15 Law Office Internships for High School Students
Curious about what really happens inside a law office beyond the courtroom proceedings and textbook case studies. A law office internship can give high school students a firsthand look at the legal profession, offering insight into how attorneys build cases, interact with clients, and navigate complex legal systems on a daily basis. Along the way, you start developing practical skills such as legal research, structured writing, professional communication, and critical thinking. Many of these opportunities are also more accessible than students expect, with some offering stipends, scholarships, or low-cost participation compared to traditional pre-college programs. If you’re considering a future in law, public policy, or criminal justice, an internship can help you explore whether the field aligns with your interests before making long-term academic commitments. You will also gain exposure to a wide range of legal paths from litigation and corporate law to public defense and government roles.
You can find an extended list of the best law internships for high schoolers in general here! And if you’re looking specifically for Business law programs, find a list here!
Why should I participate in a law office internship in high school?
A law internship allows you to experience the legal profession in a real-world environment while building credentials that can strengthen your college applications, especially when you’re aiming for competitive programs related to law or social sciences. Rather than simply expressing an interest in law, you’ll be able to demonstrate initiative through meaningful, hands-on experience. Beyond enhancing your academic profile, internships help you build connections with legal professionals, gain mentorship, and develop a more informed perspective on career options.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 law office internships for high school students that combine real-world exposure with skill-building and professional insight.
1. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Pathways Internship Program
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective | variable cohort sizes
Dates: Varies by internship
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Enrolled high school students who are at least 16 years old by the closing date of the announcement | Must be in good academic standing and eligible to continue as enrolled students
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Pathways Internship Program offers early exposure to how legal work functions within one of the largest federal agencies. Depending on your placement, you may work with teams focused on policy, administration, and legal operations. Typical responsibilities include compiling reports, organizing documents, and assisting with ongoing initiatives. You’ll also observe how different departments coordinate on matters related to justice and public policy. Along the way, you develop professional communication skills and learn workplace expectations in a formal legal environment.
2. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program of the New York City Bar
Location: Various locations across New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | Around 35 students per cohort
Dates: 6 - 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: NYC public high school students aged 16 years or above by program start and legally eligible to work in the U.S.
The New York City Bar Legal Internship Program combines professional training with direct placement in legal workplaces across the city. Before beginning your internship, you’ll take part in sessions covering legal ethics, workplace professionalism, and interview preparation, which set expectations for professional environments. Once you are placed, your responsibilities may include organizing case files, conducting research, and supporting legal teams with administrative tasks. Many participants also observe hearings or client meetings, offering valuable insight into how legal professionals operate. The program features career panels and networking events where attorneys share insights into different legal pathways. You’re also exploring a variety of legal employers that help you compare roles across firms, nonprofits, and government offices.
3. Atlanta Bar Association: Summer Law Internship Program
Location: Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive | 35+ positions available
Dates: May 27 - July 17
Application Deadline: March 19
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors attending schools within the Atlanta, Georgia area
The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program places you in legal environments while combining academic and professional development. In your placement, you may assist with preparing case materials, conducting research, and supporting administrative processes in law offices or agencies. The program begins with training in professionalism, confidentiality, and workplace expectations to help you transition into a legal environment. Alongside your work, you attend sessions with guest speakers featuring different areas of law and legal careers. Weekly assignments and varied learning components encourage you to reflect on legal concepts and apply them analytically. You may also engage with case-based exercises that strengthen your reasoning and writing skills.
4. Law Office of the Public Defender, Broward County, Summer Justice Internship Program
Location: Broward County Judicial Complex, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive | around 30 interns
Dates: June 16 - 27
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores who are between the ages of 15 and 18 years and attend a high school located in Broward County | Minimum GPA of 2.0
The Law Office of the Public Defender, Broward County Summer Justice Internship Program, introduces you to criminal defense through direct observation and guided activities. During the program, you shadow attorneys in court, gaining insight into how criminal cases progress through different stages of the legal process. Discussions with legal professionals help you understand defense strategies and the responsibilities of public defenders. You may also visit related institutions such as crime laboratories and medical examiner offices, which highlight the role of forensic evidence in legal cases. Toward the end of this internship, you get to participate in a mock trial where you apply what you’ve learned in a practical setting.
5. Summer Legal Academy: Office of the Harris County Attorney
Location: Harris County Attorney's Office, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive | around 40 students per session
Dates: July 13 - 24
Application Deadline: Priority: March 2 | Final: March 23
Eligibility: Students in high schools in Harris County who are entering grades 10th - 12th
The Summer Legal Academy at the Harris County Attorney’s Office focuses on building analytical and foundational legal skills through a classroom-based experience. You’ll engage with case studies, legal lectures, and structured exercises that introduce how lawyers approach complex problems. Activities such as logic games and writing assignments help develop reasoning skills often associated with legal training. Guest speakers, including attorneys and judges, provide insight into different legal careers and professional pathways. The law office internship for high school students also includes discussions on legal school expectations and the broader legal education process. Workshops focus on skills such as argumentation, analytical thinking, and legal writing.
6. Hall-Jackson & Associates Internships
Location: Hall-Jackson & Associates, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive | Likely small cohorts
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: All high school students
The Hall-Jackson & Associates Internship places you in a working law firm environment where you contribute to ongoing legal tasks. Your responsibilities may include assisting with drafting legal documents, including motions, complaints, and discovery requests, which introduces you to the technical side of legal writing. You might also help organize case materials by reviewing evidence, reports, and related documents. Legal research is another core component, allowing you to explore statutes, case law, and regulations relevant to active cases. The experience shows how attorneys prepare for hearings and trials through detailed documentation and analysis.
7. Jimerson Birr's School Internships
Location: Jimerson Birr office, Jacksonville, FL
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | Typically 40 students
Dates: 4 - 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically spring
Eligibility: High school students who can work at the Jimerson Birr office in Florida
This law office internship for high school students offers exposure to both the legal and operational functions of a business law firm. While most of your time may involve legal research or case preparation, you also work with departments such as marketing, accounting, and information technology. You’ll work with different teams, gaining insight into how various roles contribute to a firm's overall operations. Tasks may include administrative support, research, or assisting with internal projects across departments. By the end of the program, you will gain a more comprehensive understanding of how law firms operate beyond the practice of law.
8. Dallas Bar Association: Summer Law Intern Program
Location: Various law firms and legal organizations throughout Dallas, TX
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | 80 - 100 students
Dates: Session 1: June 9 - July 3 | Session 2: July 7 - August 1 | Full Session: June 9 - August 1
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Dallas ISD high school juniors with an academic average of 85 or above and no more than 10 absences
The Dallas Bar Association Summer Law Intern Program places you in legal workplaces such as firms, nonprofits, and corporate legal departments while following a structured learning development. During your internship, you contribute to daily office activities, which may include administrative support, research, and document preparation. The program includes orientation sessions and workshops designed to help you understand professional expectations and workplace dynamics. You also gain exposure to different legal environments, allowing you to compare how various organizations approach legal work. Educational sessions throughout the program reinforce what you observe in your placement. The experience concludes with a formal recognition event that brings together participants and professionals.
9. Mikva Summer Fellows Program
Location: Various offices across Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective | Around 50 students
Dates: 6 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: Typically late March or April
Eligibility: High school graduates between the ages of 16 and 22 years by July 1 | Must reside in Cook County (City of Chicago) or potentially Lake County, IL
The Mikva Summer Fellows Program places you in government offices where legal, policy work, and public service intersect. As a fellow, you contribute to tasks such as policy research, constituent communication, and administrative support. The experience helps you understand how laws and policies are implemented at different levels of government institutions. Weekly workshops focus on leadership, civic engagement, and professional skills, adding structure to your internship. You also explore how public officials interact with communities and address real-world issues. The program encourages reflection on the impact of policy decisions and civic participation.
10. Houston Bar Association Communities In Schools (CIS) Summer Interns
Location: Houston area law firms, TX
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective | Around 20 students
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically early spring
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who attend campuses supported by CIS of Houston
The Houston Bar Association Communities In Schools (CIS) Summer Internship places you in a professional legal environment where you observe and support daily operations. You may assist attorneys and staff with administrative tasks while learning how law firms operate in practice. The law office internship for high school students also includes enrichment activities such as courthouse visits and workshops that expand your understanding of the legal system. Mentorship from legal professionals provides guidance on career pathways and professional expectations, while exposure to different legal environments helps you understand how various roles contribute to legal work. You may also participate in discussions or sessions focused on legal writing and communication.
11. Manhattan District Attorney's High School Internship Program
Location: Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Manhattan, NY
Cost/Stipend: Minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 29 - July 31
Application Deadline: Opens in January
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 - 12 who live in or attend school in Manhattan
The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program introduces you to the work of prosecutors within a large urban office. During the internship, you observe how assistant district attorneys handle cases from investigation through trial. Workshops on criminal law, ethics, and trial advocacy help explain the legal principles behind what you observe. You may also take part in group projects that explore legal issues in more detail. Court observation is a key component, giving you a direct view of proceedings and legal arguments. Professional development sessions focus on careers in public service and law.
12. George P. Kazen Fellowship Program
Location: Downtown Laredo, TX
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective | About 20 students
Dates: June 3 - 28 | Mock trials and graduation: July 1
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school students enrolled at a high school in the City of Laredo
The George P. Kazen Fellowship Program provides a structured introduction to both federal and state court systems through direct exposure and mentorship. You’ll spend time observing court proceedings and interacting with judges, attorneys, and court staff. Field visits and guided sessions help explain how different components of the legal system work together. You also participate in discussions that connect courtroom activity to broader legal concepts. You conclude the program with a mock trial that allows you to apply what you’ve learned in a practical setting.
13. CAIR-Chicago Internship
Location: Various locations across Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective | Typically 15 interns
Dates: Winter-Spring: January 1 - May 15 | Summer: May 15 - August 31 | Fall: September 1 - December 31
Application Deadline: Winter-Spring: December 1 | Summer: April 15 | Fall: August 1
Eligibility: All high school students
The CAIR-Chicago Internship Program focuses on civil rights law, advocacy, and public policy through hands-on involvement in community-focused legal work. During your internship, you may assist with research, draft case summaries, and support outreach initiatives related to discrimination and civil liberties. The work highlights how legal advocacy connects with grassroots organizing and public engagement. You also gain exposure to how nonprofit legal organizations operate and interact with communities. Participation in campaigns and projects helps you understand how legal issues are addressed beyond the courtroom. The experience often includes observing legal intake processes and supporting ongoing cases.
14. Internships at Senator Chris Van Hollen’s Office
Location: Senator Chris Van Hollen's Rockville and Baltimore offices, MD
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Summer: Session I: May 16 – July 2 | Session II: July 13 - August 21 | Fall: September 1 - December 18 | Spring: January 5 - May 15
Application Deadline: Summer: March 13 | Fall: June 12 | Spring: October 23
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors | Maryland residents are prioritized
Internships with Senator Chris Van Hollen’s Office introduce you to the legal and administrative functions of government work at the state and federal levels. As an intern, you may assist with constituent communication, support casework, and draft correspondence to agencies or individuals. The role involves attending briefings, meetings, and community events that provide context for policy decisions. You also contribute to research or memo-writing tasks that support the office’s work.
15. Ladder Internships
Cost: Varies (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
Summary
This list covers 15 law office internships for high school students, spanning bar association programs, district attorney and public defender placements, private law firms, and federal and state government offices, hosted by organizations including the U.S. Department of Justice, multiple city bar associations, and several individual law firms. The strongest disclosed compensation comes from the Mikva Summer Fellows Program ($17/hour) and the Harris County Attorney's Summer Legal Academy ($15/hour), while several bar association programs like Dallas and Atlanta are paid without a disclosed specific rate. Most programs are tied to a specific city or county, including Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Manhattan, so students outside those regions should prioritize Ladder Internships, the only fully remote and geographically unrestricted option on this list.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
1. Several programs here are run by local bar associations, like Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston. How do these differ from a district attorney's office internship like Manhattan's?
Bar association programs place you across a variety of legal environments, including firms, nonprofits, and corporate legal departments, giving you a broad comparison of different legal career paths. District attorney and public defender programs, like Manhattan's DA internship and Broward County's Public Defender program, are narrower and focused specifically on criminal prosecution or defense, giving you direct exposure to how criminal cases move through the court system. If you want breadth across legal fields, a bar association program is the stronger choice; if you're specifically interested in criminal law, the DA or public defender programs offer deeper focus.
2. I'm interested in public policy and government work rather than traditional courtroom law. Is there an option for that here?
Yes. Internships at Senator Chris Van Hollen's Office and the Mikva Summer Fellows Program both center on the intersection of law, policy, and government administration rather than litigation. Both involve constituent communication, policy research, and understanding how legislation and public policy get implemented, which is valuable if you're more drawn to the legislative or administrative side of law.
3. A few programs, like CAIR-Chicago, focus specifically on civil rights advocacy. How does that experience compare to working at a private firm like Hall-Jackson & Associates or Jimerson Birr?
CAIR-Chicago's internship centers on grassroots advocacy and nonprofit legal work, involving case summaries and outreach tied to discrimination and civil liberties issues, which shows you how legal advocacy connects to community organizing. Private firm internships like Hall-Jackson & Associates and Jimerson Birr are more focused on the technical mechanics of legal practice, including drafting motions, reviewing evidence, and understanding firm operations across departments like accounting and marketing. If you're drawn to social justice work, CAIR-Chicago offers that angle; if you want to understand how a business-oriented law firm actually runs, the private firm options are more relevant.