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Maria is a nurse who is planning a career change and is studying law. To get some experience in the legal industry, she offered to volunteer at a local law firm over her summer break to do basic legal research and help with clerical work. Maria attended the law firm for a few irregular hours every few weeks. The arrangement provided minimal benefit to the law firm - it was mostly for Maria's benefit. There was no expectation that Maria worked productively or independently, and her output was not vital to the operation of the firm. Based on the circumstances of this arrangement, Maria wasn't an employee of the law firm and didn't need to be paid. After a few months, the law firm asked Maria to work more regularly. She was given responsibility for parts of the firm's file administration, replacing the work that a clerical employee used to perform. The firm received a substantial benefit from this arrangement, as Maria was doing the same work as a clerical staff member. These new responsibilities created an employment relationship, and Maria was entitled to be paid for her work at the appropriate minimum rate.