Future of Law: High School Students and Paid Internships

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Lawyers Today

Welcoming the future of law is about more than handling today’s cases; it is about who will be ready to serve our communities tomorrow. This story highlights how dedicated attorneys and statewide programs are opening doors for high school students to explore legal careers and see themselves as future advocates.

Why the future of law starts early

For many teenagers, a legal career can feel distant or out of reach, especially if no one they know has gone to college or law school. Early exposure to civics, government, and the work lawyers actually do helps make the profession feel real and attainable.

When students hear honest stories about how attorneys navigated challenges, immigration, or being the first in their families to pursue higher education, it expands their sense of what is possible. They begin to understand that dedication, curiosity, and resilience can matter just as much as perfect grades or test scores.

Law academies in California high schools

California’s law academy programs bring civics, government, and law-focused curricula directly into high school classrooms. Through multi-year pathways, students learn how laws are made, how courts function, and how legal professionals serve their communities.

These academies reach thousands of students each year and are designed to give them both academic grounding and practical insight. In schools like Luther Burbank High in Sacramento, the program connects classroom learning to the real-world experiences of attorneys who grew up in the same neighborhoods as the students they now mentor.

Paid internships that bring the law to life

Classroom learning is only part of the journey; hands-on experience is what truly brings the law to life for many students. Through collaborative efforts between foundations, bar associations, and volunteer attorneys, high school students are placed in paid summer internships at law offices.

Instead of just reading about legal concepts, interns see how client meetings are prepared, how case files are organized, and how different roles, attorneys, paralegals, and support staff work together. Being paid for their time helps reduce financial barriers and signals that their contribution and learning are genuinely valued.

The mentoring role of practicing attorneys

Attorneys like Anh Phoong and Gabriel Campos illustrate how personal stories can inspire the next generation. Campos, the youngest of ten children in an immigrant family, shares how his mother’s encouragement and his own persistence led him to law school and a career serving the same community where he grew up.

Phoong, who also comes from an immigrant background, speaks candidly with students about the pressures, uncertainties, and realities of building a legal career from the ground up. Both attorneys serve as mentors and advisors and have opened their offices to high school interns, offering a welcoming space where students can ask questions freely and see the justice system in action.

Why this work matters to the profession and the community

Programs that pair classroom learning with real-world legal experience help create a profession that better reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. They show students that there is room in the legal field for people with different backgrounds, languages, and life experiences.

By investing time and mentorship in high school students, attorneys help build a pipeline of future legal thinkers and leaders who are more inclusive, informed, and community-focused. Internships and academies are not just educational opportunities; they are long-term investments in a fairer and more representative justice system.

How others can support this kind of work

Lawyers and community members who want to support similar efforts can explore mentoring, speaking in classrooms, hosting job shadows, or creating paid internship opportunities for local students. Even a single afternoon spent answering questions or reviewing resumes can make a lasting impression on a young person exploring their options.

Financial support for student-focused legal education programs, scholarships, and pathway initiatives is another way to help. Together, these contributions of time, talent, and resources help ensure that voices and experiences from every part of the community shape the future of law.

To read more about the statewide effort to provide paid summer internships for high school students and see the full story behind these programs, visit the California Lawyers Association’s article on welcoming the future of law.