Working 40 Hours No Pay - Need Advice Forum

[Anonymous User]

1L here. I took an unpaid internship for the summer with my city attorney's office. Although this is my first week on the job, I am expected to work 9-5 M-F, with no compensation. Are working 40 hour weeks the norm even for an intern at a city attorney's office?

[DELG]

Holy shit what did you think you were signing up for

[A. Nony Mouse]

Sure. You're a full-time intern. That's what working full-time is. Did you tell them you didn't want to work full time or did they say anything to lead you to believe it wouldn't be full time?

[bk1]

1L here. I took an unpaid internship for the summer with my city attorney's office. Although this is my first week on the job, I am expected to work 9-5 M-F, with no compensation. Are working 40 hour weeks the norm even for an intern at a city attorney's office?

Why would being an intern at a city attorney's office be any different? Even if it wasn't the norm, what would you do, go on strike?

[Anonymous User]

I knew it was going to be a "full time" internship position, but for some reason thought the hours for interns would be different (I know stupid me). It's just kind of overwhelming, and didn't know if I should ask for my hours to be reduced even though they expected me to be there full time.

[bk1]

It's overwhelming to work 40 hours a week? You're going to be working that (or more) for most of your adult life, might as well get used to it now.

[Anonymous User]

It's overwhelming to work 40 hours a week? You're going to be working that (or more) for most of your adult life, might as well get used to it now.

True. I guess I could appreciate some advice on how to stay motivated knowing that I am not getting paid for those hours, I think that's the bigger issue.

[Anonymous User]

I'm working 40 hours per week POST GRAD at a City Attorney's office for no pay (at least from them). You'll live. The way I stay motivated is the hope that it will lead to a normal salaried position. Figure out what motivates you.

[TooOld4This]

I knew it was going to be a "full time" internship position, but for some reason thought the hours for interns would be different (I know stupid me). It's just kind of overwhelming, and didn't know if I should ask for my hours to be reduced even though they expected me to be there full time.

If you are only being asked to work 9-5, the hours probably are different. My unpaid 1L job was at least 50 hours per week.

Motivation? Learning as much as you can so that you don't look like a complete idiot when you start a 2L job that can hopefully lead to a full time job. Not messing up and getting fired (yes, interns can get fired) or getting a bad recommendation if your boss is called for references.

[Danger Zone]

I knew it was going to be a "full time" internship position, but for some reason thought the hours for interns would be different (I know stupid me). It's just kind of overwhelming, and didn't know if I should ask for my hours to be reduced even though they expected me to be there full time.

LOL holy shit I needed this post today. Great thread all around

[schweitziro]

Try to get externship credit for your school. Think of it as a valuable networking and experience building opportunity.

[20141023]

.

[Danger Zone]

Wow... That is pretty low of them to expect such long hours out of a summer intern.

You might want to try telling them that there are many governmental positions that only require employees to work 35 hours a week, and that 35 hours a week is how NALP measures their full-time positions. Accordingly, if they want you to work the extra 5 hours a week, tell them that you will gladly do so in exchange for just compensation. (You might also want to mention France as an example to shore up your case because the French also only work 35 hours a week.)

OP, this post is sarcasm. Just thought you needed help reading between the lines.

[BarbellDreams]

This has to be flame, you cannot be a real person who realistically had these thoughts. Thanks for the laugh though. My favorites parts are signing up for a full time position and hoping it wasn't, you know, full time as well as not being motivated cause its unpaid when you applied and interviewed for a job that was, you know, unpaid.

[09042014]

nobody asks for references anymore. Just leave at 3pm

[WokeUpInACar]

I hope so much that this isn't flame. Thanks for the lulz OP.

[Total Litigator]

Government full time internships are usually unpaid unless it's some sort of an honors position.

Firms, on the other hand, usually pay you in peanuts.

[rouser]

40 hrs/wk 1L summer unpaid? that sounds like a route to alcoholism. you should have tried to split w/ a research gig to get a tuition remission + get credits for your unpaid labor to the City. You're getting rammed up the ace on this.

[09042014]

I dunno if I should laugh cause I didn't work 40 hours even when I was paid tok

[20141023]

.

[Danger Zone]

In all honesty, though, I'm surprised that an AO position doesn't qualify for some sort of school funding. I'm pretty sure that at my school and the schools that my friends go to, you can get like $5,000 for the summer for doing this sort of work (from the school - not from the employer).

Some schools are awful about this. Mine only awarded $1500 scholarships to five of my classmates. Fucking lol at this TTT

[LRGhost]

To be fair, this is really shitty and the fact that people think it's normal or acceptable is part of the problem. That said, it's normal and kind of expected.

[shifty_eyed]

Wow... That is pretty low of them to expect such long hours out of a summer intern.

You might want to try telling them that there are many governmental positions that only require employees to work 35 hours a week, and that 35 hours a week is how NALP measures their full-time positions. Accordingly, if they want you to work the extra 5 hours a week, tell them that you will gladly do so in exchange for just compensation. (You might also want to mention France as an example to shore up your case because the French also only work 35 hours a week.)

Well unless he doesn't get a lunch hour, 9-5 is only 35 hours a week.

[Danger Zone]

To be fair, this is really shitty and the fact that people think it's normal or acceptable is part of the problem. That said, it's normal and kind of expected.

I understand why people say it's shitty for law firms to do this, but OP's working for the government. It's not nearly as big a problem as you seem to think.

[sparty99]

I knew it was going to be a "full time" internship position, but for some reason thought the hours for interns would be different (I know stupid me). It's just kind of overwhelming, and didn't know if I should ask for my hours to be reduced even though they expected me to be there full time.

You are either stupid or a liar. No person would be that dumb to never inquire how many hours are the internships. No person would be that foolish to take a 40 hour internship and not consider how they could get a PT job that would help pay with bills. You are a flame. Fooling no one here.