Top 10 Law Internships for High School Students in 2025–2026

Law internships are an introduction to what legal work looks like in practice. Programs like the U.S. Senate Page Program allow you to see how laws are written and passed, while Internships with Congressman Jim Himes connect legal thinking to public service and policy advocacy. Many of these law internships are open to high school students, and some even offer stipends to recognize your time and effort.

Through a law internship, you sit in on court hearings, help with legal research, or support attorneys with case prep. These experiences give you a clearer picture of how justice is applied and what a career in law involves. In this blog, we’ll walk you through some of the best law-focused internships available right now, how long they run, and what you’ll do and learn once you’re there.

• University of Pennsylvania’s Provost Summer Mentorship Program
• Senate Page Program
• Internship with Congressman Jim Himes
• Constitutional Rights Foundation’s Expanding Horizons Institute
• Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP) by the Atlanta Bar Association
• Law Links Internship by the Maryland Youth and The Law (MYLAW)
• Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program
• New York City Bar’s Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program (TMSLIP)
• Ladder Internship Program
• Judicial Youth Corps Program
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best Law Internships for High School Students?

Law internships for high school students give you a front-row seat to the world of lawyers, judges, and courtroom drama. These internships also help you sharpen your communication skills, build confidence in professional settings, and gain a clearer sense of which legal path sparks your interest. On top of that, colleges love applicants who take the initiative to explore fields intentionally, so participation can help increase your chances of admission.

Below is a quick look at standout law internships worth checking out. It includes location and program dates so you can immediately see which best fits your schedule.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these programs.

1. University of Pennsylvania’s Provost Summer Mentorship Program

• Dates: July 6 – July 31, 2026
• Location: Philadelphia, PA (University of Pennsylvania campus)
• Cost: Free and fully funded

The Provost Summer Mentorship Program places rising 10th and 11th-graders in one of Penn’s professional schools, and the law track gives you a grounded feel for what legal education looks like.

The program runs for four weeks on campus, mixing academic sessions with hands-on activities that help you explore how the legal system connects to everyday life. Expect writing workshops, college-prep lessons, study-skills training, and even test-prep support. You also spend time with Penn students and staff who guide you through both the academic and personal sides of preparing for college.

To apply, you need to be a rising sophomore or junior from Philadelphia or nearby counties. A transcript, a short essay, and basic school records are part of the application, and each track selects a small cohort. The program is free and fully funded.

2. U.S. Senate Page Program

• Dates: Fall, spring, and summer sessions (exact dates vary by year)
• Location: Washington, D.C. (U.S. Capitol)
• Benefits: Prorated share of the $37,238 annual salary

The U.S. Senate Page Program shows you how the federal government runs. You get on-site housing, daily meals, scheduled field trips, and constant exposure to Senate operations.

As a page, you help prepare the Senate chamber, deliver messages and documents, assist with floor operations, and observe debates as they happen. You attend school at the Senate Page School on weekdays, which keeps your academics on track while you’re immersed in government life.

To apply, you need to be sponsored by a senator. Since not all senators appoint pages, your first step is to write to your senators to request consideration. You must meet the program’s eligibility requirements, and individual senator offices may add their own application steps. With only 30 page positions available for all 100 senators, reaching out early gives you a better shot at earning a nomination.

3. Internship with Congressman Jim Himes

• Dates: Spring (Jan/Feb – May); Summer I (May – Early July); Summer II (Early July – Aug); Fall (Sept – Dec)
• Location: Washington, D.C., and district offices in Connecticut
• Benefits: $5,400 stipend

This internship is for high school and college students who want a closer look at how Congress operates. Depending on the office you’re placed in, you might help with research, draft memos, attend briefings, assist with constituent services, gather policy information, or sit in on meetings that shape what happens on Capitol Hill or back home in the district.

The structure is flexible since sessions run year-round, and the workload gives you a taste of the fast-paced environment inside a congressional office.

To apply, you need to submit a résumé, a short statement of interest, and your availability. The office accepts applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, and priority may be given to students from Connecticut’s 4th District. Because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, applying early helps you secure a spot, especially for summer sessions when demand spikes.

4. Constitutional Rights Foundation – Expanding Horizons Institute (EHI)

• Dates: June 15 – July 27, 2026 (seminars + paid internship)
• Location: Los Angeles County, California
• Benefits: Paid summer internship with $5,000 stipend

The Expanding Horizons Institute starts with interactive seminars, where you build skills in communication, professionalism, and college readiness. After that, you step directly into a paid internship at a major law firm, corporation, government agency, or nonprofit.

The structure is designed specifically for first-generation, college-bound students from Title I high schools, and the program has supported nearly 2,000 students since 1995. You get guidance on the college application process, SAT preparation, and exposure to different professional paths.

To join, you must be a sophomore or junior from a Title I high school in Los Angeles County, meet first-generation eligibility, and be able to work in the United States. You need to be fully available from mid-June to late July for both the seminars and the internship.

5. Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP) – Atlanta Bar Association

• Dates: June 8 – July 17, 2026
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Benefits: financial assistance for LSAT preparation classes and/or Bar Review classes

The Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP) places you directly inside a law office, courthouse, or government agency for the summer. You’re paired with attorneys, judges, and legal staff who show you the everyday work that keeps the justice system moving. You get to see hearings, help with case prep, observe trials, and learn how different parts of the legal system connect.

The program combines hands-on work with weekly workshops where you meet other students from across Atlanta who are also interested in law.

To apply, you need to be a high school student in the Atlanta area with an interest in law or public service. The application typically asks for a short essay, a teacher recommendation, and basic school information. Because placements depend on the number of participating law offices and judges each year, submitting your application early increases your chances of getting matched.

6. Law Links Internship – Maryland Youth and the Law (MYLAW)

• Dates: Late June through July (7 full-time weeks)
• Location: Baltimore City, Maryland
• Benefits: Paid internship at $15/hour and free professional attire

Law Links is a structured, 7-week paid internship that puts you right inside a Baltimore law firm or law-related agency, earning $15 per hour while learning how legal offices operate day-to-day.

Alongside your internship, you join the Law & Leadership Institute, a 50-hour seminar series that starts with a multi-day orientation and continues every Wednesday morning. It covers professional communication, legal basics, workplace expectations, and leadership skills that help you navigate both college and future careers.

To apply, you must be a current sophomore or junior who lives in Baltimore City and attends a Baltimore City public high school. You need to be available for the full seven weeks with no schedule conflicts; there’s no sick or vacation time.

The application requires a typed letter of interest (one page max), your transcript, an attendance record, and three recommendation letters from adults who know your work ethic.

7. Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program (HSIP)

• Dates: June 29 – July 31, 2026
• Location: Manhattan, New York City
• Benefits: Paid at minimum wage ($16 per hour)

The Manhattan DA’s High School Internship Program gives you a close-up look at how criminal justice works in one of the most active prosecutor’s offices in the country. Over five weeks, you rotate through workshops, panel discussions, office activities, and a full mock trial experience where you learn how cases are built from start to finish.

The program is structured to show you how prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates, and legal staff work together. Because interns are paid and supervised directly by DA staff, the experience feels both supportive and genuinely immersive.

To apply, you must live in Manhattan and be a current junior or senior who can attend the full in-person schedule. You’ll need to submit a one-page résumé and a 300-word essay explaining why you’re interested in criminal justice.

8. New York City Bar’s Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program (TMSLIP)

• Dates: July 9 – August 15, 2026
• Location: New York, NY
• Benefits: Paid legal internship

The Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program connects you with legal employers across New York City. The program runs from spring through summer and includes legal office work like assisting paralegals, organizing documents, doing data entry, supporting back-office teams, and helping with trial prep.

Before placements begin, you complete a mandatory three-part Pre-Employment Training. This training helps you strengthen your résumé, sharpen your interview skills, and learn the basics of workplace professionalism. It also helps the program identify who’s ready for the demands of the internship.

To apply, you must live in one of New York City’s five boroughs and be at least 16 years old by June 1. Required materials include working papers (if under 18), your school transcript, a letter of recommendation, a writing sample, and a short statement of interest.

9. Ladder Internship Program

• Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; standard formats are 8-week sessions (summer, spring, fall, winter) for high school and gap-year students.
• Location: Remote/online — work from anywhere.
• Benefits: Paid internship

Ladder connects high school (and early college/gap-year) students with fast-growing startups and nonprofits. You get a mentor (the company manager) and a Ladder coach who check on your progress, help you manage workload, and guide you through the project as if you were a junior team member.

The program expects a commitment of around 5–10 hours per week over the 8-week stretch. That flexibility makes it easier to handle schoolwork. You don’t need previous experience, as long as you’re motivated, willing to learn, and can commit the time.

For students interested in law, a remote Ladder internship involves legal research, drafting memos or summaries of case law, reviewing contracts or policy documents, or assisting with research for advocacy and nonprofit initiatives.

10. Judicial Youth Corps Program (JYC)

• Dates: July through August (six-week summer session)
• Location: Massachusetts — courts in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester
• Benefits: Paid courthouse internship and paid Friday educational sessions

The Judicial Youth Corps Program gives you a hands-on, inside-the-courthouse experience over six weeks while also attending paid educational sessions every Friday. The program’s goal is to help you understand how the courts work, why the rule of law matters, and what legal careers look like.

During the internship, you learn directly from people who keep the courts running, such as judges, lawyers, clerks, probation officers, and other court employees. They guide you through your tasks and introduce you to cases, courtroom procedures, and legal principles. The educational side of the program uses interactive activities like mock trials, group discussions, shadowing opportunities, and field trips to make the learning feel practical and engaging.

To join, you submit an application, teacher recommendations, and an interview with court personnel. Cohorts are small and competitive, and placements are limited to Boston, Springfield, and Worcester.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is considered the most prestigious law internship for high school students?

Programs connected to major legal institutions like the U.S. Senate Page Program, the Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship, or state judicial internships are often viewed as the most prestigious because they offer direct exposure to courts, lawmakers, and legal work.

2. Do these programs require previous legal knowledge?

Not at all. Programs like the Judicial Youth Corps, the Manhattan DA’s High School Internship, and the Expanding Horizons Institute are built specifically for beginners.

3. Are there virtual law internship options available in 2025?

Yes. The Ladder Internship Program is a fully remote option where you’re paired with a startup or nonprofit and work on research, writing, outreach, or policy-related tasks from home.

4. How competitive are high school law internships?

Competitiveness depends on the program. Prestigious government and court placements like the U.S. Senate Page Program, the Manhattan DA’s internship, and JYC are highly selective because cohort sizes are small and applicants far outnumber available spots. Paid programs like Law Links and the Expanding Horizons Institute also draw strong interest.

5. Can law internships improve my college application?

Absolutely. Programs like TMSLIP, the Manhattan DA internship, Law Links, and EHI show colleges that you’ve stepped into legal environments and handled professional responsibilities.

Takeaways

• Law-focused programs give you exposure to the justice system whether you’re sitting in courtrooms through the Judicial Youth Corps, shadowing prosecutors at the Manhattan DA’s Office, or supporting legal teams through TMSLIP.
• Paid opportunities like Law Links and the Expanding Horizons Institute allow you to earn money while gaining professional experience.
• Highly selective programs such as the U.S. Senate Page Program reward strong academics, professionalism, and initiative. These are standout résumé builders because they offer rare access to lawmakers, courtroom activity, and policy work.
• Community-centered internships help you build communication, public service mindset, and leadership skills that law schools and colleges value just as much as legal knowledge.
• If you’re unsure where to start, talking with an admissions advisor can help you choose internships that match your goals, your schedule, and the kind of legal work you want to explore.