The Philip Lee Guide to: Internships

What is an Intern?

"Intern" does not have a defined meaning in employment law as such. Typically, an intern is someone present in the workplace primarily to observe and learn.

However, depending on the circumstances, an intern may actually carry out work – in which case employment law will have some bearing on the relationship in practice.

In what circumstances could an intern be considered an employee?

It is probably worth distinguishing broadly between the two main types of interns in practice:-

• Interns who unequivocally are only in the workplace to observe/learn (a secondary school student, for example, who visits the workplace in the course of her studies); and

• Someone, typically