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Extracurriculars for a Career in Lawyer

54 high school activities and programs that build real experience toward a career in lawyer.

Yale Young Global Scholars
Yale University · New Haven, CT · In-Person

Law and Economics track provides university-level exposure to legal concepts and critical thinking essential for law careers.

National Speech and Debate Association
The National Speech and Debate Association · Multiple

Debate develops argumentation, evidence analysis, and persuasive oral advocacy core to legal practice.

Boys Nation
American Legion · Washington, D.C. · In-Person

Mock legislative sessions and debate develop argumentation and procedural knowledge foundational to law.

United States Senate Youth Program
United States Senate · Washington, D.C. · In-Person

Program emphasizes understanding government structures, constitutional law, and public service through meetings with senators and justices.

Model United Nations Conferences
National Model United Nations · Multiple · In-Person

Debate and negotiation skills developed through arguing policy positions and drafting formal resolutions.

National Student Leadership Conference
National Student Leadership Conference · Multiple · In-Person

Students explore law through immersive simulations and workshops in legal career tracks.

National High School Ethics Bowl
National High School Ethics Bowl · Multiple

Students analyze complex ethical and legal questions, construct reasoned arguments, and engage in civil discourse similar to legal practice.

Congressional Essay Contest
The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America · Multiple · In-Person

Persuasive writing and critical thinking about government systems and civic principles underpin legal argumentation.

US Senate Page Program
United States Senate · Washington, D.C. · In-Person

Students observe legislative debates and votes, gaining firsthand insight into how laws are discussed and passed at the national level.

Teen Age Republicans (TARS)
National Teen Age Republicans / Republican Party · Arlington, VA · Hybrid

Debate and public speaking skills developed through TARS activities build core competencies for legal practice.

National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Organization for Women · Multiple · Hybrid

Advocacy work on women's rights and justice issues provides foundational exposure to legal and policy reform.

Amnesty International USA
Amnesty International USA · Multiple · Hybrid

Campaign work on refugee protection and detained individuals' rights builds foundational legal advocacy skills.

National High School Mock Trial Championship
National High School Mock Trial Championship, Inc. · Multiple · In-Person

Mock trial directly simulates courtroom advocacy, legal argumentation, and case preparation central to legal practice.

Quiz Bowl
National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) · Multiple · In-Person

The buzzer-based competition demands quick thinking, argumentation under pressure, and mastery of detailed subject matter across many domains.

National History Bee – Varsity and Junior Varsity Divisions
IAC (Interstate Academic Competitions) · Multiple · Hybrid

Buzzer-based competition requires rapid recall and argumentation similar to legal reasoning and debate.

Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest
Ayn Rand Institute · Santa Ana, CA

Essay writing develops critical reasoning and persuasive argumentation essential to legal practice.

John Locke Global Essay Competition
John Locke Institute · Virtual

Essay competition develops argumentation and reasoning skills essential for legal writing and case analysis.

Ayn Rand Anthem Essay Contest
Ayn Rand Institute · Santa Ana, CA

Essay contests demand logical argumentation and persuasive writing central to legal practice.

Ayn Rand The Fountainhead Essay Contest
Ayn Rand Institute · Santa Ana, CA

Competitive essay writing on philosophical principles strengthens legal argumentation and persuasive writing abilities.

National Latin Exam
University of Mary Washington · Fredericksburg, VA · Hybrid

Latin proficiency strengthens understanding of legal terminology and classical rhetoric foundational to legal practice and argumentation.

Posse Foundation Scholarship
The Posse Foundation · Multiple · Hybrid

Posse scholars develop advocacy, persuasive communication, and critical thinking essential to legal practice.

International History Olympiad
International Academic Competitions · Paris, France · In-Person

Debate and competitive argumentation formats develop persuasive reasoning and presentation skills essential to law practice.

Horizon Academic Essay Prize
Horizon Inspires

Persuasive argumentation and critical analysis of complex topics like law and social movements are core to legal practice.

United States Academic Decathlon
United States Academic Decathlon · Multiple · In-Person

Debate, persuasive speech, and critical analysis of complex topics build core legal argumentation abilities.

Immerse Education Programs
Immerse Education · Multiple · Hybrid

International Relations and Law courses provide foundational knowledge for legal practice and policy work.

Experience Christendom Summer Program (The Best Week Ever)
Christendom College · Front Royal, VA · In-Person

Debate activities and philosophy/critical thinking coursework develop argumentation and logical reasoning skills.

Arete: An Introduction to the Classics
University of Dallas · Irving, TX

Close reading of classical texts and persuasive argumentation build critical reasoning skills essential to legal practice.

The Lorenzo de Zavala (LDZ) Youth Legislative Session
National Hispanic Institute · Fort Collins, CO · In-Person

Program emphasizes debate, persuasive argumentation, and understanding legal/governmental procedures and protocols.

The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI) Journey to Leadership Program
Bella Abzug Leadership Institute · New York, NY · In-Person

Debate training and persuasive communication skills directly support legal argumentation and courtroom advocacy.

Manhattan District Attorney's High School Internship Program
Manhattan District Attorney's Office · Manhattan, New York · In-Person

Interns gain insider exposure to criminal justice system and participate in mock trial program.

Letters About Literature Contest
Library of Congress · Multiple

Writing persuasive arguments about textual meaning and personal impact mirrors legal brief writing and advocacy.

Summer Discovery
Musiker Discovery Programs, Inc. · Multiple · In-Person

Law & Government courses available at prestigious institutions like Penn Carey Law School.

Notre Dame Summer Scholars
University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN · In-Person

Law and public policymaking courses introduce students to legal systems and policy analysis relevant to legal practice.

ALA Girls State
American Legion Auxiliary · Multiple · In-Person

Program teaches responsible citizenship and governmental structure through simulated elections and civic participation.

Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Telluride Association · In-Person

College-level seminars emphasize critical reading, writing, and discussion skills essential to legal analysis.

Brown Leadership Institute
Brown University · Providence, Rhode Island · Hybrid

Course on 'Leadership, Law and Social Movements' directly connects legal advocacy to social change leadership.

California High School Speech Association
California High School Speech Association · Multiple · In-Person

Speech and debate competitions directly develop argumentation and persuasive communication skills essential to legal practice.

University of Minnesota College Invitational
University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, MN · Hybrid

Debate directly develops argumentation, evidence analysis, and persuasive oral advocacy skills central to legal practice.

Harvard Model Congress
Harvard University · Multiple · In-Person

Students practice debate, argumentation, and understanding legal/governmental frameworks.

Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament
Harvard Debate Council · Cambridge, MA · In-Person

Debate develops argumentation, evidence analysis, and persuasive oral advocacy core to legal practice.

Coolidge Scholarship
Calvin Coolidge Presidential Fund

Political science foundation and critical thinking skills support legal and political career paths.

Barkley Forum for High Schools
Emory University · Atlanta, GA · In-Person

Debate develops argumentation and persuasive reasoning skills central to legal practice.

Cal Invitational
UC Berkeley · Berkeley, CA · In-Person

Debate competitions develop argumentation, evidence analysis, and persuasive communication skills essential to legal practice.

National Forensic League Honor Society
National Speech & Debate Association · Multiple · In-Person

Debate trains argumentation, evidence analysis, and persuasive reasoning core to legal practice.

American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest
The American Legion · Multiple · In-Person

Oratory and constitutional understanding directly prepare students for legal argumentation and courtroom advocacy.

UK Youth Parliament
National Youth Agency · Multiple · Hybrid

Students practice debate, argumentation, and advocacy skills while representing constituent views in parliamentary-style proceedings.

American Debate League Fall and Winter HS Classic
American Debate League · Multiple · Hybrid

Debate develops argumentation, evidence analysis, and persuasive speaking essential to legal practice.

The Great Debate 2026
The Historical Association · Central London, UK · Hybrid

Students develop argumentation and persuasive speaking skills directly applicable to courtroom advocacy and legal reasoning.

World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships
The Independent Public Speaking Association · Multiple · In-Person

Debate and persuasive speaking are core skills for constructing legal arguments and courtroom advocacy.

NSS Global Space Debates (formerly NSS spUN Debate Program)
National Space Society · Virtual · Virtual

Debate program builds argumentation, critical thinking, and persuasive communication skills foundational to legal practice.

USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future and Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability High School Summer Internship Program
USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future · Virtual · Virtual

Program develops skills in analyzing legislation, understanding legal processes, and constructing persuasive written arguments about policy.

FIRE Free Speech Leadership Summit
FIRE

Summit focuses on free speech and debate skills central to legal argumentation and courtroom advocacy.

NYU Democracy Scholars
New York University · New York, NY · Hybrid

The program emphasizes reading foundational political texts, critical thinking, and persuasive writing skills in discussion-based seminars.

Hansen Leadership Institute
Hansen Leadership Institute · In-Person

HLI provides training in mediation, conflict resolution, and human rights expertise central to legal practice.