11 Law Programs for High School Students in NJ (New Jersey)
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
If you’re interested in law, you might be looking for ways to explore the field beyond your high school classes. Structured programs can introduce you to areas like criminal law, constitutional law, and public policy while helping you build skills in argumentation, research, and public speaking. They also give you a better understanding of how legal systems and civic institutions operate.
In New Jersey, law programs are offered through universities, legal organizations, statewide initiatives, and civic education groups. These opportunities include mock trial competitions, policy programs, pre-law courses, and long-term academic initiatives focused on legal and civic engagement.
Why should I do a law program in high school?
Law programs allow you to explore how legal systems function while developing skills that are useful across many fields. You might take part in mock trials, analyze case law, prepare legal arguments, or work on public policy projects while learning from legal professionals and educators. Over time, these experiences can help you build confidence in communication, strengthen critical thinking, and decide whether you want to pursue law or related fields in the future.
In this blog, we have curated 11 law programs for high school students in New Jersey.
If you’re looking for free online summer internships, check out our blog here.
Location: NJ LEEP (Seton Hall Law partner), Northern New Jersey, NJ, USA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round programming with summer and school-year sessions
Application Deadline: April 13
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
The NJ Law and Education Empowerment Project (NJ LEEP) offers a comprehensive, multi-year law-related experience for high school students, blending classroom learning with practical legal skills development and community engagement. Through its programming, you can explore topics in criminal law and procedure while practicing trial advocacy skills, participating in field trips to law firms and courthouses, and competing in a mock trial judged by sitting New Jersey judges. As part of NJ LEEP’s constitutional law debate series, you will analyze case law, craft written briefs, and present oral arguments with mentorship from practicing attorneys, building research, critical thinking, and public speaking skills. There will be additional opportunities, such as micro-internships before 10th grade, that will expose you to real legal work environments and strengthen your understanding of legal careers and professional expectations.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school; 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!
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
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: Multiple counties, New Jersey, USA (statewide)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Annual competition season (January–March)
Application Deadline: October 29
Eligibility: High school students in New Jersey public, private, charter, or homeschool settings
The Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition engages New Jersey high school students in an immersive courtroom simulation where they act as attorneys, witnesses, and jurors while working with their school team to prepare and present a case. During the competition season, you will practice building legal arguments, examining evidence, and responding to judges’ questions using an original case packet prepared by the NJ State Bar Foundation’s Mock Trial Committee. The program emphasizes analytical writing, persuasive speaking, and strategic thinking while developing teamwork and courtroom familiarity under the guidance of teacher‑coaches or attorney volunteers. You also deepen your understanding of legal procedures and courtroom decorum by competing in county rounds with opportunities to advance to regional and state finals, enhancing practical advocacy skills and legal reasoning.
Location: New Jersey (statewide; Rutgers University involvement), NJ, USA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round project work with a June state showcase
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle and high school students (grades 6–12) in New Jersey
Project Citizen is an applied civic education program that guides New Jersey students through the process of identifying, researching, and proposing solutions to real public policy issues affecting their communities. You will work collaboratively in small teams to explore a civic problem, analyze relevant government structures, gather evidence, and develop a public policy solution while documenting your work in a digital portfolio that demonstrates research and reasoning. At the annual New Jersey Showcase, teams present their projects to panels of educators and civic leaders, reinforcing public speaking, analytical thinking, and civic literacy. Throughout the experience, you will gain familiarity with state and local government functions, strengthen skills in communicating policy ideas, and learn how citizens can effect change within democratic institutions.
Location: New Jersey State House and Rutgers Cooperative Extension locations, NJ, USA
Cost/Stipend: $50 participation fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions (e.g., March 9, May 1, 2025)
Application Deadline: March 3, 2025
Eligibility: New Jersey high school students (grades 9–12)
The NJ 4‑H Legislative Leadership Experience is a civic program that empowers high school students to study lawmaking and public policy through interactive, state‑level experiences. You will attend legislative hearings at the New Jersey State House, learn how a bill becomes law, and collaborate with peers to develop your own policy proposal addressing a real community issue. Guided by Rutgers Cooperative Extension educators, you’ll build skills in public policy analysis, persuasive communication, and collaborative problem‑solving. The program culminates in presenting your proposal to a state legislator, strengthening your ability to connect research, argumentation, and civic process in a structured advocacy setting.
Location: New Jersey State House, Trenton, NJ, USA
Cost/Stipend: $35; scholarships and support available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Annual legislative session; statewide simulation weekends
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: New Jersey high school students
YMCA New Jersey Youth and Government is a civic engagement program that simulates the legislative process for high school delegates, offering you a hands‑on experience in writing, debating, and passing bills within a replica state legislature. Over multi‑day conferences, you will assume the roles of senators, assembly members, justices, lobbyists, or media representatives to learn about government operations, bill drafting, parliamentary procedure, and public speaking. Mentors from community and legal backgrounds will guide your preparation and help you refine your advocacy and policy‑analysis skills. The program also includes community service components that foster leadership and ethical reasoning while reinforcing the connection between democratic participation and real‑world civic engagement.
Location: New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (statewide, NJ)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: October – June
Application Deadline: September 22
Eligibility: New Jersey high school students with an interest in civil rights law
The Youth Ambassador Program from the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights offers high school students an opportunity to explore civil rights law and community advocacy through mentorship and project work focused on the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. You will work as part of a cohort to learn about anti‑bias legal frameworks and develop campaigns that educate your school or community about civil rights protections. The program includes structured discussions, guest presentations, and collaborative group work, with mentors from the Division guiding your understanding of legal enforcement and community outreach strategy. Through creating a culminating zine on chosen civil rights topics, you will strengthen your legal literacy, critical analysis, and communication skills in a civic context.
Location: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $2,899
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
The Pre‑law and Mock Trial Summer Academy offers high school students an immersive introduction to law through mock trials and legal reasoning. You will learn the fundamentals of civil and criminal law, sources of law, and trial advocacy through interactive lessons, courtroom visits, guest lectures, and structured mock trials. The curriculum emphasizes case analysis, persuasive argumentation, examination techniques, and courtroom decorum, giving students formal exposure to legal processes. You’ll develop critical thinking, logical reasoning, and public speaking skills through collaborative teamwork and guided exercises. The instruction is led by law faculty and legal professionals, with a focus on academic inquiry into legal theory and practice rather than simulation alone.
Location: Rutgers University, New Jersey
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Year-long (50 hours of service required)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (informal access via university resources)
Rutgers University’s legal education ecosystem includes publicly accessible resources that can support high school students interested in law and public policy, but it’s not a formal high school-specific program. Officially, Rutgers provides pro bono legal services and professional skills education through its law school, emphasizing community engagement, public-interest legal work, and service-learning in areas such as civil rights, immigration assistance, and community education programs. You can explore legal concepts through hosted events, public lectures, and access to educational materials that reflect real legal challenges and civic processes. While not formal academic programming tailored exclusively to high school students, these resources offer structured contexts for understanding legal systems and public interest law.
Location: New Jersey (statewide)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Annual season (fall–winter competition cycle)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: New Jersey high school students
Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition is a long-standing interactive law education program that invites high school teams from across New Jersey to participate in courtroom simulations using an original case prepared by the Foundation’s Mock Trial Committee. The student roles include attorneys, witnesses, and jurors, and teams prepare formal written and oral arguments while applying legal reasoning and trial procedures. This competition enhances public speaking, analytical thinking, and teamwork through a structured season that typically begins in the fall and extends into winter. Participation is free and open to public, private, charter, and home school students. The program functions outside of regular classroom time but aligns with civic education goals and justice-system awareness.
Location: State of New Jersey (national program with Washington, DC component)
Cost/Stipend: None; $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: March 7 – March 14
Application Deadline: October 13
Eligibility: New Jersey high school juniors and seniors (program-specific criteria)
The United States Senate Youth Program is a national civic education initiative administered in New Jersey through the state’s education department. The program selects high school juniors and seniors to study the structure of the federal government, constitutional principles, and public policy processes. You will engage in structured instruction focused on legislative and executive branch functions and attend meetings with public officials as part of the program’s formal curriculum. The New Jersey Department of Education outlines eligibility and nomination procedures for state participants. The program emphasizes understanding government institutions and civic responsibility through guided academic engagement rather than legal training.
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.
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