Law Internships for High School Students
One of the ways to build a successful career in law is by trying to get real-life experiences even before you get into college, which can be achieved through law internships.
Law internships are a great way to learn about the law before deciding to study it in college to determine if it is the course suitable for you.
Additionally, your internship experience will be helpful when applying to your favorite college to sow your determination to the legal profession.
This article will examine some of the best places for law internships for high school students.
9 Best Law Internships for High School Students
Here are the best programs for law Internships for High School Students:
- The DOI Pathways Program
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Duration: Varies
The U.S. Department of the Interior offers one of the best-paid internships for students from high school to graduate. DOI partners with various hiring agencies that offer either part-time or full-time internships that align with your career and study area.
This internship allows you to examine the public and environmental policy to see if it aligns with you, and you can get a temporary or permanent job position for one to four years.
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- California Innocence Project Legal Internship
Application Deadline:
- Summer: March 1st
- Fall: July 1st
- Spring: November 1st
- Duration: None
If you want to go into post-conviction or criminal law, the California Innocence Project Legal Internship offers the best law Internships for High School Students.
This program demands that you work on-site in their San Diego office. The program is held in three different sessions (summer, fall, and spring), and you apply for the particular session you want to attend. The work hours are flexible, and as an intern, you can work from 15 to 35 hours a week.
- National Student Leadership Conference’s Law & Advocacy Program
- Application Deadline: N/A
- Duration: Nine days
The NSLC program is open for high school students in grades 9-12 to experience what it means to be a lawyer. The program lasts nine days and serves as an introduction to the internship.
The program is usually offered from around June to early August at Yale University and Georgetown University. During the nine days program, you will be taken to a law school, meet the jury, trial, legal experts, and forensics, and be taught how to simulate a criminal trial.
- Passport to Work Youth Employment Services Program
- Application Deadline: N/A
- Duration: N/A
The District of Columbia Courts usually invites D.C. high school students for their Passport to Work Youth Employment Services Program. This paid internship allows students to understand the inner working of Law.
During the program, you will be exposed to seminars that will teach you the skills required of successful lawyers, like time management and communication. Also, the internship allows you to observe the legislative process directly.
- NYU High School Law Institute
- Application Deadline: N/A
- Duration:
- Fall Semester: September through November
- Spring: January through February
NYU High School Institute hosts a few classes on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm. NYU Law and undergraduate students will teach high school students topics such as moot court, constitutional law, and criminal law. The teaching methodology is a decision, and the class is designed to reflect the student’s interests.
The institute has a College Day and Graduation program. The College Day has a family workshop introducing you to the college process. The Graduation consists of mock trials and moot court competitions that end with a formal ceremony.
This program is not an internship but serves more as an opportunity to learn more about the field of law as a high school student.
- State Bar Association of North Dakota High School Mock Trial Program
- Application Deadline: January 9
- Duration: N/A
One of the best places for law Internships for High School Students is at your state’s bar association. Many regional bar associations offer internship programs for high school students wanting to go into a legal career. One example is North Dakota’s State Bar Association.
North Dakota’s State Bar Association offers a Mock Trial Program for high schoolers, where they are introduced to the American legal system and taught practical reasoning and critical thinking skills needed for the trial process.
The program aims at preparing the students to compete in the National High School Mock Trial Championship, where students across the United States will compete with each other.
- Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP)
- Application Deadline: May 5
- Duration: Eight weeks (June through July)
The Atlanta Bar Association is a regional association that offers internships to Atlanta high school students who want to learn more about the legal profession, and they have been doing that for more than three decades.
The internship is paid for eight weeks, the students are introduced to law, and a mentor-mentee relationship is built.
- Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Duration: April through August
This internship is designed to prepare New York City high schoolers for a career in law by providing them with opportunities such as career panels, training panels, and networking events and pairing them with legal employers.
During the program, the interns will be given responsibilities such as filing, assisting paralegals, assisting the library, record keeping, back-office personnel, data entry, and exhibit and document organization.
- San Francisco District Attorney’s Office Undergrad/High School Internship
- Application Deadline: N/A
- Duration: N/A
This unpaid internship is open to high schoolers and undergraduates who want to build a career in criminal justice to get access to opportunities offered by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
Usually, Interns are given various tasks to help with, including preparing case files, organizing and contacting witnesses, and managing subpoenas and records of pre-trial hearings and jury trials.
How Much Do Internships Impact Your College Chances?
Internships can positively impact your college chances by showcasing your initiative, practical skills, and real-world experience.
Admissions committees often value internships because they provide evidence of your ability to apply academic knowledge in a professional setting, demonstrate your commitment to a particular field or industry, and offer opportunities for personal growth and development.
Through internships, you can get letters of recommendation: A strong letter of recommendation from a supervisor or mentor from your internship can carry significant weight in college admissions.
It provides an outside perspective on your abilities, work ethic, and potential for success in a college setting.
Also, Internship experiences can be compelling essay topics for your college applications. You can reflect on the lessons learned, and the challenges faced, and the impact of the internship on your personal and academic goals.
Engaging essays highlighting your growth and commitment can make your application more memorable and impactful.