Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Primary federal law governing internships that establishes the Department of Labor's 'Primary Beneficiary Test' with seven criteria for determining the legality of unpaid internships
Department of Labor Guidelines: 2018 updated guidelines providing a flexible test for determining employee status in internship programs
State-Specific Labor Laws: Various state-level requirements and regulations that may be stricter than federal laws, including state-specific minimum wage laws and internship regulations
Civil Rights Laws: Including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and equal opportunity requirements applicable to interns
Workers' Compensation Laws: State-specific requirements regarding coverage and protections for interns in the workplace
Educational Requirements: Regulations regarding connection to academic programs, academic credit considerations, and educational benefit requirements for unpaid internships
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA): Workplace safety requirements and training obligations that apply to interns in the workplace
Immigration Laws: Regulations regarding visa requirements and restrictions for international student interns
Primary Beneficiary Test Criteria: Seven-factor test including: intern's benefit, educational purpose, no displacement of employees, unpaid status understanding, no immediate employer advantage, educational environment-like training, and no employment guarantee
