10 Law Internships for High School Students in NYC (New York City)
If you’re a high school student in NYC thinking about pursuing law, this blog is for you. New York City offers a number of internships in the field of law that provide valuable experiences, whether you're looking to work with the Mayor's office or are looking for a remote option. To help you choose, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best law internships available for high school students in NYC.
High school internships can be incredible learning opportunities as they extend beyond the classroom and offer a platform for you to apply learned concepts in a real-world setting. With the right internship, you can deepen your understanding of your subject of interest, build a strong professional network, and develop essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and leadership. Moreover, a well-chosen internship can significantly enhance your college applications, showcasing your initiative and real-world experience!
Why apply for a law internship?
A law internship during high school offers several advantages.
It can provide early exposure to the legal field, allowing you to understand the day-to-day operations of legal work and observe professionals in action.
It will help you develop valuable skills such as legal research, writing, and analytical thinking, which are beneficial for both future legal studies and academic success in general.
You will get to build a strong foundation of knowledge in legal principles, terminology, and procedures, making future legal studies more approachable.
Internships often provide opportunities for professional mentorship, offering guidance, career advice, and insights from experienced legal professionals.
A law internship on your resume can boost your college applications by demonstrating initiative, dedication, and real-world experience, making sure you stand out to admissions committees.
In this blog, we’ve curated a diverse list of law internships based in New York City, with some remote options as well. Each internship on this list will allow you to gain hands-on experience and understand the real-life applications of your field of interest.
Location: Virtual! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap year students!
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year.
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Cost: Starting at $2,490. Financial assistance is available.
Ladder Internship is a selective program for high school students to work with nonprofits and start-ups across the world, including legal-tech start-ups. These organizations work in fields such as media and journalism, technology, machine learning and AI, finance, environmental science and sustainability, business and marketing, healthcare and medicine, and more.
As part of this internship, you will work on a real-world project that is significant to the organization and present your work at the end of the internship. You will work closely with your manager at the startup and with a Ladder Coach, who will guide you through the internship and help you navigate the startup environment. As a Ladder intern, you will engage in a coaching + work-based model. The program also includes 1-on-1 and group training sessions for soft skills and professional development.
2. The United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of New York Student Internship
Location: Brooklyn and Central Islip offices, NY.
Eligibility: Rising seniors from an accredited high school.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: The internship will be held in the summer. Exact dates are yet to be announced.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid.
The United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of New York offers several internships to students interested in law. Some of the specialized placements within the internships offered are Information Technology, Automated Litigation Support, Accounting Assistance, Library Legal Information and Resource Center, Human Resources Assistance, and Paralegal-Legal Studies.
If you’re inclined to pursue criminal law, this internship presents an excellent opportunity to get a glimpse of real-world legal proceedings. These internships present a great opportunity for students interested in studying pre-law, criminal justice, or community crime prevention. Based on the specialized internship placement you wish to apply to, you may help with courtroom setups, legal research, and analysis, trial preparation, and managing legal evidence and data.
3. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship | NYC Bar
Location: New York City, NY.
Eligibility: NYC public high school students are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Dates: May-August (tentatively).
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will be paid $15–21 per hour.
The New York City High School Law Internship Program aims to connect interested high school students in the city with employers in the legal field. The employers include law firms, corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. The internship offers practical training, panel discussions, and networking events to help you prepare for a career in law.
Internship duties may include assisting paralegals, filing paperwork, maintaining records, and organizing documents. In addition to the on-the-job experience, you will also receive exposure to the legal profession through development programs offered by your legal employers as part of the internship program.
4. Manhattan District Attorney Internship Program
Location: Manhattan, New York City, NY.
Eligibility: Applicants must be sophomore, junior, or senior high school students living or attending school in New York City.
Application Deadline: Applications are typically accepted from January to early March.
Dates: July-August (tentatively).
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will be paid per the minimum wage.
Interns at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office get the opportunity to explore the criminal justice system from the inside. Interns are expected to work 35 hours a week. You will engage in various workshops and discussions surrounding criminal justice, police brutality, civic engagement, and leadership. You will also get to participate in a mock trial program, develop your professional skills in an office setting, and more. Interns will have to take part in a series of presentations and conversations with DA’s office staff to build a foundational understanding of how policies are developed and implemented.
5. New York City Office of the Mayor Internship
Location: New York City, NY (across various city department offices).
Eligibility: Applicants
- Must be 16 years of age or older,
- Must be a New York City resident (applicable for Fall/Spring Term internship),
- Must have current working papers/employment certification at the time of application,
- Must be enrolled in high school or accepted to an undergraduate degree program.
Application Deadline: Applications for the summer session typically close in March.
Dates: July-August (summer session). The program runs in the fall and spring too!
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will be paid $16 per hour.
The NYC Office of the Mayor offers high school students a chance to explore various departments of city governance, policy, and planning. You can apply to intern at any of the departments, based on your interests and skill level.
What you learn during this internship will definitely help you build a strong base for a legal career, especially since you’ll be getting an inside view of the workings of a city office. As an intern, you will work with government officials and mayoral staff on a number of projects. Your tasks could include conducting research, attending meetings, managing incoming inquiries, analyzing data, drafting briefings, staffing events, and more.
The internship includes a bi-weekly Speaker Series, which will help you learn more about the inner workings of the city government. Guest speakers include Deputy Mayors, Commissioners, Program Directors, and other senior staff. You will also collaborate on a service project, with the goal to design and execute a project that will impact the most deserving communities in the city and uplift New Yorkers in need.
6. Summer Law Institute (SLI) Program
Location: Multiple law schools across NY.
Eligibility: Rising ninth-grade students from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island are eligible.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all the slots are full. Thirty students are accepted for each of the seven law school sites.
Dates: Typically, July-August.
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to attend. Students will receive a monetary stipend upon successful completion of the program.
The Summer Law Institute (SLI) is a well-known five-week summer law program for students who have just completed eighth grade. During this program, you will interact with successful role models, collaborate with them in professional activities, and gain practical experience through simulations. You will study topics in law taught by law students, network with lawyers, go on field trips to legal institutions, and participate in a mock trial competition.
This program is hosted by seven law schools in New York City: Brooklyn Law School, Cardozo School of Law, Columbia Law School, CUNY School of Law, Fordham School of Law, NYU School of Law, and St. John’s School of Law. Once you complete the SLI, you will become eligible to apply to their 4-year College Bound program. The College Bound program offers students receive support, guidance, and training, and is designed to help you apply to college.
7. Internships at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office
Location: Brooklyn, NY.
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible. Check further eligibility requirements based on open intern positions here.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: Internships are offered throughout the year.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will be paid.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office offers high school and college throughout the year. These internship positions can provide you with the opportunity to be part of a district attorney’s office. As an intern, your duties may include assisting in investigations, attending trials, preparing and compiling documents and financial data, conducting and analyzing legal research, and supporting community outreach programs.
Once selected, you will either be assigned to a general trial zone for the beginning of the internship, or directly to one of these specialized bureaus/units: Homicide, Special Victims Unit, Violent Criminal Enterprises (VCE), Domestic Violence, Civil Rights, Victim Services, Crime Strategies, and Investigations.
Location: Offered across all 50 states in the U.S.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors between the ages of 15 and 18 are eligible.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary from state to state. Typically, applications are not accepted after May.
Dates: Spring 2024 (exact dates vary from state to state).
Cost/Stipend: None.
The FBI Teen Academy gives high school students an inside look at the FBI's operations, including its investigative techniques and the various career paths within and beyond the organization. The Teen Academy allows students to explore levels of law enforcement unavailable to them in a general classroom setting.
During the program, you will participate in hands-on activities, discussions with FBI personnel, and presentations on topics such as cybercrime, counterterrorism, and forensic science. You will also engage in group activities ranging from small group exercises to extended field trips.
9. Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP) by American Bar Association (ABA)
Location: Various locations across the country, including New York City.
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Dates: 6 weeks typically in the summer.
Cost: $2000.
The ABA's Judicial Intern Opportunity Program allows high school students to intern with federal or state judges across the country. The program aims to promote diversity and inclusivity in the profession by encouraging students from all backgrounds to explore careers in the field of law.
As an intern, you will get hands-on experience in a court environment, observe trials, and engage in legal research. You will have the privilege of working directly with judges and their chambers, experiencing the judicial system from the inside. You will observe court proceedings, which will help you deepen your understanding of the legal process and allow you to develop valuable practical skills.
10. Pathways Internship Programs at the U.S. Department of State
Location: This will vary, students can opt for openings in their location. You can see all eligible vacancies under this program here.
Eligibility: Students applying must be at least 16 years old by the closing date of the post you’re applying to. Students must also have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the time of application and throughout internship appointment.
Application Deadline: Varies from location to location.
Dates: While the dates of the internship will vary from post to post, those under the Internship Experience Program (IEP) are expected to last the length of the academic program for which the intern is enrolled, and those under the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP) will run during seasonal and holiday breaks as well as year-round.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. The stipend varies from post to post.
The Pathways internships allow students to explore federal careers in various offices of the government, including the judiciary. Students will get firsthand experience in various aspects of the government by working as an intern at offices such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Structured Finance and Insurance, Office of the General Counsel, and Environmental Protection Agency, among others. The program offers a structured learning environment, where you will work alongside experienced professionals, engage in meaningful projects, and develop critical skills.
There are two types of internships under this program: the Internship Experience Program (IEP) and the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP). IEP interns, while in the program, are eligible for noncompetitive promotions and federal employee benefits. ITEP interns are appointed to temporary appointments, which will not exceed one year or their projected graduation date (whichever is shorter) and extensions may be made in one year increments.
Note: All vacancies part of this internship program are posted on USAJobs.gov. So details such as the application deadline, internship dates will vary from role to role, and will be available on each specific posting. Check out current vacancies here.
11. City Limits CLARIFY Program
Location: CUNY Brooklyn or CUNY York, NY | Virtual.
Eligibility: NYC juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors are eligible.
Application Deadline: The applications for spring cohorts will open soon, followed by the summer applications. Keep checking the apply page to find out the dates.
Program Dates: Spring (around 6 weeks) and Summer (around 10 days in July).
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will receive a stipend.
City Limits, NYC’s oldest non-profit investigative news agency, launched the City Limits Accountability Reporting Initiative for Youth (CLARIFY) in 2014 to empower the youth and train students in public service journalism. As an intern, you will be trained in interviewing, investigating, ethics, photojournalism, reporting, and news writing — skills that would be useful if you plan to pursue a career in law.
Interns will collaborate with their instructors to publish their work in City Limits. Interns will work with City Limits reporters and focus on local, relevant news stories. In Fall 2023, for instance, interns worked on a reporting project about Mayor Eric Adams’ work and progress in the area of housing. Read the previous articles by CLARIFY alums here!
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.