Are Unpaid Internships Legal?

According to a recent article in The New York Times, officials in several states are concerned that in the current economy many companies are offering unpaid internships that are violating minimum wage laws. As a result, the Labor Department is more diligently investigating these practices and fining companies accordingly.

There was a time when the only people who sought out unpaid internships were students who wanted to gain valuable work experience and were willing to forgo a salary to get it. But in today's economy, more and more adults with long career histories are considering taking an unpaid internship as a way to get a foot in the door, transition into a new industry, learn a new job function, keep their resumes current, or update their skills.