15 Law Internships for High School Students in Houston, TX
If you are a high school student interested in pursuing law, internships can give you valuable exposure to how the legal system works. They let you experience aspects of the profession firsthand, from research projects and courtroom visits to mentorship with attorneys or participation in mock trials. This kind of early experience helps you build practical skills, clarify your interests, and strengthen your college applications.
If you are based in Houston, you are especially well-placed to explore law internships. Houston is home to a wide range of legal institutions, firms, and nonprofit organizations that regularly engage with students. By seeking out opportunities close to where you live, you can take fuller advantage of local networks, reduce travel barriers, and potentially continue building long-term connections within your own community.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 14 of the best law-related internships available to high school students in Houston, TX. These opportunities include programs from legal academies as well as nonprofit-led initiatives, all designed to give you an early look into the legal profession.
1. Summer Legal Academy
Location: Harris County Attorney's Office, Houston, TX
Stipend: $15 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: July 14 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Open to high school students in Harris County.
The Harris County Attorney’s Office hosts the Summer Legal Academy (SLA), a two-week program to provide hands-on experience. It helps students explore the legal field. During this program, you'll engage in mock law school sessions, review real case studies, and participate in logic games that challenge your problem-solving skills. You’ll hear from attorneys and other legal professionals during panel discussions, giving you insights related to different areas of law, what law school is all about. It gives you an opportunity to gain practical experience, build your professional network, and get valuable mentorship while getting paid
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, small cohorts offering a more individual approach
Dates: Programs run year-round with cohorts starting in January, May, September, and November
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
With the Ladder Internships Legal Track, you get to dive into real-world experience by working remotely with startups or nonprofits that are making an impact. Over 8 to 12 weeks, you’ll team up with a company and take on legal or law-related projects that truly matter to their mission. You’ll have regular check-ins with your manager and receive one-on-one support from a dedicated Ladder Coach who is there to guide you at every step.. Along the way, you’ll build practical skills such as research, communication, and problem-solving within a real-world legal context. By the end of the program, you’ll present your work directly to the company and gain valuable experience that stands out when building college applications and future resumes.
3. Law Week at The Houston Bar Association
Location: Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: April (typically around Law Day on May 1)
Application Deadline: Typically due in early March
Eligibility: Created for high schoolers looking to explore legal careers
Law Week at The Houston Bar Association is a fun and interactive program that celebrates Law Day and gives you the opportunity to explore the legal world. During the week, you’ll be involved in activities such as mock trials, courthouse tours, and panel discussions with real legal professionals. These sessions help you connect the dots between different areas of law and the bigger picture of how the system runs. The program also includes the Law Day Essay and Poster Contests, where you can become creative and share your interpretation of the theme. It’s an opportunity for you to gain insight into the legal field and even have your work recognized in a statewide contest.
4. Communities In Schools (CIS) of Houston – Summer Legal Internship Program
Location: Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 10 – August 2
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
With the CIS Summer Legal Internship Program, students get hands-on exposure to law. For eight weeks, this paid internship is designed to give you hands-on experience in the legal field. You’ll assist with meaningful projects, observe professionals at work, and develop valuable career and leadership skills. Created in partnership with the Houston Bar Association, the program provides a great opportunity to explore the legal profession and build your network and understanding while working in a legal environment.
5. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Available year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students with 16+ years of age
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Law Track offers high school students the opportunity to engage in legal research and writing under the mentorship of experienced professionals. As a participant, you'll conduct original research on legal topics, develop critical thinking skills, and produce an independent research project. This virtual program allows you to explore various areas of law, including constitutional law, criminal justice, and international law. It's an excellent way to gain in-depth knowledge and experience in the legal field while working remotely and at your own pace.
6. Peña Aleczander Summer Internship Program
Location: Texas
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer (specific dates can vary)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to high school students
If you're serious about making a career in law and want real-world exposure to how the legal world works, the Peña Aleczander Summer Internship Program will be a great option. This internship gives you the unique ability to step beyond research or office tasks and handle the action of observing attorneys during client meetings, depositions, mediations, and even trials. It’s a hands-on immersive experience designed to show you exactly what it’s like to be a practicing attorney. Whether you're in high school, college, or law school, this program provides a valuable opportunity to build your legal knowledge and helps you evaluate if the field is suitable for you.
7. Pre-College Law Program - Rice University
Location: Online
Stipend/Cost: $1,495 for a 2-week course and $1,795 for a 4-week course; scholarships are available on a need basis
Dates:
October 5 - November 2
November 9 - December 7
December 21 - January 4
Application Deadline: September 28 or November 2 or December 14 depending on your course
Eligibility: Open to students aged 13 years and above
Rice University's online course is designed for students interested in law and civil rights, which helps to create equal opportunities in society. This online course covers essential topics such as employment law, educational rights, and property law while examining how the legal system impacts social justice. You’ll take part in case studies, interactive legal simulations, and complete a capstone project where you’ll propose your own legal solution to a real-world problem. You will be guided by experienced instructors and mentors who can help you think critically about legal issues and career possibilities. It’s a flexible and supportive introduction to the legal field designed to fit your schedule and interests.
9. Rising Scholars Program
Location: SMU Dedman School of Law, Daniel Avenue, Dallas, TX
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 20 students per cohort
Dates: One-week residential program in June
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school seniors
High school seniors can explore the legal field through the Rising Scholars Program at SMU Dedman School of Law, a one-week residential introduction to law. During the program, you will take part in law school-style classes, professional development workshops, and sessions on navigating the college admissions process. You’ll also have the chance to learn directly from practicing attorneys in areas like litigation, corporate law, and the judiciary. One of the program’s highlights is a moot court competition where participants step into the role of a lawyer and argue a simulated case.
10. Summer Law Intern Program
Location: Various law firms and corporate legal departments across Texas
Stipend: Not specified; may vary depending on the employer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; based on application and interview
Dates: June 9 - August 1
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors
The Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) provides a standout opportunity to gain experience in the real-world legal environment. You'll spend four to eight weeks working as an intern at a law firm or legal department, working on projects, shadowing attorneys, and attending professional development events. The program is structured to mimic a real internship from the application process to interviews and job offers, so you'll walk away with a strong sense of what it’s like to work in law. You'll also be required to attend orientations, complete a learning curriculum, and participate in an end-of-program reception.
11. Georgetown University Pre-College Online Course: International Law
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795 for 1-week or 2-week sessions and $1,895 for a 1-week intensive course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-enrollment; space may be limited
Dates: August 10 - August 17, August 10 - August 24, August 17 - August 24
Application Deadline: Typically one week before the course start date
Eligibility: Open to students with age of 13 years and above
This is an interactive online enrichment course developed by Georgetown University faculty and designed for high school students eager to explore legal systems beyond borders. You’ll dive into complex topics such as jurisdiction across land, sea, air, and space, enforcement of international law, and the use of force under global treaties. The course includes multimedia lessons, mentor support, and a Final Capstone Project where you act as a legal advisor in a real-world conflict simulation. Mentors are law professionals and Georgetown-affiliated scholars offering guidance on assignments and career insights related to international law. Once you successfully complete the program, Georgetown University will grant you a Certificate of Completion.
12. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies – Legal Studies
Location: Online
Cost: $3,050
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session One: June 16 – June 27 and Session Two: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9–11
This internship, offered by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, is a rigorous and interactive online course designed to strengthen the analytical, argumentative, and legal reasoning skills of a student. Over the course of two weeks, you’ll learn directly from Stanford faculty and professionals in law, business, and education, tackling real-world legal scenarios and crafting persuasive arguments. By working in teams, debating, and role-playing, you’ll boost your critical thinking, quick decision-making, and argumentation skills. The course concludes with a mock trial where you’ll step into the role of an attorney or witness and put your skills to the test.
13. LSPI High School Law Camp
Location: University of Texas at El Paso
Cost: Free; includes lunch and snacks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; not currently accepting applications
Dates: June 9 - June 20
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
At the LSPI High School Law Camp at UTEP, you get the chance to explore future opportunities in law. This two-week full-day summer program consists of hands-on activities that help to build important skills such as legal analysis, critical reading, and public speaking. You’ll dive into case law, go on field trips to legal organizations in the El Paso community, and even participate in a mock trial. It’s a free, immersive experience designed to help you evolve and grow in law school and beyond.
14. Stephen F. Austin State University – High School Pre-Law Academy
Location: Texas
Cost/Stipend: $850
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; limited capacity
Dates: June 15 - June 21
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
At the SFA High School Pre-Law Academy, you’ll spend a week fully immersed in the world of law while residing on a college campus. You’ll attend interactive sessions with judges, attorneys, and professors, take part in mock negotiations, investigate a simulated crime scene, and compete in a mock trial with guidance from local attorneys. Outside your class, you’ll experience dorm life and share meals in the dining hall, giving you a true flavour of college life. This program is designed to help you explore whether a legal career is the right option for you while building valuable skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and public speaking.
15. University of Notre Dame – Law
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: $1,495 for a 2-week course and $1,795 for a 4-week course; scholarships available on need-basis
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Multiple sessions available
Application Deadline: Typically, one week before each session begins
Eligibility: Students with 13 years of age and above
Notre Dame’s Law is a flexible online course designed to introduce students to core legal reasoning skills used by attorneys. This is a strong pre-college opportunity for students considering careers in law, public policy, or government. Taught using the IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) method, the course helps students analyze complex legal issues and understand how law is applied in a real-world context. Topics include the U.S. and international legal systems, constitutional design comparisons, intellectual property law, and sports law. Students complete a capstone project, receive guidance from a mentor, and earn a certificate of completion from the University of Notre Dame.
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