Why I Want To Hire A 40-Year-Old Intern

Attorney Mindy Felinton has had a few college-age interns in the past. But this time, she's decided not to hire a 20-year-old girl with a budding interest in law. Instead, she wants to hire that girl's mom.

Felinton was watching a "Today" show segment on "40-year-old interns," when the Washington, D.C.-area attorney realized that's exactly what she needed: Stay-at-home mothers (or fathers) looking to return to the workforce. She would pay them a "reduced" wage for three to six months, then hire the person for a competitive salary if he or she proved up to snuff. Felinton wouldn't say how much or even what the pay range would be for the internship, explaining: "I really don't know, it varies on their background."

At that life stage, Felinton thought, these older men and women likely have experience in both the professional world and in the stresses and strains of child-rearing. "The people in that category, this age group, are people who may have more of a sense of responsibility," Felinton said.