Finding Your Hook in Law and Political Science

The fields of law and political science have some of the most competitive academic and professional paths, attracting students with sharp analytical skills, strong writing abilities, and a passion for advocacy and governance. But charting your path into law and politics takes more than just excelling in history and English classes or joining a few law-related clubs. Most students applying to pre-law or political science programs have excellent grades, leadership roles in debate clubs, and internship experience. To set yourself apart, you need to define your hook—the anchoring interest that ties your academic, extracurricular, and real-world experiences together into a cohesive narrative.

Did organizing a climate advocacy campaign in your city inspire your interest in environmental law? Has researching refugee policies sparked your interest in international human rights? Did a personal experience with the justice system inspire you to work toward legal reform? Your application profile should bring together your personal experiences, core passions, and professional and academic goals through an agglomeration of involvements that highlight your skills and accomplishments both in and outside of the classroom.

Here are some of the ways that you can develop your hook and distinguish yourself from the crowd:

High schools typically offer academic clubs that expose students to diplomacy, governance and public speaking fundamentals through regional, national and international events. These are some of the most accessible ways to learn and gain hands-on experience in fields like law, international affairs, and public policy. Ideal clubs for students interested in law and politics include:

While these activities are excellent starting points, almost every aspiring law or political science student will have one or more of these listed on their application. To set yourself apart, go beyond mere participation—build something unique. If your school doesn’t offer a club tailored to your specific interests, start one yourself. For example, if you’re passionate about constitutional law, you could found a High School Supreme Court Club, in which members analyze landmark cases and debate their implications. If you’re interested in international law, you could create a Human Rights Watch Group that studies global legal frameworks and partners with local organizations to advocate for change. Spearheading your own unique initiative will not only provide you exposure to your particular subfield and allow you to forge connections with students who share your interests—it will also show admissions officers that you are a self-starter and a leader in your community.

One of the best ways to define your niche within these fields is to stay informed about major political and legal issues. The more you engage with current events, the better you’ll understand the landscape of law and government—and the better you’ll be able to articulate your role within it.

Reading reputable news outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, or The Economist will help you better understand the current discourse in your field and develop a nuanced perspective on pressing issues. Whether reading national news or local news in your region, take note of the major players in various issues that interest you—what types of lawyers, political actors, or policymakers are involved in the issue? What do each of them contribute? How do their roles differ from or work alongside one another? Diving deeper into the inner workings of the political landscape or legal profession will allow you to better identify how your interests and skill set align with a specific career path within these professions.

Blogs and podcasts can be particularly accessible resources for students who are beginning to chart their interest in these disciplines. If you’re interested in staying informed about pressing issues in law and politics, check out these platforms:

Beyond simply staying informed, you should also also look into how major legal and political debates affect your own community. If housing policies in your city are making headlines, attend city council meetings and speak with local policymakers. If voting rights are a key issue in your state, volunteer with voter registration initiatives. The more you can immerse yourself in the world of law and politics, the more equipped you will be to begin making an impact yourself!

Completing an internship is an excellent way to show that you are genuinely interested in the field and that you have hands-on experience in a legal setting. Securing an internship will showcase your ability to succeed in a professional environment and allow you to develop skills around interpersonal communication, professionalism, and self-determination. Here are several internship programs to consider:

As a high school student, it’s not uncommon to have minimal work experience or limited connections in these fields. Start your internship research process by checking out local companies and organizations, as they won’t require much travel and are more likely to hire locally. For the summer, extend your research to regional or national companies that often open their doors to students who don’t have to balance work with classes during the break.

Once you’ve conducted your research, you may need to “cold apply” to companies you are interested in to pitch yourself as a potential intern. You should cast a wide net by sending out many cold emails and applications, keeping track of your correspondences and any application deadlines for those internships along the way. The structure and tone of your email should resemble the following:

Subject: Unpaid Intern – Summer 2022

Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs. X,

My name is Daniel Lopez, and I am currently a junior at Daytona Beach High School. I will be graduating high school next year and hope to study politics in college.

As a member of my high school’s Law Club, I often take on the role of counsel in mock trial cases. This experience has allowed me to learn the fundamentals of litigation and writing case briefs, further reinforcing my interest in pursuing law as a career.

I am looking for a summer internship opportunity and am wondering if you are in need of a summer intern? I would be glad to bring my passion for legal research to your office and support your team in any way I can.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email. If a summer internship would be a possibility, please do not hesitate to contact me at 123-456-7890, or [email protected]. I am available to talk Monday through Friday, anytime after 3:00 p.m. I hope to hear from you soon.

Warmest regards,
Daniel Lopez

*Keep in mind that while you can reference this example throughout your outreach process, your outreach emails will be most successful if you personalize them to your own interests and search, so it’s best to write your email from scratch!

One of the best ways to demonstrate your academic skill set and acumen for law and politics is by entering a scholarship competition. Admissions officers at top colleges want to see that your credentials have been vetted by experts in the field. Earning recognition in a competitive scholarship program can provide financial support for your college education while boosting your résumé in the process. Here are three prestigious scholarship competitions that students interested in law and politics should consider:

Julia first started working with Command Education Senior Mentor Jane Pritchard during the fall of her junior year. She had already taken advantage of many opportunities available to her as a student in a major metropolitan area—she attended law-related classes at a local university, participated in her high school’s nationally ranked mock trial team, and even interned at a humanitarian aid nonprofit. But while Julia had built an impressive résumé, she lacked a unique narrative that would make her law-oriented profile stand out from thousands of other applicants’.

In her free time, Julia was an avid artist who enjoyed both painting and graphic design. Though she thought this interest was irrelevant to her passion for law, Jane saw it as a prime avenue to explore Julia’s creative and unique approach to the legal field. With Jane’s guidance, Julia began developing a website where she designed helpful and eye-catching infographics that broke down complex political issues for teens. By developing a Tik Tok and YouTube account, Julia began building an audience for her work that slowly gained more traction throughout the summer of her junior year. As her design-focused approach to legal education gained traction, she was featured in news outlets and contributed visuals to grassroots politics and law blogs. When it came time to apply, Jane helped Julia through numerous rounds of drafting and editing application essays that showcased the success of her project and highlighted her original approach to the legal field through education, access, and innovative design.

Ultimately, Julia was admitted early to her top-choice school, Stanford University. Through Jane’s mentorship, she not only maximized her extracurricular impact but also learned how to tell her story in a way that resonated with admissions officers, securing a place at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.