15 Pre-Law Internships for High School Students
Pre-law internships for high schoolers offer a look into the processes, people, and principles that shape our justice system. From assisting attorneys in cases to shadowing judges in their chambers, these programs allow you to observe the legal process and gain valuable professional experience. For high schoolers considering a future in law, public policy, or criminal justice, an internship can help you develop necessary skills like critical thinking, communication, and research.
Beyond offering professional exposure, internships also help you build a stronger resume and college application profile. Gaining practical experience demonstrates initiative and maturity, qualities valued by admissions officers and future employers. Additionally, such internships expand your professional networks to attorneys and mentors, giving you a deeper understanding of legal careers. Below is a list of 15 of the best pre-law internships for high school students looking to explore the field and build a foundation for their future careers.
15 Pre-Law Internships for High School Students
1. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Pathways Internship Program
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
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 | 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 Pathways Internship Program gives high school students early access to real-world experience within the federal legal system. Depending on your placement, you could assist in offices such as the Office of Legal Policy or the Office of the Attorney General, contributing to administrative, policy, or research-based work. You will help staff prepare documents, compile reports, or support ongoing case or policy initiatives, learning firsthand how legal processes function in a federal setting. This pre-law internship for high school students can be paid or unpaid and may lead to future employment opportunities within the government based on performance.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 – 25%; 70 – 100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter)
Application Deadline: Varies 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 10 – 20 hours/week, for 8 – 12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program connects motivated high school students with start-ups for virtual, project-based internships lasting around eight weeks. If you’re interested in the legal field, the program may match you with a start-up working on legal technology, public policy, or corporate law. You’ll collaborate remotely with professionals and receive mentorship from company staff, focusing on real projects that require research, writing, or organizational skills. The program is focused on independent work and professional accountability, helping you develop problem-solving and communication abilities relevant to future careers in law or business.
3. Law Office of the Public Defender, Broward County, Summer Justice Internship Program
Location: Broward County Judicial Complex, Fort Lauderdale, FL
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 – 18 and attend a high school located in Broward County | Minimum 2.0 GPA
The Summer Justice Internship Program by the Broward County Public Defender’s Office offers a two-week, hands-on look at the public defense system. During the program, you’ll shadow attorneys in court, observe trials, and participate in case discussions that reveal how defense lawyers advocate for clients. Site visits to the crime lab and medical examiner’s office give you exposure to forensic and investigative work that supports legal proceedings. The pre-law internship for high school students culminates in a mock trial, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned in a courtroom setting.
4. Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP) by ABA
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size depends on location
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer; typically late May–August
Application Deadline: January (Tentative)
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens
Run by the American Bar Association, the Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP) places students in state or federal judges’ chambers across the U.S. for at least six weeks. As an intern, you’ll observe court proceedings, assist with legal research, and help prepare documents under the supervision of judges and clerks. The pre-law internship for high school students offers a firsthand understanding of judicial decision-making and courtroom procedures while exposing you to various areas of law. In addition to the internship, JIOP includes orientations, speaker series, and mentoring opportunities with practicing attorneys and program alumni.
5. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program of the New York City Bar
Location: Various locations across New York City
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; around 35 students per cohort
Dates: 6 – 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January 6
Eligibility: NYC public high school students aged 16 or older by program start and legally eligible to work in the U.S.
The Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program connects New York City high school students with paid legal internships at law firms, nonprofits, corporations, and government offices. Before placements begin, you attend training sessions on workplace professionalism, interview preparation, and legal ethics. Once placed, you may organize case files, assist with research, draft documents, or observe hearings and client meetings. The program also hosts career panels and networking events with practicing attorneys, helping you understand different paths within the legal field. Past interns have worked with institutions like Columbia Law School and the NYC Commission on Human Rights, gaining practical experience and exposure to New York’s legal community.
6. Summer Law Intern Program – Dallas Bar Association
Location: Various law firms and legal organizations throughout Dallas, TX
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
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 4
Eligibility: Dallas ISD high school juniors with an academic average of 85 or above and no more than 10 absences
Jointly organized by the Dallas Bar Association and the Dallas Independent School District, the Summer Law Intern Program places students in local law firms, nonprofits, and corporate legal departments for up to eight weeks. You follow a structured schedule, either full- or part-time, and complete a learning curriculum designed to familiarize them with professional and legal environments. Throughout this pre-law internship for high school students, you’ll participate in educational workshops, attend orientations, and conclude with an end-of-program reception. The program focuses on both skill-building and exposure to legal workplaces, allowing you to experience daily what working in a Dallas-area law office or legal department is like.
7. Jimerson Birr's School Internships
Location: Jimerson Birr office, Jacksonville, FL
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
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
At Jimerson Birr, a Florida-based business law firm, the High School Summer Internship Program runs for four to six weeks and offers exposure to multiple areas of a professional law practice. You’ll assist in legal research, case preparation, or administrative tasks while also engaging with departments such as marketing, accounting, and information technology. This cross-departmental structure provides insight into how a law firm operates not just as a legal practice but as a business. Interns work directly with department heads and staff, gaining practical experience that strengthens both analytical and organizational skills.
8. Mikva Summer Fellows Program
Location: Various offices across Chicago, Illinois
Cost/Stipend: None | $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 by July 1 | Reside in Cook County (City of Chicago) or potentially Lake County, Illinois
The Mikva Challenge Summer Fellows Program is a six-week paid internship that places Chicago youth in the offices of city, county, state, and federal officials. You’ll work about 30 hours per week, earning $17 per hour through support from the Illinois Department of Human Services Youth Investment Program. As a fellow, you will assist public officials with policy projects, community outreach, and research tasks that contribute to real government initiatives. Alongside your placement, you’ll participate in weekly workshops that focus on leadership, civic engagement, and workplace readiness.
9. Atlanta Bar Association: Summer Law Internship Program
Location: Atlanta
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 35+ positions available
Dates: June 8 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 19
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The Atlanta Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program places high school juniors and seniors from across the metropolitan area in six-week internships at law firms, corporations, and government offices. Throughout the program, you’ll take part in real legal office work such as preparing case materials, conducting research, or assisting with administrative tasks while gaining firsthand exposure to courtroom proceedings and client interactions. You attend professional workshops and receive instruction on confidentiality, professionalism, and workplace conduct before starting. The pre-law internship for high school students also includes weekly evaluations and an academic component that may involve writing assignments or analyzing Supreme Court cases.
10. Hall-Jackson & Associates Internships
Location: Hall-Jackson & Associates, Chicago, Illinois
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; likely small cohorts
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling acceptance
Eligibility: All high school students
At Hall-Jackson & Associates, located in the Chicago Loop, high school interns take on meaningful legal work under the supervision of practicing attorneys. During the internship, you may help draft legal documents like motions, complaints, and discovery requests, as well as organize evidence and research relevant laws or case precedents. These tasks expose you to the technical side of legal practice and help you understand how attorneys prepare for hearings or trials. Participants come from varying academic levels, from high school to law school, and gain both mentorship and insight into daily law firm operations.
11. Miami-Dade State Attorney High School Volunteer Internship Program
Location: Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, Miami, FL
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; likely limited cohort size
Dates: At least 3 months on a semester basis: Fall, Spring, and Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling throughout the year
Eligibility: All high school students
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office runs a volunteer-based internship that introduces high school students to criminal prosecution and courtroom procedures. After an initial training period, you’ll be assigned to a specific unit–such as Domestic Violence, Criminal Intake, or Victim/Witness–where you may help contact victims, prepare documents, or review case evidence. You’ll also have opportunities to observe bond hearings and court sessions to see how prosecutors argue and manage cases. The internship provides direct involvement in the operations of a large public law office and helps you understand how evidence, witness statements, and legal arguments come together in real cases.
12. CAIR-Chicago Internship
Location: Various locations across Chicago
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 combines legal advocacy, public policy, and civil rights work to give students practical exposure to issues affecting local communities. High school students commit to at least eight weeks, contributing a minimum of ten hours per week to assist with projects related to anti-discrimination efforts, civic engagement, and constitutional rights. You might help draft case summaries, conduct research on current legal issues, or participate in outreach initiatives aimed at promoting equity and inclusion. This pre-law internship for high school students can also fulfill community service requirements.
13. Summer Legal Academy: Office of the Harris County Attorney
Location: Harris County Attorney's Office, Houston
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend of $15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; around 40 students per session
Dates: July 14 – 25
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Students in high schools in Harris County who are entering grades 10 through 12
Hosted by the Harris County Attorney’s Office, the Summer Legal Academy is a free two-week educational program that introduces students to the study and practice of law. You’ll participate in law school-style lectures, review real case studies, and engage in LSAT-style logic games to strengthen your analytical skills. Guest speakers, including judges and lawyers, lead sessions about various branches of law and their career paths. The academy also guides on the law school admissions process and what life as a law student entails. Combining interactive workshops with professional networking, the program helps you understand diverse opportunities available within the legal field.
14. Houston Bar Association Communities In Schools (CIS) Summer Interns
Location: Houston area law firms
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 20 students
Dates: Eight weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Typically early spring
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who attend campuses supported by CIS of Houston
Through a partnership with Communities In Schools of Houston, the Houston Bar Association provides an eight-week paid internship for high-achieving students from at-risk schools. You’ll work in a professional legal setting, assisting attorneys and staff while learning about how law firms operate day-to-day. The internship also includes enrichment activities such as courthouse visits, workshops, and mentoring sessions with practicing lawyers and judges. Past interns have visited legal institutions like the University of Houston Law Center and the Harris County Law Library, offering firsthand perspectives on legal education and public service careers.
15. George P. Kazen Fellowship Program
Location: Downtown Laredo, Texas
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; 10 – 22 students
Dates: 4 – 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically late January
Eligibility: High school students enrolled at a high school in the City of Laredo, Texas
The George P. Kazen Fellowship Program is a four-week paid summer opportunity hosted by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Laredo. Aimed primarily at low-income and first-generation students, the fellowship provides direct exposure to both federal and state judicial systems. You’ll spend time observing judges, shadowing attorneys, and participating in field trips to better understand how courts operate. The experience culminates in a mock trial where participants apply what they’ve learned in a simulated courtroom setting. Beyond legal education, the program emphasizes civic engagement and leadership, encouraging students to see how justice and public service intersect within their own communities.
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