According to Harvard University, students admitted to Harvard Law School come from a wide variety of academic backgrounds, extracurricular pursuits, and professional experiences. This just means that there is no single “perfect” pre-law path that guarantees admission. Instead, law schools look for intellectual curiosity and sustained engagement. The good news is that these qualities can be cultivated in many different ways!
Below are meaningful ways high school students can begin pursuing in preparation for law school.
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1. Build Legal Skills Through Extracurricular Activities
Before stepping into a courtroom or applying for internships, students should first focus on developing foundational skills. Law is built on writing, argumentation, structured reasoning, and critical analysis; therefore, the extracurricular activities you choose should strengthen these core abilities. Fortunately, there are many opportunities and fields you can explore in high school that will help you succeed in law school and beyond.
Journalism and Research-Based Writing
Journalism is one of the strongest foundations for students interested in law. While journalism and law are completely different fields, both are grounded in the same essence: careful investigation, evidence-based reasoning, and clear communication. Journalism trains students to ask the right questions and construct narratives based on facts rather than assumptions. These habits closely mirror the analytical discipline required in legal study and practice.
If you don’t have an idea where to start, consider joining your school’s student publication or high school newspaper. It’s an excellent training ground for research writing and responsible reporting. If your school does not have a newspaper or publication, you can take initiative and start a magazine or newsletter yourself. You can even build experience independently by writing blogs focused on legal topics, public policy, or social justice issues.
Mock Trial & Moot Court
Mock Trials and Moot Courts stimulate courtroom environments and are valuable for students interested in litigation. These programs will allow you to analyze real cases and present persuasive arguments under structured conditions.
There’s a plethora of benefits to participating in these activities. You will be taught how to craft opening and closing statements, conduct direct and cross-examinations, anticipate opposing arguments, and apply legal reasoning to factual scenarios. But beyond technical skills, you will surely develop confidence, composure under pressure, and the ability to think quickly, all of which are essential in both courtroom advocacy and law school classrooms.
Some examples of the mock trial you can do, depending on where you reside:
Debate Club or Speech & Debate
Debate is one of the most powerful and useful preparation tools for aspiring lawyers. Legal education revolves around structured argumentation, and debate teaches students how to recognize fallacies and respond persuasively to counterarguments.
By participating in competitions or joining a debate club, you will learn to organize complex ideas logically and communicate them clearly under time constraints. In many ways, this mirrors the Socratic method used in law schools, where students must analyze cases and defend interpretations in real time. If you’re interested in exploring this, Aralia has published an article discussing 6 Debate Competitions for your reference.
Model United Nations and Policy-Focused Activities
For high school students interested in international policy or diplomacy, the Model United Nations (MUN) offers valuable experience and is a great place to start. Multiple times per year, the MUN sends participants abroad to study global issues, represent different countries, and negotiate solutions within structured committees.
If you’re leaning more toward corporate or business law, joining DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) is a great option. DECA gives students hands-on experience in finance and economic systems—foundations that are especially useful for future attorneys working in corporate environments.
No matter your focus, strong public speaking is essential for any aspiring lawyer. To practice presenting ideas confidently, you can explore a variety of competitions through our list of 8 Unique Public Speaking Competitions.
2. Gain Real World Exposure
Beyond competitions and clubs, it really helps to see how the law works in real life. Observing the legal system firsthand provides insight that classroom simulations cannot fully replicate, helping you understand whether a career in law truly aligns with your interests.
Sit in on a Federal Court Hearing
One simple but meaningful step is attending a public court hearing at a local or federal courthouse. Watching attorneys present arguments and judges ask critical questions gives you a clear sense of courtroom procedure and legal reasoning. This is also a chance to determine if you enjoy the courtroom environment and legal advocacy in practice.
Students can visit a courthouse and sit in on a session. Most courts provide information about scheduling or reservations on their official federal or local U.S. District Court websites.
Volunteer at Legal Service Organizations
You might also consider volunteering with legal service organizations, as this might expose you to how law impacts real people and communities. Many lawyers build nonprofits and support underserved communities in areas like housing, immigration, or family law. Even in an administrative role, you will gain insight into how legal systems directly affect people’s lives while learning directly from professionals in the field.
Coffee chat with an Attorney
This is completely optional, but another approachable way is reaching out to an attorney for an informational interview or casual conversation over coffee. Prepare thoughtful questions in advance: about their work, daily responsibilities, career paths, and law school preparation. This can give you clarity, and you might end up with a lifelong mentor if the conversation goes well.
Students might also consider asking whether a local law firm they work with is hiring a “runner.” A runner typically handles the physical delivery of legal documents, such as bringing paperwork between offices, submitting filings to the courthouse, or delivering documents to clients and government agencies. While the role is administrative, it offers valuable exposure to how legal processes move behind the scenes.
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3. Participate in Law Internships
Structured internships take exposure a step further, allowing students to move beyond observation and engaging hands-on learning. Through these opportunities, you not only appreciate how law functions in practice but also determine if this is the right path for you in the long run.
High school law internships can be found through a variety of sources. You can reach out to local institutions such as law firms, district attorney or public defender offices, and policy research organizations for openings.
Internships provide a valuable opportunity to explore different aspects of legal work and help you determine which areas you enjoy most. They also demonstrate initiative and genuine interest in the field, giving you an edge when applying to competitive colleges. If you perform well and demonstrate professionalism and a strong work ethic, many organizations may offer extended opportunities, making the possibilities practically endless.
Read this for a guide on 14 Law Internships for High School Students.
4. Conduct Legal Research in High School
With the right guidance, high school students can begin conducting independent legal research as a way to demonstrate intellectual depth. You might opt to analyze landmark Supreme Court decisions, explore debates over constitutional interpretation, or research emerging issues such as the regulation of artificial intelligence and criminal justice reform.
Research projects may lead to publication in student journals, which can sharpen your academic profile once you start applying to college. In the long run, engaging deeply with legal queries will not only give you credibility but shape you into a wise scholar of law.
For further reading, here are some tips on How to Write a Winning Law Essay As A High School Student.
5. Choose Activities Based on Your Passion
For students interested in law, the most important principle to remember is this: depth matters more than quantity. Law schools are looking for sustained intellectual engagement, evidence of growth, and meaningful commitment over time.
Aralia’s classes prioritize depth, rigor, and long-term skill development. In particular, preparation for the John Locke Institute Essay Competition offers an exceptional opportunity for aspiring law students. The competition challenges students to grapple with complex questions in philosophy, politics, economics, history, and law, which are disciplines that form the intellectual foundation of legal study.
John Locke Essay Competition Prep
In the John Locke Essay Competition Prep course, students will learn the ins and outs of essay writing, in preparation for entering the competition. We offer prep classes in all categories. Students will choose one topic, compose an original thesis and argument, and write an essay for submission. Students will engage in a guided analysis of primary and secondary sources, develop critical thinking skills, and discover interesting insights. In addition to the group classes, students will receive guidance on their individual projects from the instructor through one-on-one sessions.
