15 Pre-Law Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 13 min read
If you’re interested in law, a pre-law summer program can help you explore the field before college while developing skills that are valuable across many academic and professional paths. These opportunities introduce you to areas such as constitutional law, criminal justice, public policy, legal research, and advocacy while helping you strengthen critical thinking, analytical writing, and communication skills. They also provide insight into how legal systems operate and how lawyers, judges, policymakers, and advocates approach complex issues.
Why should I do a pre-law summer program in high school?
Pre-law programs allow you to engage with legal concepts through activities that go beyond what is typically available in a high school classroom. Depending on the program, you might participate in mock trials, analyze legal cases, conduct research, write legal briefs, debate public policy issues, attend court visits, or work with legal professionals and faculty mentors. These experiences can help you develop a deeper understanding of the legal field, build confidence in public speaking and argumentation, and explore whether law is a subject you would like to pursue in college and beyond.
With that, here are 15 pre-law summer programs for high school students!
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These pre-law summer programs span university campuses (UPenn, Harvard, Georgetown, Columbia), virtual formats (Lumiere, HARP, Rice, Northwestern), and advocacy-focused experiences (ACLU National Advocacy Institute), giving students options regardless of location or budget.
Mock trial is a core component across many programs, including UW's Summer Stretch, Stony Brook's Pre-Law Summer Program, and Stephen F. Austin's High School Pre-Law Academy, allowing students to practice courtroom skills directly.
Several programs are free or low-cost with financial aid available, including UPenn's Provost Summer Mentorship Program (free with a stipend) and UTEP's High School Law Camp (free), while most university programs offer need-based scholarships.
Programs vary in length from one-week intensives (Georgetown's Law Academy, Stephen F. Austin's Pre-Law Academy) to multi-month research tracks (Lumiere, HARP), so students can choose based on the depth of commitment they want.
Most application deadlines fall between January and May, so students should research programs and prepare materials during the fall and winter of the prior school year.
Location: Remote - you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring; options range from 12 weeks to one year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 12 who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. 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! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Penn Carey Law School, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free with a stipend upon completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 60 across various disciplines in an earlier cohort
Program Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: Mid-march (based on an earlier cohort's deadline)
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th-grade students attending high school in Philadelphia and surrounding counties with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The University of Pennsylvania's Provost Summer Mentorship Program provides high school students with opportunities to gain experience in a field of interest within one of UPenn's five professional schools, including Penn Carey Law School. In this four-week pre-law summer program, which combines theory and analytical thinking, you will learn from faculty and legal practitioners. You will explore legal topics such as criminal and immigration law, and learn how to write a legal brief and prepare oral arguments. You will develop key skills required to take up a career as a practicing attorney, such as negotiation and presenting persuasive arguments. You will gain opportunities to observe trials at the Court of Common Pleas, visit a local city solicitor's office, or a large law firm. You will also participate in SAT prep sessions, understand the importance of financial literacy, receive assistance with the college application process, and more.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies, based on program type; need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 4 – 6 for a Seminar program; 1:1 student to mentor ratio for a Labs program
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts in summer (10 weeks, June – September), spring (12 – 16 weeks), and fall (12 – 16 weeks)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the summer, spring, and fall cohorts
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA); most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across a diverse range of subject areas. Once you select a topic in the legal track, you will be paired with a professor/PhD scholar who will guide you to refine your research topic and provide mentorship throughout your research journey. You will learn the fundamentals of academic research and writing, and will be expected to develop a 20-page legal research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion and a grade report, and you can also receive a LOR and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Location: University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available (space is limited)
Program Dates: June 22 – July 3
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and recently graduated students; priority for El Paso high school students.
The Law School Preparation Institute (LSPI)'s High School Law Camp at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) provides a peek into the legal profession. In this two-week pre-law summer day camp, you will get instructions on case laws, an introduction to legal analysis, and an introduction to the law school admission test. You will participate in mock trial exercises and undertake field trips to legal organizations. You will develop critical reading and writing, analytical, and other professional development skills. You will have opportunities to interact with UTEP faculty, law school students, and members of the El Paso legal community.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $6,100; $75 non-refundable application fee; limited need-based scholarship available; application fee waiver for students with an organization that is affiliated with Harvard Summer School
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 12 – 18
Program Dates: Based on the program course, multiple sessions may be scheduled- June 21 – July 2 (Session I); July 5 – July 17 (Session II); July 19 – 31 (Session III)
Application Deadline: February 11
Eligibility: Students graduating from high school and entering college in the next two academic years should be at least 16 years old by June 20 and will not turn 19 years old before July 31
Harvard University's Division of Continuing Education (DCE) offers high school students opportunities to pursue rigorous college-level academic coursework across multiple disciplines, including pre-law summer programs. You can explore topics in social media law, constitutional law, global law, and more through Legal Studies University (LSTU) courses. You will have interactive learning experiences with faculty and peers. You will develop debating, communication, and critical thinking skills. You will complete the assigned academic readings and assignments. You may receive a written evaluation from your instructor and a Harvard transcript with a grade.
Location: University of Washington, Seattle Campus, WA
Cost: $1,450 (includes a non-refundable $50 registration fee) with need-based financial aid available for tuition and fee waiver
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 30 – July 23
Application Deadline: Early June
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 7 – 10
Robinson Center for Young Scholars' Summer Stretch program at the University of Washington provides intensive hands-on educational experiences through which you can focus on a specific area of interest, including law. You will attend academic lectures and guest speaker sessions from the legal community. You will study legal principles and theory to gain an understanding of the American Judicial System and apply it to a mock court case, including aspects such as affidavits, instructions for the jury, etc. You will then collaborate with a team of peers to write up case materials to use in a simulated trial, gaining hands-on experience on courtroom procedures and decorum. In the final week of the program, the team will showcase their work to peers and parents.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY, with residential/commuter/virtual options
Cost: $2,882 per session (one-week commuter program); $6,380 per session (3-week commuter program); $12,837 per session (3-week residential program); $2,867 per session (one-week online program); $4,017 per session (two-week online program); $80 non-refundable application fee with need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Vary, based on the program (multiple sessions June – August with one, two, and three-week options)
Application Deadline: Varies, based on the program (typically April/May)
Eligibility: High school students; residential option is for students who are 15 years of age and must turn 16 by December 31; commuter option is for students entering grades 9 – 12 and freshman year of college
High-achieving high school students keen to explore pre-law summer programs could consider pursuing a campus or online program at Columbia University. You can pursue an introductory course in corporate law or criminal law, consider a course in trial advocacy or constitutional law, and more. You will participate in class discussions and debates, gain exposure through simulations, and dive into case studies. You will complete assigned readings, individual and group projects, and gain opportunities to interact with guest speakers. You will undertake on-campus and off-campus field trips. On completing the program, you will receive a Certification of Participation and an evaluation letter.
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
Cost: $2,600 (Grades 9 – 10); $2,750 (Grades 11 – 12); $50 application fee ($100 for international applicants); need-based financial aid and scholarships are available (check details here)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Vary based on course (check program dates here)
Application Deadline: March 14 (rolling admissions continue if spots are available)
Eligibility: Grades 7 – 12
Vanderbilt Summer Academy's pre-college law programs offer academically gifted middle and high school students early exposure to the academic rigors of college life. If you are in grades 9 – 10, you can explore a course on how innovations in neuroscience are protected through patents and intellectual property law. As a high school student in grade 11 or 12, you can learn the fundamentals of trial law and participate in mock trials. Another option is an introductory course in legal studies to gain exposure to criminal law, torts, and other topics that are offered in the first year of law school. These law courses include practical exercises, debates, and discussions to strengthen communication and critical thinking skills. You will also participate with peers in social and recreational activities.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Varies, with two-week and four-week options (check upcoming dates here)
Application Deadline: A week before the session begins
Eligibility: High school or U.S.-high-school-equivalent students ages 13 – 19; should not yet be enrolled in college, and no more than one-year post-high school graduation (“gap year”)
This Northwestern University Pre-College Online Program provides a preview of what you can expect working as a lawyer, with a flexible learning format through video lessons. You will strengthen your critical thinking skills while analyzing statutes and case law. You will learn key skills such as how to write legal memos and make legal oral arguments in an appellate court. You will receive mentorship for all assignments and the final capstone project, for which you will create an oral argument for a fictional client based on what you have learned. You will earn a Certificate of Completion from Northwestern University at the end of the program.
Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Charles River Campus, Newton, MA, with residential/commuter options
Cost: $2,337 (commuter); $4,119 (residential); $45 application fee; partial, need-based scholarships are available; discount for children of UMass Amherst alumni
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 28 - July 11
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising sophomores – seniors
This pre-law summer program is a two-week in-person course at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. You will gain exposure to the American legal system, how law works in our interactions, and the role of law in society. You will explore topics such as how bias affects perceptions of the law, learn how law and order are enforced, and more. You will participate in debates and conversations with peers and interact with guest speakers. You will develop skills in public speaking and debating. You will also undertake field trips off-campus to gain exposure to law practice in MA.
Location: Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $2,375 (residential); $1,000–1,250 (commuter); need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: July 19 – 24
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, ages 15-17, who are in good academic standing; should be U.S. residents
Stony Brook University's Pre-Law Summer Program is an exploratory course for high school students to experience college-level learning on campus and gain exposure to law-related careers. You will gain insight into constitutional principles and their bearing on the legal system and participate in hands-on learning experiences, including discussions on Supreme Court decisions. You will gain opportunities to practice courtroom skills through mock trials. You will develop professional trial advocacy skills, learning how to analyze and present your views clearly and persuasively.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795 with need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Vary, with 2-week and 4-week options available (check upcoming dates here)
Application Deadline: Varies, typically about one week before the start of the program (check deadlines here)
Eligibility: High school/U.S.-high-school-equivalent students ages 13 and up (check all criteria here)
Rice University's Law program offers flexible learning opportunities for high school students interested in pursuing a pre-law summer program online. You will attend pre-recorded video lessons and receive mentorship from instructors via discussion boards and emails. You will delve into legal systems, with topics including property rights, employment law, justice, and more. You will complete assignments and participate in group discussions. At the end of the program, you will complete a capstone project to find legal solutions to interconnected societal challenges.
Location: Nacogdoches, Texas
Cost: $850 + $25 registration fee; scholarship for students with family income of less than $50,000/year
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available (an earlier cohort had 50 students)
Program Dates: June 13 – 19
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
SFA’s High School Pre-Law Academy is a residential week-long program where you study law through mock trials, legal simulations, courtroom exercises, and crime-scene investigations on the university’s campus in Nacogdoches, Texas. You will attend sessions with judges, attorneys, professors, and legal professionals while exploring topics connected to criminal law, courtroom strategy, and trial procedure. One major part of the program is the mock trial competition, where you work with legal mentors to prepare arguments, examine evidence, and present a case in a courtroom-style setting. The academy also includes crime-scene analysis activities that introduce how forensic evidence and legal investigation intersect during criminal cases.
Location: Georgetown University, Hilltop Campus, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $3,725 (residential, includes housing and meals); $3,095 (commuter with meal plan option extra); $50 non-refundable application fee (fee waived for applications received by the early bird deadline); need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 21 – 27 (Law Academy I); July 12 – 18 (Law Academy II); July 26 – August 1 (Law Academy III)
Application Deadline: January 31 (early bird deadline); May 15 (final application deadline)
Eligibility: Current 8th graders – 12th graders
Georgetown University’s Law Academy provides high school students with an accelerated, hands-on learning experience in jurisprudence. You will attend lectures and guest speaker sessions, participate in optional co-curricular activities, and undertake off-site field visits. You will gain exposure to the adjudication and administration of laws, with the curriculum including topics such as constitutional law, rights of prisoners and victims, the jury system, and more. You will gain hands-on legal experience through mock trials, where you will serve as lawyers in a fictional criminal case. You will receive a Certificate of Participation upon completing the program.
Location: American University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $3,500 (no application fee); need-based tuition assistance and travel stipends available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: July 20 – July 29
Application Deadline: March 2 (for early decisions); April 13 (for regular decisions); April 15 (rolling)
Eligibility: High school students ages 15 – 18; must be 15 years old at the start of the program and should not exceed 18 by the end of the program
The ACLU National Advocacy Institute brings high school students to Washington, D.C. for an intensive advocacy and civil liberties program focused on law, public policy, and grassroots organizing. Hosted on American University’s campus, the program includes classroom sessions, policy discussions, site visits, and workshops led by ACLU lawyers, lobbyists, organizers, and civil-rights advocates. Throughout the program, you study topics connected to constitutional rights, voting rights, criminal justice reform, free speech, immigration, and other civil liberties issues through real legal and political case studies. The structure also includes issue electives, small-group homeroom discussions, and keynote sessions with advocacy professionals working directly inside policy and legal systems.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best pre-law summer programs for high school students?
Strong options depend on a student's goals. Students interested in courtroom skills might consider mock trial focused programs like UW's Summer Stretch or Stephen F. Austin's Pre-Law Academy, while those interested in research might consider Lumiere or HARP, and those drawn to policy and advocacy might consider the ACLU National Advocacy Institute.
Are there free pre-law summer programs for high schoolers?
Yes, UPenn's Provost Summer Mentorship Program is free and includes a stipend, and UTEP's High School Law Camp is also free. Many other programs, including Columbia, Vanderbilt, and Georgetown, offer need-based financial aid to offset tuition costs.
Can high school students do a pre-law program online?
Yes, several programs are fully virtual, including the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Horizon Academic Research Program, Northwestern's Law: From Interview to Argument, and Rice University's Law Program, making them accessible to students regardless of location.
Do pre-law summer programs include mock trial experience?
Many do. UW's Summer Stretch program, Stony Brook's Pre-Law Summer Program, Stephen F. Austin's Pre-Law Academy, and Georgetown's Law Academy all include mock trial exercises where students prepare arguments and present cases in a simulated courtroom setting.
What is the difference between a pre-law program and a legal research program?
Pre-law programs like mock trial camps and law academies focus on experiential learning through simulations, case studies, and courtroom practice, while research-focused programs like Lumiere and HARP pair students with a mentor to write an original legal research paper over several weeks or months.
When should I apply to pre-law summer programs?
Deadlines vary by program. Early deadlines include Georgetown's Law Academy (January 31 early bird) and Harvard's Pre-College Program (February 11), while others like UMass Amherst (May 1) and the ACLU Institute (April 13 to April 15) fall later in the spring.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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.