10 Forensic Psychology Internships for High School Students

Forensic psychology is a relatively new, fast-growing field exploring the intersection of psychology and the criminal justice system. For high school students looking to explore this field, complementary subjects, like law, criminal justice, and criminology, allow for self-discovery and exploration. This helps isolate which aspects of forensic psychology interest you most. 

Participating in forensic psychology internships for high school students can provide new skills and practical experiences and help create an invaluable network of mentors and like-minded peers. Another benefit of taking on forensic psychology internships for high school students is that they can showcase your dedication and interest in this field, further enhancing your college application.

In this blog, we have compiled a list of 10 forensic psychology internships for high school students to help you get started on your journey!

1. Ladder Internships – Psychology Track

Location:  Remote

Cost: Starting from $2,490 (full financial aid is available)

Application Deadline: February 9 for the spring cohort

Program Dates: The spring cohort starts on March 3

Eligibility: High school students who can invest 5-10 hours per week

Ladder Internships, founded by Harvard alumni, is a selective program that provides students with virtual internship experiences that are conducted at startups and nonprofit organizations from around the world. As a participant, you will get the opportunity to work closely with a manager from the startup along with a mentor or Ladder Coach. Your tasks will involve working on important, real-world projects for the company. You’ll also get to present your work at the end of the internship. 

2. Mercer County Student Internship Program

Location: Mercer County, NJ

Stipend: $15.14/hour. Unpaid internships that offer college credit are also available. 

Application Deadline: May typically

Program Dates: Usually starts at the end of May or June and goes on till the end of August

Eligibility: High school students who are 15 years of age and live in or go to school in Mercer County

The Mercer County Internship Program provides high school students with paid, real-world experience as they prepare for their professional careers. If selected, you can indicate your preference for the department you would like to work with. You can access the open positions list here. For those interested in forensic psychology, an internship with the corrections center would be ideal. It will provide numerous opportunities to interact with inmates, personally interview or speak with them, refer them to further counseling if required, and help place inmates in qualifying school courses. 

3. Manhattan District Attorney's High School Internship Program

Location:  Manhattan, NY

Stipend: Interns will be paid minimum wage

Application Deadline: January 13 – March 12

Program Dates: June 30 – August 1 

Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 – 12, living or attending school in Manhattan, New York, who can commit to attending the full program

The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program is ideal for students who want to understand the daily workings of the criminal justice system. During this internship, you will get to work directly with assistant district attorneys, gain hands-on experience, and have the chance to attend court proceedings and workshops on criminal justice, along with other group activities. For over five weeks, you will learn first-hand about trials and trial preparations, evidence analysis, and ethics. 

4. American Psychological Association (APA) Internships

Location: Remote; Here is a list of states where interns cannot work as APA is not registered as an employer

Stipend: Paid + unpaid (academic credit) available 

Application Deadline: Varies 

Program Dates: Varies; year-round (spring, summer, fall, winter) internships available

Eligibility: Students enrolled (even if part-time) in an educational institution; for students under 18, an official District of Columbia work permit must be submitted with the application. Further criteria may vary according to the internship.

The American Psychological Association (APA) provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into professional psychology. APA offers students a wide variety of internship positions to choose from, including policy, research, communications, operations, publishing, education, and more. 

As an intern, you will report directly to your supervisor for daily tasks and support and will also be able to participate in workshops, discussions, and group projects. You’ll also benefit from learning about things that can positively impact your future career, like applying to graduate school, networking, research, resume and cover letter writing, and federal advocacy. 

You can find and apply to APA’s internship opportunities here.

5. Miami-Dade State Attorney High School Volunteer Internship Program

Location: Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Miami, FL

Stipend: No stipend, but you can earn school credit

Application Deadline: Unspecified

Program Dates: Vary as per the student’s availability

Eligibility: Minimum 3-month commitment (16 – 20 hours per week); all students must pass a background check

The High School Volunteer Internship Program offers an immersive experience within the criminal justice system. If you want a career within the criminal justice system or adjacent fields, this is a good option. As an intern, you will receive training on how to navigate professional responsibility and ethics and relations with victims and other witnesses. After the initial training period, you will get the opportunity to perform duties including interacting with subjects, counseling victims, assisting the public in person and on the phone regarding civil/criminal queries, and handling criminal complaints. You can apply here.

6. National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Law & CSI

Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD 

Cost: $4,395

Application Deadline: Not specified; admission is on a first-come-first-served basis

Program Dates:

• July 5 – 12

• July 19 – 26

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 12 with a minimum 3.0 GPA; Most students are nominated or selected (more details here); Direct applications can also be submitted (more details here)

If you’re interested in exploring the criminal justice system, the National Youth Leadership Forum: Law & CSI program will provide you with a front-row seat to what a career in law and crime scene investigation entails. You will get to choose from specializing in the law or CSI track and participate in the judicial process from the beginning to the end. The program will take you through the whole process, right from the discovery of the crime to evidence collection and preparation for the courtroom and the criminal trial, providing you with ample opportunities to understand criminal justice as a whole.

If you’re a part of the law specialization track, you will get to visit a courthouse, observe proceedings, and even conduct a mock trial. As a CSI student, you will get to attend an interactive panel with university professors and forensic scientists, who will discuss the latest high-tech applications used during criminal investigations, and more.

7. Dallas Bar Association – Summer Law Intern Program

Location: Dallas, Texas

Cost: None

Application Deadline: Opens on February 1 and closes in April

Program Dates: Four or eight weeks, full-time or part-time

• Session 1: June 9 – July 4

• Session 2 July 7 – August 1 

• Full Session: June 9 – August 1

Eligibility: Dallas ISD high school juniors with an academic average of 85 or above and no more than 10 absences. Applicants interested in studying law preferred 

A joint initiative of the Dallas Bar Association (DBA) and the Dallas Independent School District, the Summer Law Intern program aims to provide access for students interested in studying various facets of law. As a participant, you will be assigned to a law firm or a corporate legal department (in the Dallas area), where you will receive a work schedule. You will be expected to attend all events, orientations, and programs offered by the Dallas Bar Association.

8. National Student Leadership Conference on Law & Advocacy

Location: Georgetown University, DC; University of Michigan, MI; Yale University, CT

Cost: $4,195 – $4,395, depending on the campus. Scholarships are available

Application Deadline: Seasonal deadlines apply, but applications are accepted beyond that if there’s space in the program

Program Dates: June – August (depending on the campus)

Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 – 18 who have completed one year of high school

The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) offers immersive pre-college summer programs to high school and middle school students across subjects like forensic science, law and advocacy, international diplomacy, psychology and neuroscience, and more. 

In the law and advocacy program, you will have the opportunity to get practical and theoretical exposure to the judicial system. You will get to participate in a mock trial, understand the nuances behind jury selection, and learn how to create compelling opening and closing arguments. In the forensic science program, you’ll get to participate in hands-on simulations, get real-world experience from experts, and go on field trips that will give you more insight into forensic science. 

9. Boston Leadership Institute Criminal Minds Summer Science Program

Location: Olin College, Greater Wellesley, MA

Cost: $699 tuition fees + $699 residential fees. Partial tuition scholarships are available

Application Deadline: Not specified, rolling admissions

Program Dates: 

• Session 1: June 16 – 20

• Session 2: August 4 – 8

Eligibility: High school students

This one-week Criminal Minds program at the Boston Leadership Institute delves deep into the mental psyche of criminals. You will learn more about forensic psychology and will get to understand why the perpetrators of crimes do what they do and how it manifests in the crime scene. You will study mental illnesses often found in criminals, work on crime scenes, explore the relationships between criminal behavior and motivation, the criminal justice system, and more. The program includes field trips, events, project work, practical experiences, social events, and so on. 

10. Internship at The United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York

Location: Brooklyn and Central Islip, New York, NY

Stipend: Unpaid (volunteer positions) 

Application Deadline: Not mentioned. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Program Dates: 10 weeks; June – August

Eligibility: Seniors from an accredited high school

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York offers high school students the chance to understand the legal system from within. As an intern, you will be able to undertake placements across various departments, including library legal information and resource center, paralegal legal studies, and more. This internship will allow you to build your understanding and knowledge of law through hands-on experiences and one-on-one mentoring, whether you’re focusing on IT, data, or the policy nuances of law.

One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in forensic psychology, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. 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.

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