Best Extracurriculars for Future Lawyers and Pre-Law Students

Author: Extracurricular Hub

Article Summary

Best extracurriculars for future lawyers and pre-law students. Mock trial, debate, government internships, civics competitions, and a 4-year plan for top pre-law programs.

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There is no formal "pre-law" major at most colleges. You can major in anything and still apply to law school — and admissions data shows that political science, English, history, philosophy, and economics are all common paths. What top undergraduate programs and eventually law schools actually want to see is evidence that you can argue clearly, write precisely, think analytically about complex problems, and care about how rules shape people's lives. The good news is that the high school activities that build those skills are well-established and accessible. This guide covers the debate formats, mock trial competitions, government experiences, and writing opportunities that consistently produce the strongest pre-law applicants — plus a 4-year roadmap for building a coherent profile. What Pre-Law Admissions Officers Look For Selective political science, philosophy, and pre-law-track programs at schools like Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, Duke, and the University of Chicago consistently look for the same signals: Argumentation — Demonstrated ability to construct, defend, and attack reasoned arguments under pressure Written communication — Clear, organized, evidence-based writing that holds up to close reading Civic engagement — Sustained involvement in democratic processes, community governance, or advocacy Intellectual rigor — Coursework, reading, and projects that show you can handle complex texts and ideas Ethical reasoning — Comfort with moral ambiguity and ability to argue both sides of a difficult question Browse pre-law-relevant programs in our full directory — filter by Leadership and Competition categories to find the best matches. Speech and Debate: The Foundation Debate is the single most relevant extracurricular for future lawyers. It builds case construction, evidence handling, cross-examination, and the ability to think on your feet — the core skills of a litigator. The National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) sanctions multiple formats, and each builds slightly different skills. Lincoln-Douglas Debate One-on-one value debate where students argue ethical and philosophical resolutions. Lincoln-Douglas trains you to engage with moral philosophy and construct value-based arguments — directly relevant to constitutional law and ethics. Public Forum Debate Two-on-two debate on current events topics that change monthly. Public Forum is more accessible to new debaters and builds the ability to argue policy questions in plain language for a general audience. Policy Debate The most research-intensive format. Two-person teams research one annual policy resolution in depth, often producing thousands of pages of evidence. Policy debaters build the kind of deep subject-matter expertise and evidence-handling skills that translate directly to legal practice. Congressional Debate and Worlds Congressional Debate simulates legislative chambers with students proposing and debating bills. World Schools Debate is an international team format used in global tournaments. Both build versatile speaking and reasoning skills. Find debate programs and tournaments in our Competitions section. Mock Trial: The Closest Thing to Law School If you want to be a litigator, mock trial is the most realistic high school preview of legal practice. Teams receive a full case packet — witness statements, exhibits, and stipulations — and prepare both sides. At competition you argue as attorneys and testify as witnesses against another school's team in front of a real or simulated judge. State bar associations and the National High School Mock Trial Championship sanction the major competitions. Mock trial trains direct examination, cross-examination, opening and closing statements, and rules of evidence — and it consistently produces students who excel in pre-law programs and law school clinics. Civics, Constitutional Law, and Policy Programs "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" The Center for Civic Education's flagship program. Teams of students prepare for simulated congressional hearings on constitutional questions, testifying as expert witnesses on topics like the First Amendment, federalism, and due process. State champions advance to a national competition in Washington, D.C. We the People builds genuine constitutional law expertise that few high school students develop. Ethics Bowl The National High School Ethics Bowl is a collaborative competition where teams analyze and discuss ethical dilemmas. Unlike debate, the goal is not to defeat the opposing team but to engage thoughtfully with hard moral questions — exactly the kind of analytical work law schools value. Model United Nations and Junior State of America Model UN builds international policy fluency and negotiation skill. Major conferences include HMUN (Harvard), YMUN (Yale), BMUN (Berkeley), and NAIMUN (Georgetown). Junior State of America (JSA) is a year-round program with summer institutes that focuses on American politics and student-led debate. Both work especially well for students drawn to public-interest or policy-oriented legal careers. Moot Court Some schools and youth bar associations offer moot court — appellate-style argument before a panel of judges. Moot court is closer to actual law school appellate advocacy than mock trial and is particularly relevant if you are interested in constitutional law or judicial clerkships. Summer Programs for Aspiring Lawyers Yale Young Global Scholars — Politics, Law and Economics Track Two-week residential program at Yale with a track explicitly oriented toward law and policy. Strong financial aid is available. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes Offers courses in constitutional law, ethics, and political philosophy taught by Stanford faculty. Cornell Pre-College Studies Three- and six-week summer courses including pre-law and government topics, taught on Cornell's campus. Princeton Summer Journalism Program Free, prestigious 10-day residential program for low-income high school juniors. Heavy writing focus that builds the kind of clear prose pre-law applications require. American Legion Boys State and Girls State One-week, free, sponsored state government simulations. Outstanding delegates advance to Boys Nation or Girls Nation in Washington, D.C. Boys State and Girls State alumni are disproportionately represented at top law schools. Browse all summer options in our Summer Programs directory. Internships and Real-World Legal Exposure Direct exposure to legal work — even informal exposure — strengthens your application and tells you whether you actually want to be a lawyer. The most accessible options: Local law firms — Small and mid-size firms are more flexible about high school interns than large firms. Send personalized emails to attorneys whose practice areas interest you. Even a few weeks of filing, observing depositions, and attending court is valuable. Legal aid clinics and public defenders — Many legal aid organizations need help with intake, translation, or community outreach. This is especially powerful exposure if you are interested in public-interest law. Court observation — Most courtrooms in the United States are open to the public. Spend a few days observing arraignments, motion hearings, or trials in your local courthouse and keep notes on what you see. Political campaigns — Volunteering on a campaign teaches you how laws get made and how candidates connect with voters. Lawyers run for office and advise candidates more than people in any other profession. State legislator and Congressional offices — Many offices accept high school interns who answer constituent calls, attend hearings, and research legislation. Browse our Internships directory for current opportunities. Build Your Profile by Sub-Focus Pre-law is broad enough that focused students stand out. Consider which legal direction interests you most and emphasize matching activities: Litigation and Trial Work Mock trial team — pursue captaincy and state competition Debate (Lincoln-Douglas or Policy) for cross-examination skills Court observation and shadowing local trial attorneys Policy and Government Model UN, JSA, or Congressional Debate State legislator or Congressional office internship Working on a campaign or ballot initiative Constitutional and Civil Rights Law We the People team — pursue national qualification Ethics Bowl participation Volunteering with an ACLU affiliate or civil rights nonprofit Organizing voter registration drives Your 4-Year Pre-Law Roadmap Freshman Year Join debate or mock trial — start with whatever your school offers Take honors English and any available history or government course Begin reading widely: long-form journalism, Supreme Court opinions, constitutional history Track everything in the Activities Tracker Sophomore Year Take a leadership role on debate or mock trial Apply to Boys State, Girls State, or a summer government program Compete in your first national-qualifier debate or mock trial tournament Take AP Government, AP World History, or AP US History Junior Year Captain or co-captain debate or mock trial Intern with a local law firm, legal aid clinic, or legislator's office Apply to selective summer programs (YYGS, Stanford, Cornell, Princeton SJP) Aim for state qualification in debate, mock trial, or We the People Senior Year Mentor younger debaters or mock trial members Pursue a substantive writing project — long-form essay, policy paper, or column Connect your activities into a clear narrative for application essays Build a Writing Portfolio Lawyers write for a living. Admissions officers know this, and a strong writing record signals you are ready. Focused options: School newspaper opinion section — Write a regular column on local government, school policy, or current legal issues. Editor-in-chief or opinion-section editor is a particularly strong leadership role for pre-law applicants. Op-ed submissions — Pitch op-eds to your local newspaper, regional outlets, or platforms like The Concord Review, Teen Vogue, or HuffPost. Even a few published pieces signal serious commitment. JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest — National essay competition awarding scholarships for essays about elected officials who acted with political courage. Bill of Rights Institute essay contests — The Bill of Rights Institute runs annual essay contests for high school students on constitutional and civic-virtue topics, with cash prizes and scholarship awards. Personal blog or Substack — A consistent, well-written blog on a focused legal or political topic builds an audience and a portfolio simultaneously. Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization Beyond formal programs, lawyers are expected to engage with the systems they work in. Sustained involvement in any of the following demonstrates that you actually care about how rules shape lives: Voter registration drives — Partner with organizations like When We All Vote, Vote.org, or your state's secretary of state office to register voters at your school or in your community. Student government — Class president, student council representative, or judiciary chair are all relevant if you treat them as substantive policy roles rather than resume lines. Advocacy on a specific issue — Pick one policy issue you care about (criminal justice reform, housing, education funding, environmental policy) and engage substantively over years: research it, write about it, attend public hearings, and propose changes. Teen court — Many counties run teen court programs where trained student volunteers serve as jurors, attorneys, and judges for real minor juvenile cases. Putting It All Together Pre-law admissions reward depth, not breadth. A student who has been on debate or mock trial for three years, has interned in a real legal or government setting, has written something real (a research paper, a published op-ed, or a Concord Review submission), and has clear demonstrated leadership will outcompete a student with a longer but shallower list every time. Use our Competitions directory to find debate, mock trial, and ethics events that fit your schedule, our Internships directory for legal and government opportunities, and the Application Tracker to map your activities, deadlines, and essays across the next four years. Frequently Asked Questions Do I need to major in pre-law in college to go to law school? No. Law schools accept applicants from every major. The American Bar Association explicitly does not require any specific undergraduate coursework. What matters is a strong GPA, a strong LSAT score, demonstrated writing ability, and meaningful experiences. Pick an undergraduate major you genuinely love. Is debate required to be a competitive pre-law applicant? Debate is the single most relevant activity, but it is not strictly required. Mock trial, model UN, We the People, journalism, and student government can substitute. What admissions officers want is sustained engagement with argumentation and civic life — there are many paths there. Should I shadow a lawyer in high school? If you can. Even a few days of observation tells you whether the daily work of law actually appeals to you, and it gives you concrete material for application essays. Reach out to local attorneys directly — many are willing to host motivated students for a day or two. How important are grades for pre-law applicants? Very important. Law school admissions are heavily numbers-driven, and a strong undergraduate GPA matters more than almost any single extracurricular. In high school, focus on building both rigor (AP/IB courses) and consistency in your transcript. Are summer programs like Boys State and Girls State really worth it? Yes. They are free, week-long, and consistently produce alumni who go on to selective colleges and law schools. The selection process happens through your school and local American Legion or American Legion Auxiliary post — start asking your counselor or social studies teacher in the fall of sophomore year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to major in pre-law in college to go to law school?

No. Law schools accept applicants from every major. The American Bar Association explicitly does not require any specific undergraduate coursework. What matters is a strong GPA, a strong LSAT score, demonstrated writing ability, and meaningful experiences.

Is debate required to be a competitive pre-law applicant?

Debate is the single most relevant activity, but it is not strictly required. Mock trial, Model UN, We the People, journalism, and student government can substitute. What admissions officers want is sustained engagement with argumentation and civic life.

Should I shadow a lawyer in high school?

If you can. Even a few days of observation tells you whether the daily work of law actually appeals to you and gives you concrete material for application essays. Reach out to local attorneys directly — many are willing to host motivated students.

How important are grades for pre-law applicants?

Very important. Law school admissions are heavily numbers-driven, and a strong undergraduate GPA matters more than almost any single extracurricular. In high school, focus on both rigor and consistency in your transcript.

Are summer programs like Boys State and Girls State really worth it?

Yes. They are free, week-long, and consistently produce alumni who go on to selective colleges and law schools. The selection process happens through your school and local American Legion post — ask your counselor in the fall of sophomore year.