LC-032 / Labor / Public ledger

Unpaid internships.

Certain internships may be unpaid when the intern is the primary beneficiary.

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In ordinary words.

Experience pays the bills only metaphorically.

In legal terms.

The FLSA's primary-beneficiary analysis determines whether an intern is an employee owed wages.

Where it stops being legal.

This practice is not categorically legal. Applicable federal, state and local laws, disclosures, procedural protections and the specific facts can make particular conduct unlawful.

Legal authority / Start reading

U.S. DOL Fact Sheet #71

Open cited reference ↗

General U.S.-focused information. Cases and statutes may have jurisdiction-specific exceptions. This citation may be a general primer; verify the governing primary authority. Not legal advice.

Related case files.