Advanced Law & Justice

Program Information

Rising Freshman - Graduating Seniors

Georgetown University Washington, DC

Seven Days - Sunday to Saturday

July 12th - July 18th, 2026

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$3,800 USD

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Advanced Law & Justice Reform Internship

Intern with an active early release case within the DC legal system.

The Program

The Advanced Criminal Justice & Reform Internship is an accelerated first-of-its-kind internship that allows motivated high school students to work on social justice reform and advocate to release first-time offenders who committed crimes before adulthood and went through transformative growth while incarcerated.

Throughout their internship with the firm, participants work on an active petition for release and connect with top law professors and leading attorneys, study the inherent flaws in the legal system, and apply their understanding to accomplish tangible change. These cases contain highly confidential information and require non-disclosure agreements and consent to background checks for interns and parents.

On the final day, interns present an oral argument and proposal with key aspects of the case theory at American University's Washington College of Law to a panel of lawyers and other social justice experts. These arguments are incorporated into the legal team’s final motion taking place in the Fall.

Interns represent their clients on Capitol Hill and meet with congressional officials to advocate for policy change and legislation. Interns work directly with Senators and Congressmen to enact change.

Congressional Advocacy

Interns work with lawyers and experts in the field of criminal justice reform, such as the Justice Project, Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, Rising For Justice, Justice Policy Institute, the DC Justice Lab, and the Second Look Project.

Criminal Justice Reform

Interns work directly with distinguished lawyers to write segments of legal briefings and motions that will be used in their client's cases. Interns will have the opportunity to conduct case and precedent research for their motions.

Legal Writing

Program Highlights

Zander Pitrus

Duke University, Class of 2026

2021 Advanced Law & Justice Reform Internship

"I have four words to describe Leadership Initiatives and its programs: Astonishing, Memorable, Insightful, and Remarkable. This is an internship that expanded my scope of law and advocacy in all senses. We got to hold meetings with congressional members, work with lawyers, meet renowned individuals, conduct witness preparation with case experts, and write a legal brief. This internship allowed me to experience my future occupation in an extensive and profound sense."

Explore a legal career and work directly with attorneys and clients — before you graduate high school.

Beyond the law firm, each participant will work closely with legal scholars and leaders from Georgetown University, Georgetown Law, DC Public Defender’s Service, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Second Look Project, the DC Justice Project, practicing attorneys, and former Justice Department officials.

Explore a legal career and work directly with attorneys and clients — before you graduate high school.

In previous years, interns have worked with currently incarcerated citizens who are serving life sentences for crimes committed before the age of 25 and have demonstrated growth and progress toward change. Interns have worked on both compassionate release cases and Second Look Act cases.

Explore a legal career and work directly with attorneys and clients — before you graduate high school.

Interns explore Washington, DC, and attend an exclusive tour of the Supreme Court, meet with members of the US Congress and staffers on Capitol Hill, attend lectures at Georgetown Law, present in the Stephen S. Weinstein Courtroom at the Washington College of Law, and experience life as a Georgetown University student.

Explore a legal career and work directly with attorneys and clients — before you graduate high school.

Interns have the rare opportunity to learn exactly what it takes to get into the Nation’s leading undergraduate colleges and law schools directly from admissions officers, including UCLA, Georgetown, Boston University, and Fordham University at our exclusive Undergraduate and Law School Admissions Panels.

Explore a legal career and work directly with attorneys and clients — before you graduate high school.

Undergraduate Admissions Panels

Law School Admissions Panels

Throughout the program, interns meet and network with leaders from The DC Public Defenders Service, US Federal Judges, the National Reentry Network, DC Police, Georgetown Law, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, the DC Justice Project, Second Look Project, Freeminds Book Club, and more.

Explore a legal career and work directly with attorneys and clients — before you graduate high school.

Rebecca Bloch is the managing attorney for the Law Office of Rebecca Bloch. Ms. Bloch has worked in the legal field since 2007 as a public defender in Colorado and the District of Columbia. Ms. Bloch has defended the rights of individuals accused of virtually every type of crime, from petty offenses to the most serious of felonies.

All students who attend one of our Summer Internship Programs will receive free SAT/ACT training through PrepScholar, one-on-one admissions consulting with a former admissions officer, essay editing assistance, two letters of recommendation, and scholarship application assistance. These benefits remain available for six years to allow nominations for rising freshmen through rising seniors.

Click on each academic benefit below to learn more :

1. One-on-One Advising

2. College Essay Assistance

3. Letters of Recommendation

4. College Probability Modeling

6. Admissions Panels

5. Personalized Websites

Jumpstart your college experience.

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Summer program students will have the opportunity to meet virtually, one-on-one with a college admissions expert from our partners at CollegeAdvisor. They will help walk students through the ins-and-outs of college applications, essay writing, and scholarships.

Students can speak directly with dedicated admissions counselors and former admissions officers to provide them with an in-depth understanding of the college application process. These counselors have personal and extensive experience in the college application field that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

Students are recommended to have their most pressing questions about the college application process ready so they can have them answered by someone who knows the application system inside and out.

Past students have used this time to hone in on their essay topics, decide on how many colleges to apply to, and create application time lines.

One-on-One Advising

All Summer Internship Program participants receive one-on-one essay editing assistance from Leadership Initiatives partner University Connection.

This offer is exclusive, and not available with any other institution or program!

Each student essay will be edited to ensure it makes an excellent impression at every stage of the competitive application process. The editors will improve the style, clarity, sentence structure and coherence of your application so that your achievements are noticed.

Editors bring their experience in many different backgrounds, including Science and Technology, Commerce, Management, and the Humanities.

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College Essay Review

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Letters of Recommendation

Matthew Matusiewicz - Full Ride to UC Berkley School of Engineering

Samantha Williams - Attending Harvard University

Meredith Karle - Full Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Request a letter or recommendation here.

All Summer Internship Program participants will have the opportunity to request up to two letters of recommendation from any member of the Leadership Initiatives staff, including Executive Director Marshall Bailly.

Student interns will also have the opportunity to receive letters of recommendation from Leadership Initiatives partners affiliated with the International International Internship Program (IIP).

These distinctive and complimentary letters are among the most highly valued benefits offered by Leadership Initiatives. Below are examples of recommendation letters from past students, highlighting the transformative impact of the program on their lives.

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College Probability Modeling

Leadership Initiatives and our partners at Parchment, PrepScholar and University Connections have designed a system that will calculate the probability of acceptance into the student’s top university choices based on the students GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, career goals, financial need and more.

Our college admissions team will guide participants in refining their college interest list and developing a personalized application plan.

Drawing on their experience with a wide range of institutions, they offer valuable insights to help students better navigate the admissions process.

Financial Assistance Needs

Extra-Curricular Activities

Community Service

College Probability Calculator

Grade Point Average

SAT/ACT Training Scores

Leadership Initiatives creates a personalized website for each Summer Internship Program participant, showcasing their collaborative efforts with partners and mentors throughout the summer.

Each website highlights your team’s solutions, grant proposal, and photos from your time at Georgetown, illustrating the meaningful impact your work has had on your partners and their communities. A link to your website is included in your letters of recommendation, giving colleges the opportunity to explore and appreciate the exceptional contributions made by every student.

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Personalized Website

Click to view our Summer Internship Program websites here.

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Summer program students will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a college admissions expert. They will help walk students through the ins-and-outs of college applications, essay writing, and scholarships.

Students can speak directly with former admissions officers from schools such as Yale, Brown & UCLA. These individuals have a minimum of 15 years of experience in the field of college admissions.

Students are recommended to have their most pressing questions about the college application process ready so they can have them answered by someone who knows the application system inside and out.

Past students have used this time to hone in on their essay topics, decide on how many colleges to apply to, and create application time lines.

College Admissions Panel

Experience life as a student at one of the nation's most prestigious universities.

Experience life as a student at one of the nation's most prestigious universities.

Leadership Initiatives is committed to ensuring health, safety, and well-being at all of our world-class summer Summer Internship Programs. Leadership Initiatives closely monitors guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), local officials, and our university partners at Georgetown to evolve our programs and prioritize community and student safety.

Experience life as a student at one of the nation's most prestigious universities.

Participants become a part of the Georgetown community of students and staff who live together in the New South Residence Hall. Students live in two-person rooms and may select their roommate upon enrolling in the program. Leadership Initiatives will provide bedding, towels, and pillows. Each dorm room is air-conditioned and includes a bed, study desk, closet & Wi-Fi. Lounges, game rooms, laundry facilities, and our offices are located in the residence hall. With afternoon activities in the Georgetown Quad and outings along famous M Street, participants are immersed in life as a student.

Experience life as a student at one of the nation's most prestigious universities.

Leadership Initiatives provides three meals, snacks, and drinks as a part of the program tuition. Students order meals on their mobile phones from a selection of local restaurants, including Chik-fil-a, Epicurean, 90 Second Pizza, Georgetown Gourmet, Chipotle, Wisemiller's, and Jimmy John's. Meals are delivered directly to the students, and snacks and drinks are available in dorm lounges throughout the day.

Experience life as a student at one of the nation's most prestigious universities.

Students are responsible for covering the cost of travel to and from the internship. Leadership Initiatives offers optional shuttle service between Washington-area airports (DCA and IAD) and the Georgetown University campus on the official start and end dates of the program. The shuttle fee is $30 from DCA and $45 from IAD. Upon acceptance into the program, detailed instructions for registering for the airport shuttle service will be provided. Leadership Initiatives staff will meet students at the airport baggage claim area and escort them directly to program registration at Georgetown University.

Program Tuition & Assistance

All-Inclusive Program Tuition

Specialized
Scholarships

Assistance Scholarships

No-Interest Payment Plans

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The program tuition includes the cost of room and board, ground transportation throughout the program, all curriculum and materials, as well as facility and lab fees. Interns will also benefit from a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio during their time in the program.

Tuition covers educational support, including one-on-one college admissions counseling, mentor sessions with experts, workshops, and comprehensive academic services. This includes SAT/ACT preparation through PrepScholar and college essay editing.

Scholarships, payment plans, and fundraising assistance are available.

All-Inclusive Tuition

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No-Interest Payment Plans

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Leadership Initiatives offers a variety of flexible options to pay for program tuition.

Zero-interest payment plans are available in three, six, nine, and twelve-month payment options.

Participants can opt to pay the entirety of their remaining tuition balance off at any point during the payment period.

Reserve a place today with a $100 refundable deposit here.

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Specialized Scholarships

Leadership Initiatives is dedicated to providing opportunities for everyone who shows drive, determination, and grit towards their future goals. We have created various specialized scholarships to provide merit-based aid to enrolled and potential students.

Click here to view 2024 scholarship recipients.

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Scholarships

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, all Leadership Initiatives programs are heavily subsidized by our sponsors allowing us to offer programs with academic benefits at a lower cost than for-profit institutions.

To apply for a scholarship click here to fill out the program interest form and indicate you are interested in a scholarship.

Please note scholarships do not stack (this means you can only use one scholarship per program).

Partners and Sponsors

Our office in Washington, DC is open seven days a week - give us a call! A phone conversation allows us to answer your specific questions and provide you with contact information for previous internship participants and their families so that you can get a first-hand perspective.

Join us this summer!

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