15 Law Internships in Los Angeles for Undergraduates
If you are an undergraduate student interested in law, an internship can be a worthwhile way to explore this field. Law internships provide undergraduate students with practical exposure to how legal systems function beyond textbooks and classroom discussions. By assisting with legal research, case preparation, drafting documents, and client-related tasks, you will develop critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and professional communication skills. These experiences also help you understand different legal pathways, such as litigation, public interest law, corporate law, and policy, while gaining clarity on whether a legal career aligns with your long-term goals.
Los Angeles offers opportunities across fields such as entertainment law, immigration, civil rights, corporate law, and public service. The city is home to major law firms, courts, nonprofit organizations, and advocacy groups. You can observe how legal frameworks interact with sectors such as media, technology, healthcare, and social justice. To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 law internships in Los Angeles for undergraduate students.
1. Protiviti Legal Consulting Internship
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer internship (June - August) | typically about 8 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students 6 - 12 months out from their final graduation date | pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in fields such as accounting, finance, engineering, computer science, or business technology
The Protiviti Legal Consulting Internship introduces students to explore consulting work that intersects with the legal and corporate sectors. You’ll begin with training through the intern challenge program, which introduces you to consulting practices and business operations. After the training phase, you’ll join a project team supporting client work, contributing to tasks such as industry research, data analysis, and client coordination related to litigation, compliance, contracts, and corporate transactions. The program includes mentorship from advisors, networking events, and team-based activities. High-performing interns may be considered for full-time roles after graduation.
2. Ladder University Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort – spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8 - 12 weeks, devoting 10 - 20 hours/week
Ladder Internships is a competitive, fully remote internship program that matches motivated students with startups and nonprofit organizations based on their skills and interests. Opportunities span multiple sectors, including law, AI and machine learning, deep tech, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Many partner organizations are early-stage companies that have raised over a million dollars in funding and operate in a fast-growing environment. Throughout the internship, you’ll work closely with a company mentor to complete a structured, long-term project with milestone-based deliverables. The experience concludes with a final presentation of your work to the organizational leadership, providing valuable professional exposure and networking opportunities. Apply now!
3. Human Rights Watch Internships
Location: Placements in Los Angeles, CA, and worldwide
Cost/Stipend: Paid $17/hour in the U.S.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies depending on the internship
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship
Eligibility: Varies depending on the internship
Human Rights Watch offers law internships that introduce students to the legal work involved in advancing international human rights protections. Internships are typically project-based and aligned with your interests. Your responsibilities may include conducting legal research, drafting documents, and translating materials for international audiences if you have relevant language skills. You’ll also benefit from mentorship by Human Rights Watch staff, networking opportunities to connect with policymakers and international professionals, and access to lectures and professional training sessions. Although the internship is unpaid, participants may arrange academic credit through their college or university.
4. Alvarez & Marsal Summer Internships
Location: Various A&M offices in the U.S., including Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not mentioned
Dates: Typical duration: 8 - 10 weeks, mostly between June and August
Application Deadline: Recruiting begins in the prior summer, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising college juniors and seniors
The Alvarez & Marsal law internship program introduces students to corporate and tax law through hands-on work in areas such as compensation & benefits, tax consulting, and global tax incentives. You will contribute to case teams by assisting with legal research, preparing analytical reports, analyzing financial information, and reviewing compliance requirements. In addition to legal exposure, the experience helps students build skills in consulting, economic analysis, and project management, offering insight into careers that combine law with finance or professional services.
5. Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Law Fellowship
Location: Multiple law firm placements available in Los Angeles, CA, with an initial 2-week training held in NYC
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Law Institute: May 11 - 22 | virtual: May 11 - 15 | in-person: May 18 - 22, NYC | summer internship: May 25 - August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current seniors who are planning to attend law school after graduation and have submitted at least one law school application
The SEO Law Fellowship is a selective program designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in pursuing law school. The fellowship begins with a two-week law institute in New York City, where you’ll build foundational legal skills through writing instruction, seminars led by law professors, and discussions about different areas of legal practice. After the institute, you’ll complete a 10-week internship at a major corporate law firm working on tasks such as legal research, drafting documents, assisting with transactions, and supporting attorneys on active cases. The program combines academic preparation with professional experience and offers strong networking opportunities with legal professionals.
6. Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Undergraduate Internships
Location: Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 225 students in spring | 450 students in summer | 225 students in fall | includes interns from high school, undergraduate, graduate, and law programs across LA County
Dates: Spring: January - May | Summer: June - August | Fall: September - December
Application Deadline: Spring: November 15 | Summer: April 15 | Fall: July 15
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students
The LA County District Attorney’s Office offers year-round law internships that provide insight into prosecution and investigative work in a major metropolitan legal system in Los Angeles. Your responsibilities may include reviewing crime data, researching cases, preparing written reports, and organizing evidence for court proceedings. You may also apply for a Paralegal Internship Track, which involves completing assignments expected in first-year law school courses within specialized DA units. Placement areas can include fraud and corruption, specialized prosecution, or central operations, allowing interns to explore different aspects of criminal law.
7. LA Civil Rights Department Legal Internships & Fellowships
Location: LA Civil Rights, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and graduate students
The Los Angeles City Civil Rights Department offers students an opportunity to contribute to legal and policy initiatives to protect the rights of marginalized communities in LA. You can apply to one of two pathways: the legal internship or the policy fellowship. The legal internship supports the civil rights enforcement unit and the Commission on Civil Rights. The policy fellowship focuses on research, policy analysis, and communications.Legal interns assist with investigations related to discrimination in employment, housing, education, or business practices. Policy fellows help draft research reports and policy briefs, prepare issue-based presentations, and support advisory boards and commissions. Internships are offered year-round, with flexible schedules that accommodate both academic-year and summer participation.
8. American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) Legal Advocacy Internships
Location: ACLU offices in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, and Bakersfield, CA, with remote options
Cost/Stipend: None | students may seek external funding or work-study support.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer internships are 8 - 10 weeks | school-term or quarter internships during fall, spring, or winter require a commitment of about 10 hours/week
Application Deadline: Summer: February 20 | fall: August 1 | spring semester & winter quarter: December 5 | Spring Quarter: February 13
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students (particularly in law and social work)
The ACLU of Southern California provides internships for students interested in civil rights advocacy and legal reform. Interns may work in areas such as criminal justice and police practices, economic justice, or immigrants’ rights. You will support policy advocacy and legal campaigns by conducting client intake, drafting legal memos and reports, and contributing to large-scale research projects aligned with your focus area. The role also involves community engagement work, including supporting the Youth Liberty Squad and helping create public presentations and engagement initiatives. Interns also gain access to professional development opportunities, including Brown Bag sessions led by attorneys and nonprofit leaders, guidance on law school and legal career pathways, and training in core legal skills such as client interviewing.
9. Los Angeles County Public Defender Internships
Location: Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer: early June - early September | Fall: mid-August - early December | Spring: early January - early June
Application Deadline: Summer: April 30 | Fall: June 30 | Spring: November 30
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled as an undergraduate or pre-law school student, or recent graduates | must be at least 18 years old
The LA County Public Defender’s Office offers four internship tracks for undergraduates: legal, investigator, paralegal, and communications. You will assist with tasks such as gathering client information, building case files, conducting legal research, and offering technical or administrative support. As the largest public defender’s office in the United States, the program offers exposure to high-volume legal work and collaboration with experienced attorneys, investigators, and legal professionals. Each track includes role-specific training and mentorship, with legal interns working primarily with attorneys, investigator interns supporting investigative teams, and paralegal interns working alongside paralegal staff. The program also includes networking opportunities and structured professional development.
10. Inner City Law Center Internships
Location: Inner City Law Center, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer: May - July | Winter/Spring: January - April | Fall: August - November
Application Deadline: Winter/Spring internships: Application period begins November (prior year) | Summer internships: Application period begins January 1 | Fall internships: Application period begins June 1
Eligibility: Current undergraduate, graduate, and law school students
The Inner City Law Center in Los Angeles offers internships for students interested in housing justice and public-interest law. As an intern, you’ll collaborate with attorneys, paralegals, and program staff on legal cases, client services, and outreach initiatives focused on addressing homelessness. Tasks may include legal research, policy analysis, drafting motions, assisting with trial preparation, and helping clients prepare for hearings. The internship also includes training in specialized areas such as housing law and veterans’ legal issues, along with opportunities to connect with legal professionals working in public service law.
11. California Lawyers for the Arts Internships – Lawyer Referral & Information Service [LRIS]
Location: California Lawyers for the Arts offices, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Typically unpaid | stipends may be available after completion of a 3-month internship (minimum about 21 hours/week)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 3 - 5 months, minimum 10 hours per week
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Law students and pre-law undergraduate students
California Lawyers for the Arts offers internships through its Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS), where you’ll help connect clients with appropriate legal support. Your work may include conducting intake interviews with prospective clients, preparing case summaries, and matching cases with attorneys who specialize in areas such as copyright, trademark law, contract negotiation, or nonprofit formation. Along the way, you’ll build skills in legal writing and client communication while interacting with professionals in the arts, nonprofit, and legal sectors across Los Angeles. Academic externship credit may be available, and the experience can also provide exposure to broader legal practice areas, including corporate law.
12. International Rescue Committee (IRC) Internships
Location: U.S., including Los Angeles, with remote or regional options
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies depending on the internship
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship
Eligibility: Undergraduates are eligible for most positions
Internships with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) allow students interested in immigration law and refugee advocacy to gain practical experience supporting humanitarian initiatives. Depending on the organization’s needs, you may assist with case management for refugee families, support citizenship application processes, help with legal compliance and documentation, and maintain program databases. Additional responsibilities can include interviewing clients seeking services, organizing informational sessions about immigration processes, and supporting community outreach efforts, gaining insight into legal and social support systems for displaced communities.
13. Loyola Project for the Innocent Summer Internships
Location: Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specifiedDates: Full summer internship is 10 weeksApplication Deadline: January 5Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and law students may apply
Loyola University’s Project for the Innocent offers summer internships where you can work on wrongful-conviction cases. Working under the supervision of a project attorney, you’ll typically focus on one or two cases throughout the program. Your responsibilities may include visiting incarcerated clients to provide case updates, interviewing witnesses, researching similar wrongful-conviction cases, drafting legal documents, and reviewing evidence related to ongoing investigations.
14. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) Volunteer Program
Location: LAFLA Offices, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Flexible, negotiated between volunteer/intern and LAFLA
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Undergraduate and law students, attorneys, social workers, and other community members over 18 years old
The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) offers practical legal experience while introducing students to social justice work within the legal system. You will support pro bono cases across areas such as employment law, housing and homelessness, immigration, and criminal record expungement. Responsibilities can include interviewing clients, drafting legal documents, and assisting attorneys with case preparation. The internship structure is flexible and planned in coordination with LAFLA staff. Students from related disciplines, including social work, can also contribute through case management support, and multilingual students may assist with translation for immigrant clients, which helps to broaden access to legal services.
15. Asian Americans Advancing Justice Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Generally unpaid, though applicants may be eligible for a limited stipend based on financial need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Spring and fall: minimum 8 weeks, part-time | summer: typically about 10 weeks full-time
Application Deadline: Application opens January 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate, graduate, and law students
The Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) law internship encourages students from all backgrounds who want to support legal and policy initiatives benefiting Asian American communities. You will work within one of several focus areas, such as communications, development, or policy & programs, depending on your interests. Communications interns handle outreach and draft press materials, Development interns help prepare grant proposals and fundraising initiatives, and policy & programs interns research legislation and prepare public policy commentary. Interns may also help prepare testimony for congressional hearings, gaining exposure to federal legal issues, including immigration rights and racial profiling. The organization can help interns obtain academic credit for their participation.
Image source - Protiviti logo