Behind the Bench Summer Program

students in courtroom

Are you a rising High School Junior, Senior or Graduating Senior interested in law, justice, or public service?

Join PMC’s Summer Legal Program, a unique four-week experience where you’ll observe real court proceedings, meet judges and attorneys, and visit historic legal sites in Philadelphia.  

What You’ll Do

Students in the Behind the Bench program will have the opportunity to see the law up close and consider potential legal and civic career pathways through:

  • Visit various courthouses, including Family Court, Criminal Court, Civil Court, and Federal Courts
  • Witness trials, hearings, and legal arguments in real-time
  • Analyze courtroom procedures and legal roles
  • Visit Philadelphia legal firms
  • Attend exclusive presentations by judges, attorneys, and legal experts
  • Engage in Q&A sessions
  • Write a short reflection on key takeaways from the week
  • Highlight lessons learned, topics of interest, and lingering questions
  • Create a unique final presentation or project to reflect on the things you learned during the program and your potential future pathway
student outside courthouse

Program Overview

Dates: July 7 – July 30, 2026

Time: Tuesday-Thursday | 15hrs/ week 

Location: Center City, Philadelphia

Stipends: Students selected for the Behind the Bench Program will receive an $800 stipend, along with a travel and meal allowance. Thank you to the American Bar Endowment, for providing support for this program.

After successfully completing this program, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from PMC.

How to Apply

In order to be considered for the 2026 Behind the Bench Cohort, please submit the following materials by May 31, 2026 to aeryan@pmconline.org.

Please include a personal statement that addresses the following (500–1000 words)

  • Who you are and your interests
  • Why you want to join this program
  • Your aspirations in law or civic engagement

Request a brief nomination from a teacher including the student’s name, grade, and school.

student selfie

Check Out Some Highlights from Last Summer

Flip through our Behind the Bench Summer 2025 Magazine to see what our students got up to last summer!

Find it here!

 

 

 


This program is generously sponsored by an Opportunity Grant from the American Bar Endowment