10 Free Law Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in exploring the field of law, consider doing a free law program! Law programs for high schoolers offer a unique opportunity to dive into legal studies, gain practical skills, and connect with professionals in the field. These programs are free or offer financial aid, making them accessible to students who are eager to learn.
In this blog, we’ll introduce you to 10 free law programs for high school students that provide valuable experiences, from hands-on internships to interactive seminars and courtroom simulations. Whether you’re considering a career in law or simply curious about how the justice system works, these programs are a good way to get started.
1. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation—Law Track
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: 4 annual cohorts run in fall, spring, summer, and winter
Program Dates: Vary based on cohort
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: Accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost. Students interested in law can choose the program’s law track.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In our flagship program, we pair talented high school students with world-class PhD mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here! This program is a particularly solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)—Law Courses
Location: Virtual
Program Dates:
Winter seminar: December 16, 2024 onwards
Spring seminar: March 3, 2025 onwards
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance
Application Deadline: December 1, 2024, for the winter cohort, and February 16, 2025, for the fall cohort
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders!
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track and the type of research you wish to carry out, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar from a reputed university who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. If you’re interested in law, you can check out their courses on psychology and law, neuroscience and law, and political theory and philosophy.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
Cost: $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
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 here on their application form. If you’re interested in law, you can gain experience in the legal department of the startup, helping them navigate topics like patents and copyright claims.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. 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.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Location: Penn Carey School of Law, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Program Dates: 4 weeks in July
Application Deadline: Spring 2025 (exact dates to be announced)
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th grade students attending a Philadelphia high school (or surrounding counties)
Cost: None
The Provost Summer Mentorship Program at the University of Pennsylvania is a four-week summer opportunity for first-generation and underrepresented high school students from Philadelphia. You will select one of five professional schools at UPenn, including the Carey Law School. For those interested in law, this means learning about the journey to becoming a lawyer and understanding the impact of the legal system on society through hands-on activities and discussions.
Beyond academics, the program offers practical resources to help you prepare for college and future careers. You will receive support in areas such as test preparation, financial literacy, essential life skills, and guidance for the college application process. Additionally, you will benefit from daily lunches, SEPTA TransPasses for easy transportation, and a stipend upon successful completion of the program.
Location: Atlanta, GA
Program Dates: Not yet announced for 2025
Application Deadline: Applications will be released in Spring 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors studying in Atlanta high schools
Cost: None; interns receive a stipend of $2,000
Founded in 1993, the Atlanta Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP) provides high school students with a challenging experience aimed at achieving four main objectives: offering hands-on work experience, deepening legal knowledge, building mentor relationships within the legal community, and supporting diversity in law. In this selective internship, you will gain practical exposure to the legal field while engaging in thought-provoking discussions on legal topics. Weekly sessions with guest speakers add depth to the experience, offering insights into various areas of law and the justice system.
In addition to your internship responsibilities, SLIP includes an academic component with legal studies and weekly assignments. A central feature of the program is the Terrence Croft Essay Competition, where participants write a 750-word essay analyzing a U.S. Supreme Court case. This combination of professional practice and academic challenge will help you hone essential skills in critical thinking, legal research, and writing.
Location: Manhattan, NY
Program Dates: Not yet announced for 2025
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in January and are due in the Spring
Eligibility: Students currently in their sophomore, junior, or senior years enrolled in a Manhattan high school
Cost: None; interns receive a minimum wage stipend
The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program offers a five-week experience that provides students with a comprehensive look into the criminal justice system. Interns in this program participate in workshops and discussions on important topics, including criminal justice reform, police practices, civic involvement, and leadership. Additionally, you will gain valuable insights into the work of legal professionals and receive a stipend of $175 per week.
A key feature of the program is the mock trial experience, where you will take on roles in simulated legal proceedings. This allows you to gain firsthand knowledge of courtroom processes and case preparation as well as develop public speaking skills as you present and argue cases.
Location: Boston, Worcester, and Springfield, MA
Program Dates: 6 weeks, typically in July-August
Application Deadline: Applications will open in Spring 2025
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in 10, 11, and 12 grades in Boston, Worcester, or Springfield high schools
Cost: None
The Judicial Youth Corps (JYC) Program, offered by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, provides a six-week summer internship for high school students. Running from July to August, this program combines hands-on experience in local courthouses with educational sessions hosted by judges, attorneys, clerks, and probation officers. You will participate in interactive activities such as mock trials, shadowing professionals, field trips, and group discussions, all aimed at enhancing your grasp of legal principles and the justice system.
As part of JYC, you will participate in paid internships at courthouses in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester, gaining practical insights into daily judicial operations. Weekly educational sessions allow you to engage with legal experts and reinforce the skills and knowledge gained on the job.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Program Dates: June 23 – August 8, 2025
Application Deadline: April 5, 2025. Click here for the application form
Eligibility: Students currently in their sophomore or junior years enrolled in a Baltimore City high school
Cost: None; interns are paid $15/hour
The Maryland Youth and The Law (MYLAW) Law Links Internship is a seven-week summer program that gives Baltimore City public high school students an introduction to the legal field. During the program, you will work full-time from Monday to Friday at various law firms and legal agencies, taking on tasks such as assisting attorneys with case preparation, conducting research, and observing court proceedings.
In addition, you will participate in the "Law & Leadership Institute," a 50-hour seminar that meets weekly to cover topics like workplace etiquette, leadership skills, and financial literacy. The program begins with a 2.5-day orientation at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and continues with weekly sessions focused on core legal concepts, professional behavior, and leadership skills essential for career success. To ensure all interns have professional attire, MYLAW provides clothing from Ann Taylor or Joseph A. Banks.
Location: Multiple law schools and institutes in New York City, NY
Program Dates: First week of July – first week of August
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising 9th-grade students from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island
Cost: None; students receive a stipend (amount not specified) upon successful completion of the program
The Summer Law Institute (SLI) is an intensive five-week program that introduces students to the field of law through an exploration of criminal justice topics and activities led by law students. You will engage with practicing attorneys, tour legal institutions, and build skills by acting as advocates in a mock trial. The program concludes with a capstone mock trial event, where you will present cases before actual judges, giving you the chance to apply your new skills in a real courtroom environment. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for the College Bound program, a four-year initiative that supports students in their journey to higher education.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY and University of Maryland, College Park, MD (2025)
Program Dates: June 22 – July 26, 2025
Application Deadline: December 3, 2024
Eligibility: Students in their sophomore and junior years of high school across the world are invited to apply; however, TASS does not provide any assistance with visas or international travel
Cost: None
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) is a highly competitive, fully-funded summer program with an acceptance rate of around 5%, offering an enriching intellectual experience focused on social justice and critical thinking. TASS is divided into two distinct tracks: Critical Black Studies (TASS-CBS) and Anti-Oppressive Studies (TASS-AOS).
TASS-CBS delves into African history, politics, and cultural dynamics, while TASS-AOS addresses systems of oppression, including white supremacy and patriarchy. You will participate in college-level seminars, analyze films, and write thought-provoking essays that encourage critical thinking. With faculty-led discussions, collaborative projects, and lectures, TASS provides a stimulating academic environment.
In addition to academic engagement, TASS emphasizes community-building and collaborative decision-making. You will contribute to group projects and service activities. Under the guidance of faculty and resident advisors, TASS fosters leadership skills and a dedication to social justice, which can be useful for students who want to pursue law. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.