10 Summer Camps for High School Students Interested in Law
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 7
- 8 min read
If you are a high school student looking for a short, focused opportunity to explore law, then consider a summer camp in the field. Law summer camps can often be quite manageable in terms of the workload, and inexpensive ways to get an early exposure to the legal field.
Unlike regular law programs, summer camps are typically shorter, lasting from a few days to a few weeks. Additionally, compared to regular pre-law summer programs, which are more academically structured, law camps offer an interactive, activity-led experience to help you engage in practical skill development, get industry exposure, and make valuable connections.
Camps also offer hands-on experiences like mock trials and discussions involving mediation and presenting arguments, making them a great introduction to the world of law. That said, at camp, you will also get to explore core concepts like the history of laws, different areas of practice, international law, and more.
Here, we have listed 10 law summer camps for high school students based on factors like academic rigor, networking opportunities, low acceptance rates, and credibility of host organizations.
Location: University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, CT + a few sessions at the court in Hartford, CT
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 7 – July 11
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Connecticut high school students | Preference may be given to preference to students who have overcome adversity, who face other challenges in pursuing a career in the law, who will be first-generation lawyers, or who do not have the resources to pay for a private summer camp.
CBA Law Camp is a week-long introduction to the legal profession. Here, you will engage in panel discussions, mentorship sessions, advocacy training sessions, and a mock trial competition. At camp, you will also have the opportunity to meet with attorneys, judges, and law students, observe court proceedings, and gain insights into the daily life of a lawyer. You may also be able to work on your mock trial prep under the mentorship of lawyers. Through this experience, you will get to build critical thinking, public speaking, and analysis skills.
Location: Hybrid program—virtual + in-person participation at Ohio University campus, Athens, OH
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 7 – 18 (including virtual participation from July 7 – 11)
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students | Preference is given to high-achieving, rising high school juniors and seniors from Appalachian Ohio
Ohio University’s Summer Law and Trial Institute is a two-week hybrid program that covers the basics of law, advocacy, public service, and pathways in legal education and careers. During the first week of the program, you will engage in virtual sessions covering core legal skills like case analysis, legal reasoning, negotiation, and public speaking. In the second week, you will live on campus at Ohio University and work in teams to prepare and present a mock trial. As a participant, you will get to watch a Supreme Court of Ohio oral argument, meet Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner, and visit the Athens County Court of Common Pleas and non-governmental organizations, including Legal Aid of Southeastern and Central Ohio and the American Civil Liberties Union. Through this experience, you will pick up professional skills and gain insights into the real-world practice of law.
Location: New York University campus, New York City, NY
Cost: $50 application fee + $2,579
Application deadline: May 15 for residential program applicants; June 13 for commuters
Program dates: Session 1: June 23 – 27; Session 2: July 7 – 11; Session 3: July 14 – 18; Session 4: July 21 – 25; Session 5: July 28 – August 1; Session 6: August 4 – 8
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9, 10, and 11
NYU’s High School Academy offers various summer courses to high schoolers, of which the Pre-Law Bootcamp is a week-long opportunity to learn what it takes to be an attorney. During the program, you will explore case studies and legal topics, including substantive law and litigation trials, to understand the U.S. legal system. Here, you will also learn about career opportunities in law. The camp also offers opportunities to attend speaker panels and discussions regarding government agencies, courthouses, and public interest organizations. Projects and class assignments are also parts of the experience. This camp can provide insights into the career paths worth exploring in the future and what the practice of law has to offer.
Location: Stetson University, DeLand, FL
Cost: $1,000 | Need-based scholarships are available.
Application deadline: Unspecified
Program dates: Mock Trial (Civil) Camp: July 7 – 11; Moot Court Camp: July 14 – 18; Mock Trial (Criminal) Camp: July 21 – 25
Eligibility: High school students
Stetson University’s undergraduate Mock Trial Team offers various pre-law camps to high schoolers interested in getting a hands-on introduction to courtroom procedure, legal reasoning, and public speaking. If you register for the Mock Trial (Civil) Camp, you will get to study civil procedure. At Mock Trial (Criminal) Camp, the focus shifts to criminal law. At both the Mock Trial camps, you will work with a retired lawyer and pre-law students and explore topics like pre-trial discovery, pre-trial motions, and the impact of party pre-trial stipulations. At Moot Court Camp, you will participate in a fictional case, preparing written briefs and presenting oral arguments. During the program, you will collaborate with peers, attorneys, practice trial strategy, build persuasive arguments, and learn the process of direct and cross-examination. This experience can help you pick up trial, debate, and speaking skills!
Location: American University campus, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $2,700 | Full and partial financial assistance is offered.
Application deadline: April 14
Program dates: Session 1: July 13 – July 19; Session 2: July 20 – 26; Session 3: July 27 – August 2
Eligibility: Students who are 15 to 18 years old and have completed one year of high school
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Advocacy Institute offers high school students an opportunity to explore the intersection of law, policy, and social justice over the summer. Through classes and seminars, you will explore foundational legal concepts, strategy, and the role of advocacy in creating social change. Past guest speakers at seminars include prominent activists such as Kerry Washington and Tommie Smith. A key feature of the program is the Day of Action, where you engage in collective advocacy to bring civil liberty challenges like immigration, eliminating censorship in education, and anti-racism before legislators. During the program, you will also engage with ACLU lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other professionals in the field. This program can offer you both academic knowledge and practical advocacy experience.
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; or Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Georgetown University: $4,195; Yale University: $4,395; University of Michigan: $4,095
Application deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Program dates: Varies as per the session. Multiple nine-day sessions are conducted between June and August.
Eligibility: High school students
The NSLC Law & Advocacy Program offers high school students a hands-on exploration of the legal profession. During this nine-day camp-like program, you will participate in a simulated criminal case in a real courtroom setting. Here, you will collaborate with peers, attend lectures from legal and forensic experts, engage in mock trials and in-class jury selection sessions, and hear from guest speakers, including past Supreme Court justices. Topics covered during the program include homicide law, evidentiary procedures, direct examination, witness preparation, and crafting opening and closing statements. Additionally, you can earn college credit by enrolling in an extra course for an additional fee.
Location: University of the Pacific’s Stockton Campus, Stockton, CA
Cost: $3,650
Program Dates: June 2 – 12
Application deadline: May 11
Eligibility: High school students
The Law Summer Camp, a part of the University of the Pacific's High School Summer Institute, is a two-week experience. Here, you will get to explore the legal system through hands-on activities, guest lectures, and field visits. Under the guidance of faculty, law students, and legal professionals from McGeorge School of Law, you will learn about the judiciary’s role in government, the structure of civil and criminal justice systems, and the work lawyers do in courts, legislatures, and regulatory bodies during the program. You will also attend daily skill-building sessions to improve legal writing and analytical thinking abilities. You will get to learn directly from judges and even visit a courtroom.
Location: Virtual and in-person (UCLA campus, Los Angeles, CA) options
Cost: Starts at $1,961 | Check complete cost calculation and financial aid (available to only CA students) information here.
Program dates: Varies depending on the format and session | Multiple one-week sessions are conducted between June and August
Application deadline: Varies according to the session. The deadline for the first residential session is June 6
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15
UCLA offers multiple summer pre-college experiences, of which the Mock Trial Summer Institute is a week-long program for high schoolers interested in learning about the American justice system and careers in law. Here, you will work with coaches and members of UCLA’s five-time national champion Mock Trial Team to build core trial advocacy and public speaking skills. The program can also help you understand how attorneys prepare and argue a case. Through interactive sessions, you will learn how to craft arguments, examine witnesses, and think on your feet. You will also gain insights into college-level mock trials and what it takes to succeed in competitive legal environments.
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,200 | Need-based scholarships are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Program dates: June 15 – 20; July 20 – 25
Application deadline: Rolling basis starting November
Eligibility: High school students
Wake Forest University’s Law Institute is a week-long camp-like program that can give you a glimpse into what it means to practice law across different fields. During the program, you will take on roles such as a criminal litigator or corporate lawyer and work on various case scenarios, like arguing in court or negotiating contracts. In the process, you will explore topics like family law, civil and criminal litigation, government law and lobbying, transactional law, judicial system, and key ethical responsibilities lawyers face, including confidentiality and conflicts of interest. The institute also offers opportunities to hear from legal professionals on topics like building a career, managing work-life balance, and navigating challenges in the field of law. You will also attend a first-year college-level law class, explore case studies, and engage in negotiation exercises.
Location: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: $2,699
Program dates: July 13 – 19
Application deadline: May 16 for domestic students; April 14 for international students
Eligibility: High school students completing their sophomore and junior years who are 16 to 18 years old
Taught by Rutgers Law faculty, the Pre-Law and Mock Trial Summer Academy is a one-week opportunity to learn about the basics of law through hands-on activities. Here, you will explore topics like civil and criminal law, how laws are made, and the role of courts through interactive lessons, mock trials, courtroom visits, film analysis, and guest lectures. The program is worth considering if you are interested in participating in mock trials, preparing for mock trial competitions, and/or just beginning to explore legal careers. The experience can also help you pick up essential skills like advocacy, analysis, critical thinking, and public speaking.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are interested in conducting independent research in law, you can consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, which are selective online high school programs for students founded by 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, consider checking out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, which is a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we offered 150 students complete 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 the 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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