Law firms don’t need to pay law student interns—as long as those interns only work on pro bono matters that do not directly benefit the firm.
The U.S. Department of Labor has clarified that the Fair Labor Standards Act does not prohibit law students from performing unpaid pro bono work at law firms, subject to certain restrictions. That clarification was issued on September 12, three months after former American Bar Association president Laurel Bellows requested a clearer interpretation of the law.
