Navigating Legal Pathways: A Guide to Atlanta Bar Association Internship Requirements and Other Opportunities

For high school students with a passion for law, internships offer invaluable opportunities to gain real-world experience, explore potential career paths, and build crucial connections. This article delves into the Atlanta Bar Association's Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP) requirements and highlights various other legal internships available to high school students, providing a comprehensive guide for aspiring legal professionals.

Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP)

The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP) is a paid summer internship designed for Atlanta-area high school students who are interested in a challenging internship experience. Founded in 1993, SLIP aims to provide a valuable and meaningful work experience, to further the Interns’ understanding of the law and the importance of the Rule of Law, and to promote mentor relationships with the Atlanta legal community.

Eligibility and Application

The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program for High School students is available for students who are members of the classes of 2026 and 2027. All application materials are due by Thursday, March 19, 2026. In-person interviews will be scheduled in April on a date to be determined.

Program Details

SLIP 34 will run from May 27, 2026 to July 17, 2026. Any student selected will need to fully commit to the entire eight weeks. The Internship Program primarily partners with law firms and organizations in the Atlanta area. Ninety-five (95)% plus of our placements are inside interstate 285. Although we welcome applications from students who live outside the greater Atlanta metropolitan area, if selected, the student will need to be prepared for a lengthy commute.

SLIP's Impact

SLIP is delighted to have been able to make available over 980 paid internships in SLIP’s first thirty-three years. Since 1993, students have been selected from local high schools throughout metropolitan Atlanta to participate in a six-week internship in local law firms, government agencies and corporations to encourage their interest in higher education and the practice of law. As continuing support for interns who choose to attend law school, the Highest Heights Forever Initiative was established to provide financial assistance to former Interns taking LSAT preparation classes and/or Bar Review classes. Thirty-three former interns have attended law school including a current judge and district attorney.

Read also: A Look at Atlanta College of Art

Additional Legal Internship Opportunities for High School Students

Besides the Atlanta Bar Association's SLIP, numerous other legal internships cater to high school students across the country. These programs offer diverse experiences, from working in district attorney's offices to exploring business law in private firms.

1. Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program

Location: Manhattan, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns receive a stipend based on the minimum wage.
Application Deadline: March 8; The applications for the program are likely to open in early January.
Dates: July 8-August 9
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, or seniors living in or attending school in Manhattan can apply.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program is a five-week opportunity for students to gain insights into the criminal justice system at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. As an intern, you will attend workshops and discussions on topics such as criminal justice, police brutality, civic engagement, and leadership. You will also take part in a mock trial program, gaining practical experience in legal procedures and courtroom dynamics, while developing professionalism in an office setting.

2. Memphis Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program

Location: Memphis, TN
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Participants will receive a $500 stipend.
Application Deadline: March 22
Dates: Orientation: May 31, Program: June 3-June 28, Closing Ceremony: July 12
Eligibility: High school students who are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors, and who reside in and attend a school in Shelby County, TN, are eligible to apply. Students who have previously participated in the program are not eligible.

The Memphis Bar Association’s Summer Law Intern Program provides high school students with the opportunity to gain experience in the legal workplace of private law firms, corporate legal departments, or government agencies. Throughout the summer program, participants are expected to complete a total of 60 hours of work. The program is designed to encourage interest in the legal profession among students from underrepresented groups. If selected, you will be placed in a law firm, corporate legal department, or government agency, where you will receive guidance from a site mentor and supervisor (often prosecutors).

3. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office-High School Internship Program

Location: Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns receive a weekly stipend of $150 and a metro-card.
Application Deadline: January 31
Dates: Winter Session: February 20-February 23, Spring Session: April 22-April 26
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors living in or attending school in Brooklyn can apply.

The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office provides in-person internship opportunities for high school students interested in exploring careers in the criminal justice system. As an intern, you will assist in investigations, observe criminal proceedings such as trials, guilty pleas, and sentencings, organize documents, conduct legal research, participate in Trial Zone workshops, and contribute to community outreach efforts.

4. Jimerson Birr's School Internships-Business Law

Location: Jimerson Birr office, Jacksonville, FL
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost, but details about a stipend are not provided.
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: Typically 4-6 weeks in the summer; TBA
Eligibility: High school students who can work at the Jimerson Birr office in Florida are eligible to apply.

Jimerson Birr’s internship program provides high school students with an introduction to business law. Interns can choose to work in one of the firm’s departments, such as accounting, legal services, communications, marketing, or information technology, alongside professionals in the field. As an intern, you will develop skills in strategic thinking, proactive problem-solving, and attention to detail.

5. Dallas Bar Association-Summer Law Intern Program

Location: Dallas, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns receive a stipend but it varies depending on the employer.
Application Deadline: April 3
Dates: The internship can be completed either as a full-time, four-week program or a part-time, eight-week program during June and July.
Eligibility: High school juniors in Independent School Districts in Dallas can apply.

The Summer Law Intern Program is a collaborative effort between the Dallas Bar Association (DBA) and the Dallas Independent School District. Selected students are assigned to work with a law firm, a non-profit organization, or the legal department of a corporate law firm for 4-8 weeks.

6. Denton County District Attorney’s Office-High School Intern Program

Location: Denton, TX
Cost/Stipend: This information is not available at the moment.
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: TBA
Eligibility: Current high school seniors can apply.

The Denton County District Attorney’s office, in partnership with the Troy LaGrone Advanced Technology Complex and the Dallas Independent School District, offers a Pre-Law internship program for 12 to 15 high school seniors each year. During the internship, you will gain exposure to various aspects of the criminal justice system, from case intake to trial and appeals.

7. Legal Outreach-Summer Law Institute (SLI)

Location: The Summer Law Institute is hosted by seven law schools in New York City.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns receive a monetary stipend upon successful completion of the program.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the slots are filled.
Dates: The program runs from the first week of July through the first week of August
Eligibility: Eighth-grade (rising 9th-grade) students from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island can apply.

The Summer Law Institute (SLI) is a competitive five-week internship program for high school students, accepting only 30 students at each participating law school. Through this program, you will engage with positive role models, participate in professional activities, and gain hands-on experience through simulations and field trips.

8. Nashville Bar Association-High School Intern Summer Program

Location: Nashville, TN
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns receive an hourly stipend of $10-15.
Application Deadline: March 29
Dates: June 7-July 26
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from the Metropolitan Nashville Public School system can apply.

The Nashville Bar Association’s High School Intern Program offers high school students, primarily from the Metropolitan Nashville Public School system, paid summer internships in law firms, corporate legal departments, and government law offices across Metro Nashville.

9. Louisiana State Bar Association-Suit Up for the Future

Location: Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans, LA
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate in the program. Interns receive a stipend of up to $250 upon successful completion of the program.
Application Deadline: May 13
Dates: June 10-June 28
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who are interested in the legal profession can apply.

The Louisiana State Bar Association, in collaboration with the Louisiana Supreme Court, Just the Beginning, and Louisiana law schools, organizes an annual internship program for incoming high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates interested in law.

10. The Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program

Location: New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: This information is not available at the moment.
Application Deadline: February 7
Dates: The internship runs for four weeks in July.

Additional Opportunities

Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAGC)

The Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAGC) offers summer internships and school-year externships to law students wishing to gain valuable legal experience, the opportunity for academic credit, and greater insight into life as a Navy judge advocate.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an internship or externship position with the JAGC, you must:

be a United States citizen of good moral character;
be younger than 42 years of age at time of application; and
be a law student enrolled in an American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited school with at least one year completed by the time you start the internship/externship.

Internship Details

Start: First Monday of June (accommodations may be made upon request).
Length: 8 to 10 weeks.
Location: Internships are in-person.

Georgia Attorney General's Office Summer Internship Program

The Georgia Attorney General's office offers a summer internship for rising third-year law students who are currently enrolled in an accredited law school. The program generally runs from the first week in June through the second week in August. Each intern will receive a $5000.00 stipend for the summer internship program.

Divisions and Sections

Regulated Industries and Professions Division
Commercial Transactions and Litigation Division
Criminal Justice Division
General Litigation Division
Government Services and Employment Division
Prosecutions Section
Georgia Medicaid Fraud Prosecution Unit
Consumer Protection Unit
Solicitor General's Office

The Value of Legal Internships

Securing a legal internship as a high school student is a strategic move that can significantly impact your future academic and professional pursuits. Early exposure to the legal field will not only help you develop a foundational understanding of the law but will also strengthen your college applications by demonstrating initiative and a genuine interest in the profession. Such experiences will also help you gain direct exposure to various legal fields, such as criminal justice, civil litigation, and legal advocacy.

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