JHAP,
I really do understand the controversy, and I do appreciate the effort that you have put into educating me on the issue. I have had a similar discussion with my departmental adviser. I know that the paper itself isn't what will make it legitimate, but is the "fact pattern" or what actually takes place during the internship. Make no mistake, I am not interested in performing menial tasks such as filing papers, making coffee etc.
This is why a framework / agreement concerning the scope of the internship should be established, and executed to the T.
I do agree that some unpaid internships (maybe the majority, but I do not know for sure because I can only speak from my own experiences, and given my tender age of 23, I have had not had much of them yet) do benefit only the employer.
I had landed myself an internship at a small animal clinic where on the first day the manager wanted to "familiarize" me with their paper filing system so that I could "learn" more about how the hospital operates. I declined that "learning" opportunity (Even though I would have gotten to use a paper shredder. Hadn't used one of those before) and found another unpaid internship. This time things were different.
This time around I learned a lot of new skills, got to scrub in for surgery, and my problem solving abilities were tested and developed on a daily basis. I played a game with the vet. While he examined patients, I was challenged to make a diagnosis or develop a course of treatment for each patient.
At the end of the day, we would review my thought process and keep track of how many cases I was wrong about, and how many I was right about.
I was mostly wrong, but I learned how to think critically, and what it takes to be a veterinarian. The experience was extremely valuable to me, and the employer did not benefit from having me around. He did it truly out of benevolence, and the six criteria were satisfied. I almost felt like I should have paid him!
I would like to believe that there are other people out there like him, who would go out of their way to help others and see them succeed.
Am I a little naive about labor laws and that an employer may be looking for free labor? Probably more than a little.
If anything, your observations have caused me to re-evaluate whether or not I want to seek an internship position. Perhaps a one or two day training session where I am instructed in trout stripping or other technical skills would be more appropriate given the circumstances.
I hope that I did not come off as one of those think they know it all kids, because that could not be further than the truth.
Thank you guys for taking the time to help and guide me in the right direction.
