Bennett & Belfort, PC founding partner, David E. Belfort served as a panelist in a recent Business Lawyers Network (BLN) panel discussion titled “Hiring Interns in Massachusetts: Legal Pitfalls, Practical Realities and the Wage Act’s Punitive Bite,” held on January 13, 2026, in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
The program brought together experienced employment attorneys along with University staff that handle placement of interns to examine the evolving legal and practical challenges employers face when hiring interns under Massachusetts law—particularly in light of the Commonwealth’s strict Wage Act and the heightened risks associated with misclassification and nonpayment of wages.
The panel explored how employers, including law firms and professional service organizations, can work with educational organizations to design internship programs that are both scholastically meaningful and legally compliant. Discussion focused on balancing business needs with statutory obligations while minimizing liability exposure.
Key topics included:
- The legal framework governing paid and unpaid internships under Massachusetts and federal law
- Common missteps and hidden challenges employers encounter when managing internship programs
- The Massachusetts Wage Act’s severe penalties, including treble damages and personal liability
- Practical guidance for ensuring internships provide legitimate educational value without violating wage and hour laws
In addition to Mr. Belfort, the attorneys on the panel included seasoned employment law practitioners Judy Polacheck, Polacheck HR Law and Elizabeth M. Adler, Beacon Law Group, LLC.
