15 Summer Law Programs for High School Students in California
If you are a high school student interested in pursuing a career in law, law programs can be a strong starting point. They provide a clear view of how the legal system operates, offer early exposure to core legal concepts, and include mock trials and case studies that develop practical skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, and argumentation. These programs let you work with attorneys, judges, and professors while practicing skills in mock trials, courtroom visits, and legal writing.
High school students in California can benefit from law programs offered by local universities, law schools, and nonprofits, with options spanning summer courses, internships, and mock trial experiences. Many California institutions offer such initiatives, such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford, specialized law academies at public high schools, and various legal organizations. In this blog, we have compiled 15 summer law programs for high school students in California that can help you develop the skills required for a law career. They also include a few virtual summer law programs that allow students in California to apply.
15 Summer Law Programs for High School Students in California
1. Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office Junior Defender Program
Location: Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: None
Dates: Summer 1 - last week of June; Summer 2 - last week of July
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students
The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office Junior Defender Program allows you to explore how the justice system works. In this week-long program, you will work on a mock case and learn how a trial moves through different stages. You will practice public speaking, problem-solving, and building strong arguments as you defend your client. You will also get to visit real courtrooms, watch live cases, and see public defenders in action. This program gives you hands-on experience in advocacy and critical thinking while learning from the largest public defender’s office in the country. High school enrollment is a prerequisite for this program.
2. Ladder’s Nonprofit Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available / None
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: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder’s Nonprofit Internship program for high school students is a selective virtual internship where students work with nonprofits and startups on real-world projects, gaining hands-on experience in fields like law, technology, AI, sustainability, media, and finance. You engage in activities such as collaborating with company mentors, contributing to projects, attending regular virtual meetings, and presenting your final work to the host organization. Participating in Ladder’s program also boosts college applications by providing students with real-world experience, letters of recommendation, and concrete work examples. By the end, you develop professional skills like project management, communication, critical thinking, and teamwork.
3. D.Law’s Internship
Location: Glendale, Los Angeles County, CA
Stipend: $17.50/hour
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
This four-week part-time internship helps you prepare for the professional world and helps build confidence and workplace readiness. You will take part in workshops and projects that teach you how workplaces function and how to build the skills you need for your career. You will practice writing a resume, creating a LinkedIn profile, and preparing for interviews. You will also learn about your rights as an employee. The program allows you to ask questions to professionals, work with a mentor, and connect with peers. At the end of the program, you will strengthen skills like communication, teamwork, and networking, and you may even receive letters of recommendation.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school | Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students that offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas, such as law, psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper. The research experience and one-on-one mentorship boost your college applications and open doors for future academic opportunities. You can also gain UCSD credit upon completion. You can apply here.
5. Envision and Stanford University’s Intensive Law & Trial
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $5,699; need-based scholarships are available
Dates: Typically three separate 10-day programs between late June and mid-July
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: All high school students
The Envision and Stanford University Intensive Law & Trial program is a 10-day immersive summer experience for high school students interested in law, held at Stanford Law School in California. It introduces you to the practice of law, legal rhetoric, and ethics through lectures by Stanford Law professors and hands-on activities like preparing cases, crafting opening statements and closing arguments, and conducting direct and cross-examinations in mock trial simulations endorsed by the American Mock Trial Association. You gain practical skills in courtroom procedures, evidence handling, and public speaking while experiencing life on the Stanford campus.
6. UC Berkeley Legal Studies Pre-College Courses
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Session D: $14,650; Session C: $15,950
Dates: Session D (6 weeks): July 7 – August 15; Session C (8 weeks): June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: All high school students
In these programs, you engage with topics such as the protection of individual freedoms and the role of the judiciary in shaping legal precedent. It includes activities like analyzing landmark Supreme Court cases, participating in debates on current legal controversies, drafting legal arguments, and collaborating in group projects that simulate real-world legal problem-solving. One unique feature is the opportunity to learn directly from university instructors and be part of an academic community on a prestigious campus. You develop critical thinking, legal reasoning, and effective communication skills, which are essential for future academic and professional success.
7. Just The Beginning’s Summer Legal Institute
Location: Los Angeles and San Diego, CA
Cost: None
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Typically early April
Eligibility: All high school students
Just The Beginning’s Summer Legal Institute (SLI) is a five-day legal immersion program designed specifically for high school students across the country. The program aims to enhance essential skills such as reading, writing, critical thinking, professional etiquette, financial literacy, and public speaking. You will practice reading, writing, critical thinking, public speaking, and financial literacy. The program takes place in cities like Los Angeles and San Diego and gives you the chance to work directly with attorneys from top law firms and companies. While it is not an internship, the mentorship you receive can help you prepare for future opportunities.
8. USC’s Legal Reasoning and Argumentation
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $11,347 (residential); $7,812 (commuter); $11,949 (International students) + &185 Visa Application fee + $350 SEVIS I-901 fee; $65 application fee
Dates: June 15 – July 12
Application Deadline: March 14 (International), May 2 (Domestic); although applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Completed 9th grade by June 15 of the application year | Eligibility for International students can be found here
The University of Southern California offers a course called Legal Reasoning and Argumentation that teaches you how lawyers think and how legal reasoning applies to daily life. The program covers key topics such as case analysis, legal reasoning, legal writing, oral advocacy, court systems, and the development of law. You will study real legal cases, attend federal appellate court proceedings, and practice writing legal memoranda and making oral arguments. You will also learn about how court systems work, how laws develop, and what law school requires for admission. By the end of the program, you will build skills in legal analysis, critical thinking, and writing.
9. Expanding Horizons Institute - Teach Democracy
Location: Los Angeles County, CA (Internship locations vary)
Cost/Stipend: None / Summer internship is paid, and the amount varies based on the opportunity you opt for
Dates: June 16 – July 28
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Current high school sophomore or junior at a Title I school in Los Angeles County whose parents did not complete a four-year college degree | Eligible to work in the United States
The Expanding Horizons Institute (EHI) - Teach Democracy program is a unique educational initiative aimed at empowering first-generation, college-bound high school sophomores and juniors from Title I schools in Los Angeles County. It combines a series of interactive spring seminars focused on civics, careers, and the college application process with a paid summer internship in various professional settings, including law firms, non-profits, local government offices, and educational organizations. You will develop communication, leadership, and professional development skills and gain real-world work experience, collegiate readiness, and civic engagement opportunities, supported by mentorship and guidance.
10. UCLA’s Mock Trial Summer Institute
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Click here for details
Dates: Session A (Residential and Commuter): July 6 – 12; Session B (Residential and Commuter): July 13 –19; Session C (Virtual): August 3 – 9
Application Deadline: Residential: June 6; Commuter: June 13; Virtual: July 25
Eligibility: High school students in 9 – 12 grades
UCLA’s Mock Trial Summer Institute is a summer law program that prepares you to take part in a mock trial. You will learn the basics of law and jurisprudence along with courtroom skills such as direct and cross-examination, opening and closing arguments, using exhibits, making objections, and portraying witnesses. You will also visit a real trial at the LA Superior Court and later join a mock trial based on a criminal felony case, which will conclude the program. At the end, you will receive a letter grade for your work.
11. Summer Springboard’s Trial Law at UC San Diego
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: $5,698 (Residential); $3,298 (Commuter) + a minimum $99 application fee; need-based scholarships are available
Dates: July 13 – 25
Application Deadline: May 16
Eligibility: All high school students
Summer Springboard’s Trial Law program in San Diego is a pre-law program for high school students that gives you a close look at legal careers and the court system. You will step into the role of a trial attorney and practice skills like researching evidence, building arguments, and questioning witnesses in a mock trial held in a real courtroom. You will also explore the roles of judges, prosecutors, witnesses, and jurors while learning about constitutional law, legal writing, tort law, and criminal law. This program helps you build critical thinking, public speaking, and legal research skills.
12. Law Summer Camp - University of the Pacific
Location: California at University of the Pacific, Stockton
Cost: $3,650; $500 discount available, subject to eligibility; sponsorships and scholarships are available
Dates: Session 1: June 2 – 12; Session 2: June 17 – 27
Application Deadline: May 11
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9 to 12
The Law Summer Camp at the University of the Pacific allows high school students to practice law through hands-on learning and expert guidance. Over two weeks, you explore topics such as legal careers, courtroom procedures, and the basics of criminal and civil law. They get to participate in engaging activities like mock trials, meet guest speakers from the legal field, and dive into interactive exercises that simulate real legal challenges. One of the standout features is the opportunity to learn directly from faculty and JD students from the McGeorge School of Law, giving participants insider perspectives. You develop critical thinking, public speaking, and argumentation skills.
13. UC Santa Barbara Summer Research Academies - Policy Puzzle track
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $8,774 (Residential); $2,775 (Commuter); need-based scholarships are available
Dates: June 25 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 31 (Rolling admissions)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 | Minimum 3.60 GPA
The UC Santa Barbara Summer Research Academies - Policy Puzzle track is designed for high school students interested in exploring the impact of public policies and law on society. It covers topics like economic development, healthcare, education, environmental challenges, and inequality, providing a broad understanding of how policies shape these areas. Throughout the program, you engage in activities such as conducting social science research, analyzing data, writing a technical research paper, and presenting your findings to peers and faculty. The program emphasizes combining qualitative and quantitative methods to solve real-world policy puzzles, giving you hands-on research experience. You develop critical thinking, data analysis, and communication skills.
14. Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights - Wise Up! Summer Program Internship
Location: Virtual
Stipend: None
Dates: 7 weeks from late June to early August
Application Deadline: Typically early June
Eligibility: Current high school student in grades 9 to 11
The Wise Up! Summer Program Internship by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) is a seven-week summer internship for high school students who want to get involved in immigrant rights advocacy and community organizing. The program requires students to commit to the full schedule, which includes virtual meetings via Zoom three times a week, plus 20 additional hours of involvement in CHIRLA activities outside the regular meetings. You will learn community organizing, event planning, and advocacy, and also get guidance on college from other students, and build skills that support your personal and professional growth. This program helps you practice leadership, communication, and teamwork.
15. Stanford’s Legal Studies: Critical Thinking Skills
Location: Online
Cost: $3,080 + Up to $100 for additional materials such as course readers or textbooks (course-specific and not for all); financial aid is available
Dates: June 16 – 27 (Session 1), July 7 – 18 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11
Stanford’s Pre-College Summer Institutes offers a course on law and critical thinking that helps you build strong argumentative skills. You will practice debating, roleplaying, and working in groups while exploring human rights issues. You will learn how to analyze complex information, weigh evidence, build arguments, and respond to opposing points. Each day, you will spend 2 to 3 hours on assignments and projects, and the program ends with a mock trial where you will take on the role of either an advocate or a witness and put your skills into practice.
Image Source - UC Berkeley Logo