigation fundamentals such as case theory development, witness examination, objections, and oral argument. You’ll work through a simulated case and engage in a full mock trial experience, defending or prosecuting against your peers in a courtroom setting. Instruction is led by experienced mock trial competitors, practicing attorneys, and law faculty, emphasizing persuasive speaking, legal reasoning, and teamwork. 

10. National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Law & CSI

Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA 
Cost: $4,499; Scholarships, payment plans, and fundraising options available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 25 – July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until sessions fill
Eligibility: High school students 

NYLF: Law & CSI is an immersive residential summer program that integrates legal studies with forensic science through structured simulations and case-based learning. You’ll participate in Supreme Court case recreations, mock trials, and crime scene investigations, gaining exposure to how evidence moves from investigation to courtroom argument. The curriculum emphasizes constitutional law, criminal procedure, forensic analysis, and legal ethics, with instruction from attorneys, judges, and criminal justice professionals. You’ll work in teams to analyze evidence, prepare briefs, examine witnesses, and present arguments in realistic courtroom settings. 

11. Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program – Law: Analyze, Argue, and Advocate Like a Lawyer

Location: Remote
Cost: Enrichment Course: $1,895; College Credit Course: $3,995; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Program Dates: Multiple sessions available year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling; Varies by session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up

Georgetown University’s online Law program introduces you to the foundations of legal reasoning, courtroom advocacy, and constitutional law through real case studies and guided analysis. You’ll learn how lawyers investigate facts, identify legal issues, construct persuasive arguments, and advocate for clients while balancing individual rights and societal interests. The program also emphasizes core lawyering skills such as issue-spotting, evidence analysis, witness examination, and legal storytelling. By the end of the program, you’ll have completed a final capstone project that simulates real legal work, with mentoring support throughout the course. 

12. William & Mary Pre-College Online Program – Constitutional Law: We the People

Location: Remote
Cost: $1,595; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Program Dates: Multiple sessions available year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by session 
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up

William & Mary’s Constitutional Law: We the People course introduces you to how lawyers, judges, and scholars interpret the U.S. Constitution in real legal contexts. You’ll study foundational Supreme Court cases, judicial review, federalism, and the Bill of Rights while exploring competing schools of constitutional interpretation. The course emphasizes legal reasoning, precedent analysis, and the judiciary’s role in shaping constitutional meaning. Finally, you’ll complete a final project that places you in the role of a Supreme Court justice, requiring you to analyze precedent and defend a constitutional interpretation. 

13. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies – Legal Studies: Critical Thinking for Courtroom Success

Location: Remote
Cost: $3,200; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Program Dates: Session One: June 15 – 26; Session Two: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11 

Stanford’s Legal Studies: Critical Thinking for Courtroom Success focuses on developing the analytical and argumentative skills used in real legal settings. You’ll learn to evaluate complex fact patterns, weigh evidence, anticipate counterarguments, and construct persuasive legal positions. The course uses debates, role-playing, and collaborative exercises to strengthen reasoning and oral advocacy skills, culminating in a mock trial where you act as an attorney or witness. In addition to courtroom-focused work, the program explores international human rights issues and ethical considerations in law. Taught by Stanford-affiliated experts, this course offers a rigorous, discussion-driven introduction to legal thinking suitable for students interested in law, public policy, or social justice.

14. Rice University Pre-College Program – Law: Shaping a Just and Equitable World

Location: Remote 
Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Program Dates: Multiple 4-week sessions throughout the year
Application Deadlines: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up

This Rice University pre-college law course examines how legal systems shape justice, equity, and access to opportunity. As a participant, you’ll explore the role of law in civil rights, property ownership, employment protections, and educational access through case studies and ethical analysis. The course also emphasizes how legal frameworks influence social change, balancing equality, equity, and justice. By the end of the program, you’ll be expected to complete a capstone project proposing legal solutions to interconnected societal challenges, while receiving guidance from legal and policy mentors. 

15. University of Notre Dame Pre-College Online – Law: Thinking Like a Lawyer

Location: Remote
Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Program Dates: Multiple 2-week and 4-week sessions throughout the year
Application Deadlines: Rolling; Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up; no transcripts or recommendations required

The Law: Thinking Like a Lawyer course introduces you to core legal reasoning skills through structured analysis using the IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) method. You’ll examine how legal rules are applied across areas such as constitutional law, international law, intellectual property, and sports law, with an emphasis on case-based reasoning. The program includes a capstone project where you’ll analyze real-world legal scenarios involving constitutional interpretation and judicial reasoning. You’ll work through guided assignments with feedback from a dedicated mentor, focusing on argument structure, comparative legal analysis, and issue spotting. Instruction is delivered through asynchronous video lessons, simulations, and curated readings, making it flexible to complete alongside school schedules. Once you complete the course, you’ll earn a certificate of completion from the University of Notre Dame.

Image Source - Atlanta Bar Association logo

Dhruva Bhat

Dhruva Bhat is one of the co-founders of Ladder, and a Harvard College graduate. Dhruva founded Ladder Internships as a DPhil candidate and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, with a vision to bridge the gap between ambitious students and real-world startup experiences.

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