U.S. Labor Department says some unpaid interns are being used as free labor

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Updated: 9:13 AM Apr 6, 2010 U.S. Labor Department says some unpaid interns are being used as free labor After receiving complaints that they're being over-used as free laborers, the U.S. Labor Department is tightening its laws to help students doing internships nationwide. Posted: 9:13 AM Apr 6, 2010 Reporter: Ashley Prchal Email Address: ashley.prchal@nbc11news.com

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by Flora Location: NYC on Apr 7, 2010 at 09:18 AM

Not only today is there a rising issue with so-called "Unpaid Internships" but light should also be shed on a new phenomenon that is that of the "Eternal Internship"... Many of us, part of the summer 2008 and 2009 graduating classes were unfortunately incredibly hard-hit by the smack of the recession and the rise in unemployment... Eager to gain experience and hopeful to one day find jobs, we thus, entered an endless cycle of "Eternal Internships"...one after another in hopes of finally reaching "Eternal Employment"... It seems as though there is finaly a little light at the end of the tunnel, but times have been tough and the "Eternal Issue" phenomemon is not one to be ignored (often coupled with the 'unpaid' phenomenon - double whamy!). If you want to check our story out (my story as well as that of two friends), please check us out at : www.the-eternal-intern.blogspot.com. We span 2 continents, 3 different cities, 3 different industries...and yet we are still restricted by this Eternal Intern phenomenon... Flora www.the-eternal-intern.blogspot.com

by Mike Costa Location: Orleans on Apr 7, 2010 at 03:17 AM

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi http://www.house.gov/pelosi/YouthOpp/internships.html "This internship is unpaid. Congresswoman Pelosi supports students requesting credit for their internship through their school or university. There is no application deadline and interns are accepted throughout the year. Preference will be given to residents of San Francisco. Please keep in mind, however, that summer is a popular time for internships, and there is a limit to the number of interns that may work in the office at any given time. " Other unpaid internship advertisements: Florida Attorney General's office: http://myfloridalegal.com/internship Columbia Law School http://www.law.columbia.edu/center_program/european_legal/european_clerks Georgetown LaW www.law.georgetown.edu/OPICS/.../metrodccriminallaw07.doc United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit http://www.lawclerkaddict.com/blog/posts/second-circuit-wants-unpaid-clerks University of Texas Law School http://www.utexas.edu/law/depts/career/resources/evaluation.html Boston Lawyers Group http://www.thebostonlawyersgroup.com/pdf/2009_1L_Diversity_Clerkship.pdf UCLA School of Law http://bruinbriefs.blogspot.com/2010/02/upcoming-government-honors-deadlines.html State of Texas - Office of the Attorney General http://www.oag.state.tx.us/AG_Publications/pdfs/lawclerk_brochure.pdf US Senator Amy Klobuchar http://klobuchar.senate.gov/internships.cfm

by Flora Location: NYC on Apr 6, 2010 at 07:40 AM

As the NY Times article pointed out so well, there veritably is a problem today with 'unpaid internships'. One comment I have to make, however, is that not only today is there a rising issue with so-called "Unpaid Internships" but light should also be shed on a new phenomenon that is that of the "Eternal Internship"... Many of us, part of the summer 2008 and 2009 graduating classes were unfortunately incredibly hard-hit by the smack of the recession and the rise in unemployment... Eager to gain experience and hopeful to one day find jobs, we thus, entered an endless cycle of "Eternal Internships"...one after another in hopes of finally reaching "Eternal Employment"... It seems as though there is finaly a little light at the end of the tunnel, but times have been tough and the "Eternal Intern" phenomemon is not one to be ignored (often coupled with the 'unpaid' phenomenon - double whamy!). If you want to check our story out (my story as well as that of two friends), please check us out at : www.the-eternal-intern.blogspot.com. We span 2 continents, 3 different cities, 3 different industries...and yet we are still restricted by this Eternal Intern phenomenon... Flora www.the-eternal-intern.blogspot.com