Law & Public Policy Opportunities for High School Students
Browse 49 verified Law & Public Policy opportunities for high schoolers, matched by interest with real deadlines and eligibility.
Yale Young Global Scholars
Two-week residential academic session on Yale's campus, with students from over 150 countries and all 50 states choosing one interdisciplinary track. Need-based financial aid is offered.
StudentCam
C-SPAN's national video documentary contest. You make a short film about an issue that affects your community or the country.
Law Academy
One-week pre-college academy in Washington, DC covering criminal law, constitutional law, and Supreme Court cases through lectures and mock trials. Applying by the early deadline waives the application fee.
Princeton Summer Journalism Program
Free year-long journalism and college-preparation programme for juniors from limited-income backgrounds, built around a summer intensive that ends in a ten-day residency on campus and a student-produced newspaper. Admitted students also work with a college adviser through senior year.
California Boys & Girls State
Week-long government simulation at CSU Sacramento where delegates run for office, draft legislation, and argue cases. There's no direct application — your school nominates you and a local Legion post sponsors the fee.
Youth Task Force
County advisory body of students who bring youth voice to government and community-organization policy, meeting monthly in San Jose. Open only to Santa Clara County students.
San Francisco Youth Commission
A 17-member commission that is the official youth voice in City Hall, advising the Mayor and Board of Supervisors on youth budget and policy over a year-long term. Open to San Francisco residents ages 12-23.
AFSA National High School Essay Contest
Essay contest asking students to analyze a question about diplomacy, international affairs, and the work of the U.S. Foreign Service.
AFSA Opportunities for High School Students
Directory of public diplomacy, exchange, essay, and international-affairs opportunities maintained by the professional association for U.S. diplomats.
Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference
Five-day journalism programme in Washington, D.C. for 51 high school juniors — one from each state and the District of Columbia. Includes newsroom visits and time with national journalists.
American Legion Auxiliary Girls State
State-based government simulation where selected high school students form a model government, campaign for office, debate issues, and learn civic participation.
American Legion Boys State
State-based government simulation where selected high school students create and operate a model state government through elections, legislation, and civic debate.
American Legion Oratorical Contest
Scholarship speech competition focused on the U.S. Constitution, civic knowledge, and prepared and extemporaneous public speaking.
American Youth Policy Forum Events
Public policy learning and youth voice resources connecting students and educators with discussions about education, equity, and youth policy.
Ayn Rand Essay Contests
Open essay competitions on literature, ethics, politics, and individual rights, with prompts and awards listed by contest cycle.
Berkeley Model United Nations
Three-day conference on the UC Berkeley campus drawing roughly 2,000 high school delegates across 20 committees. Registration is first-come and requires an adult advisor from your school.
California Mock Trial
Statewide competition where school teams argue a hypothetical criminal case in real courtrooms before sitting judges, including Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Contra Costa counties. Join through your school's team.
Civics Essay Contest
Annual essay competition asking high school students to respond to a current civics topic, with scholarships for selected essays.
Civics Unplugged
Civic leadership community and fellowship opportunities for young people developing projects that strengthen democracy and public participation.
Close Up Washington, D.C.
Civic education program built around discussions with public officials, visits to government institutions, and student-led policy workshops in Washington, D.C.
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX)
Scholarship to live with a host family in Germany and attend a German high school. No previous German is required.
Coolidge Scholarship
Full-ride, four-year college scholarship awarded to high school juniors based on academic excellence, interest in public policy, and service. There is no application fee.
Economics for Leaders
Residential and online program using economics to explore public decisions, leadership, tradeoffs, and policy choices.
Fed Challenge
School-team competition where students analyze economic conditions and present a monetary-policy recommendation to Federal Reserve judges.
Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest
Academic writing competition for high school students addressing international affairs, global policy, and contemporary world issues.
Harvard Model Congress
Student-led congressional simulation in which delegates represent legislators, debate bills, negotiate amendments, and practice committee procedure.
John Locke Institute Essay Competition
Essay competition with prompts in politics, economics, law, philosophy, history, and related humanities subjects.
Junior State of America
Student-led civic organization that ran conventions, seminars, and debate programs on public policy. It announced it would close and stop operating on August 31, 2024, and its website no longer loads. Kept for reference only.
Model United Nations
Model United Nations resources and conferences where students research countries, negotiate resolutions, and practice multilateral diplomacy.
National Economics Challenge
Team economics competition testing students on economic reasoning, current events, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics.
National History Day Contest
Research a topic tied to the annual theme and present it as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website, advancing from local and state contests to nationals in Maryland.
National Model Arab League
Academic diplomacy simulation where students represent Arab League member states and develop negotiated solutions to regional policy questions.
National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
Merit-based scholarship for high school students to study a critical language, either abroad or online.
National Speech & Debate Association
National speech and debate community offering competitive events, resources, and a pathway from local school competition to national tournaments.
National Youth Leadership Council Service-Learning
Service-learning and civic engagement resources that help students connect community projects with public issues, reflection, and action.
New York Times Student Editorial Contest
Student editorial contest asking writers to make a concise, evidence-based argument about an issue that matters to them.
Oakland Youth Advisory Commission
Commission of about 20 young people ages 13-21 representing Oakland's council districts, advising the City Council and Mayor and meeting twice monthly at City Hall. Unpaid, with dinner and transit reimbursement.
Princeton Model Congress
High school congressional simulation featuring committee hearings, legislative debate, and public-policy research.
Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series
High school debate competition built around constitutional questions, public argument, and civic leadership, with regional events and scholarships.
Spirit of America Youth Leadership
Four-day residential civics and leadership program at Valley Forge with a free enterprise team challenge. The fee is $850, and many students attend free thanks to donor support. Sessions run from October 2026 through July 2027.
Student Press Law Center Resources
Free legal and civic education resources for student journalists, including training on press freedom, media law, and newsroom rights.
The Concord Review
Historical research publication opportunity for strong high school essays, including work on political, constitutional, diplomatic, and social history.
U.S. Senate Youth Program
National civic education program for high school students who hold leadership roles in student government, public service, or civic organizations; selection is administered by each state.
USC Unruh Institute High School Summer Internship
Online summer internship researching and writing a legislative policy memo on a climate or sustainability bill, with mentorship and guest-speaker sessions from USC's Center for the Political Future. Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a 3.5+ unweighted GPA; graduating seniors not eligible. 2027 dates not yet announced — sign up for the program newsletter.
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
Classroom-based constitutional civics program culminating in simulated congressional hearings where student teams present and defend policy positions.
We the Students Essay Contest
National essay contest inviting students to connect constitutional principles with a current issue in American civic life.
Yale Model United Nations
International affairs conference where high school delegates simulate UN committees, research global issues, and negotiate resolutions.
Youth & Government
Year-long civic program where you join a local Bay Area delegation and take a role as legislator, attorney, judge, or journalist at statewide sessions. Fees and deadlines are set by each local YMCA.
Youth Service America
Youth civic engagement and service opportunities supporting student-led community projects and participation in national service campaigns.