# Law & Mock Trial Programs & Competitions for High School Students

Mock trial, moot court, We the People, and university law institutes give future attorneys the evidence trail — advocacy, argument, and constitutional literacy — years before law school.

Pre-law is unusual among high school tracks: there is no AP for it, so a state mock-trial run or a law summer institute is how you show the interest is real.

12 verified programs match this page; 6 of the featured listings are free; 2 can be done online.

## Programs (12 total)

| Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Notre Dame Summer Scholars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/notre-dame-summer-scholars) | University of Notre Dame Pre-College | $4,800 | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-02-18 |
| [We the Students Essay Contest](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/we-the-students-essay-contest) | Bill of Rights Institute | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-15 |
| [YMCA Youth & Government (State Model Legislature & Court)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/ymca-youth-and-government) | YMCA | $300 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-11 |
| [Empire Mock Trial](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/empire-mock-trial) | Empire Mock Trial | $100 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-06-10 |
| [Student Press Law Center Free Press Advocacy](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/student-press-law-center-free-press-advocacy) | Student Press Law Center | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-20 |
| [We the People National Competition Champion](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/we-the-people-national-competition-champion) | Center for Civic Education | Free | in_person | Grade 12 | 2027-04-16 |
| [We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/we-the-people-nationals) | Center for Civic Education | $500 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-15 |
| [National High School Moot Court Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/moot-court-competition) | Various Organizations | $100 | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-15 |
| [American Legion Oratorical Contest National Finalist](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/american-legion-oratorical-contest-national-finalist) | The American Legion | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-06 |
| [National High School Mock Trial Championship (NHSMTC)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-high-school-mock-trial-championship) | NHSMTC, Inc. | $250 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-15 |
| [NFL Foundation Inspire Change Scholarship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nfl-foundation-inspire-change-scholarship) | NFL Foundation | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2026-11-15 |
| [American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/american-legion-national-high-school-oratorical-contest) | The American Legion | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-07 |

## Frequently asked questions

### How many law & mock trial programs are listed for high school students?

ExtracurricularHub currently lists 12 verified law & mock trial opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link.

### Are any of these law & mock trial programs free?

Yes — 6 of the programs featured on this page charge no participation fee. Free programs are often funded and can be more selective, so apply early.

### Which deadlines are coming up soonest?

The next deadlines: YMCA Youth & Government (State Model Legislature & Court) (October 11, 2026); NFL Foundation Inspire Change Scholarship (November 15, 2026); American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest (December 7, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site.

### Do law & mock trial extracurriculars help with college admissions?

Yes — sustained, escalating involvement in law & mock trial (participation → awards or leadership → independent work) reads far stronger than scattered one-off activities. Pick one or two programs from this page and go deep.

## Related pages

- [Debate & Speech Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/debate)
- [Extracurriculars for Political Science Majors](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/political-science-majors)
- [Leadership for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/leadership)
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- [Browse all extracurriculars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars)
- [Find My Fit — 3-minute matching quiz](https://extracurricularhub.com/find-my-fit)

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