Best Pre-Law Summer Programs 鈥 2025
October 29, 2024
Planning to become a lawyer? Although law school may currently feel like a foggy outline on the horizon, it鈥檚 never too early to start building skills and testing the waters before you commit. In addition to seeking out academic and extracurricular leadership positions, it鈥檚 important to spend time immersing oneself in the profession, whether it鈥檚 shadowing an attorney or studying the American legal system. As such, the best pre-law summer programs expose students to the wide range of possible careers and specializations available while enabling them to sharpen critical thinking, communication, and public speaking skills, learn to deliver arguments, and abide by legal ethics鈥揳ll of which are essential to success in this highly visible and collaborative role. If you鈥檙e wondering where to start, be sure to check out our list of top pre-law summer programs for high school students below.
1)
- Location: Virtual
- Residential?: All courses are fully online.
- Program Length: 1-4 weeks (enrichment courses); 6-12 weeks (college credit courses)
- Cost: $1,895 per enrichment course; $3,995 per college credit course
- Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and older
- Application Deadline: varies depending on course, but is typically rolling until approximately a week before the course鈥檚 start date
If you鈥檙e a high school student, the flexibility of Georgetown鈥檚 Pre-College Online Program is unmatched. Students as young as 13 can take courses year-round, exploring budding curiosities and career paths or delving deeply into subject areas they are passionate about. Pre-law students will be particularly interested in courses such as Law: Analyze, Argue, and Advocate Like a Lawyer and International Law: Protecting the World鈥檚 Interests.
All courses are delivered through a set of engaging and dynamic video lessons led by Georgetown professors, and involve approximately 20-30 hours of instruction and activities. During the course itself, you鈥檒l be assigned a mentor with expertise in your course鈥檚 field who will support you through the material and be available to answer questions. There are no live meetings required, so everything can be completed on your own schedule. The curriculum is designed for active learning; all courses conclude with a Final Capstone Project, which allows you to demonstrate what you鈥檝e learned.聽
Pre-Law Summer Programs for High School Students – Continued
2)
- Location: Virtual
- Residential?: All courses are fully online.
- Program Length: 2-4 Weeks
- Cost: $1,795 per course
- Eligibility: Students aged 13 and older
- Application Deadline: Rolling
Students 13 and older can study with the University of Notre Dame anywhere, anytime, at their own pace, in this flexible year-round program. In the legal realm, future lawyers can take the following course, created by Notre Dame faculty and legal experts:
Law: Thinking Like a Lawyer
How do lawyers think and reason? They apply rules to facts. In this course, you鈥檒l learn the method of legal analysis known as IRAC (issues, rules, application, conclusion). You鈥檒l discover major issues in criminal law, constitutional law, sports law, and intellectual property law; and analyze the U.S. legal system and how it compares to legal systems in other countries. Finally, you鈥檒l create a brief for a hypothetical client asserting your position.
3) Vanderbilt Summer Academy
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Residential?: Yes
- Program Length: 1-2 Weeks
- Cost:$1,925 – $4,850
- Eligibility: Grades 7-12
- Application Deadline: Rolling
One-week and two-week summer courses are offered through Vanderbilt University鈥檚 Programs for Talented Youth. VSA courses are accelerated and designed to meet the needs of gifted and high-ability students.
With up to 6 hours of academic activities per day, participants will stretch their intellectual boundaries while enjoying life on this beautiful Nashville campus.
One pre-law related courses is currently offered. Click on the link above to learn more about this course.
Corporate Law, Liability, and Legal Strategy
As a final project in this course, and with the guidance of the mentor, you will research and write an original piece of scholarship and an accompanying presentation on a legal issue of their choice which currently impacts the business world. This course is great for anyone who enjoys reading or writing, anyone interested in politics or law, or anyone who wants to better understand the rules and regulations surrounding business and commerce.
4)
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Residential?: Residential and commuter options available
- Program Length: 3 weeks
- Cost: Residential: $9,899; Commuter: $6,299
- Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18
- Application Deadline: Rolling, with a final deadline in June; students are advised to apply as early as possible
Penn Carey Law鈥檚 goal is to provide high school students with a glimpse of the first-year law school experience. As such, they spend three weeks immersing themselves in a condensed version of Penn Carey’s first-year law school curriculum.
During the first two weeks of the program, students are introduced to the ins and outs of the American legal system. Accordingly, topics to be covered include contracts, torts/liability, criminal law, and constitutional law. In addition to developing legal reasoning, leadership, and communication skills, students engage in Socratic dialogue led by Penn faculty members. Then, in week three, students have the opportunity to explore specialized fields of law like environmental law and human rights & immigration law, among others. Virtual visits to law firms and courtrooms round out the experience.
These pre-law summer programs provide housing for non-local students and offer a commuter option for those in the Philadelphia area. Moreover, students who opt to live on-campus have access to weekend social activities and mentorship as well as the opportunity to explore the city and surrounding area.
Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Although the final deadline is in June, applications are evaluated on a rolling basis and programs fill quickly. Admission is selective; students must have a strong academic record and demonstrated leadership experience in order to be seriously considered.
5) Summer Springboard Pre-College Programs
- Location: Multiple (Boston, California, New York, International)
- Residential?: Yes
- Program Length: 10-12 Days
- Cost: $2,898 – $6,098
- Eligibility: Ages 12-18
- Application Deadline: Rolling
Locations include Yale, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Duke, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, the University of Michigan, and many more. With over 60 available courses across our campuses you’ll be sure to find something that matches your academic interests. This includes a Trial Law course offered at Georgetown, UC San Diego, and Yale.
6)
- Location: Virtual
- Residential?: No
- Program Length: 1, 2, & 4-week sessions
- Cost: $1,595 per course
- Eligibility: Students aged 13 and older
- Application Deadline: Rolling
Wake Forest University鈥檚 online program is available year-round, allowing you to study anywhere, anytime, while working at your own pace. This flexibility enables you to take multiple courses and discover a variety of academic areas of interest. All courses culminate in a Final Capstone Project that allows students to demonstrate what they鈥檝e learned in the program. Wake Forest offers the following pre-law course:
Law: From Crime Scene to Conviction
Criminal lawyers argue some of the toughest legal cases: everything from illegal drug sales to murder. In this compelling course, you鈥檒l delve into the anatomy of a criminal case. Learn through the lens of both prosecutors and defense attorneys while studying the process from evidence and witness interviewing to sentencing. Understand 4th Amendment protections regarding search and seizure, explore the role motions play in resolving criminal cases, learn the difference between a hearing and a trial, and gain insight into the role of the judge and the jurors. If you believe you have what it takes for criminal law, this course is for you.
7)
- Location: Virtual
- Residential?: All courses are fully online.
- Program Length: 2-4 Weeks
- Cost: $1,595 per course
- Eligibility: Ages 13+
- Application Deadline: Rolling
W&M鈥檚 online program is designed for high school students ages 13 and up, and offers a range of compelling topics, covered in-depth, through online coursework led by William & Mary professors. For those considering a career in law, they have the perfect option to prepare you for the future:
Constitutional Law: We The People
Knowledge of the U.S. Constitution is essential for anyone who seeks a future in law. This course gives high school students who aspire to this field something unique 鈥 an inside look at how today鈥檚 lawyers and judges rely on the constitution to support their cases. Examine the judiciary鈥檚 role, how they interpret constitutional rights and why there are vastly different opinions on how this document is 鈥 or should be 鈥 interpreted. Hear from renowned constitutional scholars and law professors at one of the nation鈥檚 preeminent universities. If you are considering a future in law or government, this is the place to start.
8)
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Residential?: Yes
- Program Length: 10 days
- Cost: $5,345
- Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors
- Application Deadline: First-come, first-served
Offered in conjunction with Stanford Law School and endorsed by the American Mock Trial Association, Intensive Law & Trial aims to immerse aspiring attorneys into the legal world.
All students begin with a foray into the theory and practice of law, learning ethics and legal rhetoric from seasoned professionals as well as Stanford Law faculty. Along the way, they practice myriad skills via simulations and workshops, such as preparing a case, understanding evidence, public speaking, and cross-examining witnesses. This preparation ultimately culminates in a mock trial simulation where students use their new knowledge to argue a full case from opening statement to closing argument.
In addition to career immersion, students develop their leadership abilities and gain insight into potential college majors. Moreover, the program isn鈥檛 all work and no play鈥搒tudents spend time exploring Palo Alto and San Francisco.
In order to apply to Envision鈥檚 pre-law summer programs, students must be pre-qualified through a nomination by an educator or advisor. However, it should be noted that students can also nominate themselves.
Pre-Law Summer Programs for High School Students – Continued
9)
- Location: Washington, DC
- Residential?: Yes
- Program Length: 1 week
- Cost: $2,700
- Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates aged 15-18
- Application Deadline: March (early decision); April (regular decision)
For a week in July, talented and passionate high school students from across the country gather in Washington, DC to immerse themselves in social justice advocacy as well as civil liberties issues. Accordingly, they learn from lawyers, lobbyists, and activists who have dedicated their lives to defending civil rights.
Each day, students engage in electives and seminars that explore issue advocacy, legal strategy, and political decision-making. Additionally, they participate in A Day of Action on Capitol Hill, where they鈥檒l lobby, rally, and advocate for real issues like immigration reform, systemic equality, and education censorship while learning about the ins and outs of political and advocacy campaigns.
To apply to these pre-law summer programs, students need to complete a general application as well as an essay. They鈥檒l also need to submit a letter of recommendation.
Live in a state that belongs to ACLU鈥檚 Southern Collective? Consider checking out the week-long, held in Atlanta, GA and Montgomery, AL.
10)
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Residential?: Yes
- Program Length: 1 week
- Cost: $2,000
- Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
- Application Deadline: February (early decision); April (regular decision)
Given that Rhodes runs one of the most successful collegiate mock trial programs in the country, it鈥檚 an excellent place to develop public speaking and presentation skills, both of which are essential for aspiring lawyers.
Each morning, students attend lectures that cover topics like advocacy theory, criminal trial rights, and evidence. Then, each afternoon, they practice skills like openings, closings, directs, and cross-examination. They鈥檒l put these skills to good use on the final day of the program when they perform a full trial in front of the teaching staff as well as parents and friends.
Outside of academics and trial preparation, students attending these pre-law summer programs have the opportunity to explore Memphis. Past outings have included meetings with state and federal judges, tours of the National Civil Rights Museum, and famous Elvis sites. They鈥檒l also dine nightly with fellow students and participate in evening social activities.
Final Thoughts 鈥 Pre-Law Summer Programs for High School Students
Pre-law summer programs can be a valuable and rewarding start to your journey鈥攚hether you aspire to become an attorney, consultant, judge, or legal professor, law school will be the first stop after you complete your undergraduate degree. As such, taking the time now to understand the legal world鈥檚 unique demands while strengthening the critical thinking, reasoning, speaking, and writing skills necessary to be successful will only pay dividends later.
Looking for pre-law summer programs in your area? Consider checking out the following:
- Best Summer Programs in Atlanta
- Best Summer Programs in the Bay Area
- Best Summer Programs in Boston
- Best Summer Programs in Chicago
- Best Summer Programs in Dallas
- Best Summer Programs in Denver
- Best Summer Programs in Houston
- Best Summer Programs in Los Angeles
- Best NYC Summer Programs
- Best Summer Programs in Philadelphia
- Best Summer Programs in Phoenix
- Best Summer Programs in Seattle
