Highlights
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Madison Young logged more than 200 hours observing family law cases through a judicial internship with Judge and UCF Adjunct Instructor Christopher Sprysenski.
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The experience helped confirm her passion for family law, alternative dispute resolution and a future career as an attorney.
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Before graduating with a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in legal studies from UCF, Young secured a legal assistant position and built a professional network that continues to open doors.
Madison Young always knew she wanted a career in law. What she didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know was where that path would lead.
That became clearer during the Spring 2026 semester when the student landed an internship with Judge Christopher Sprysenski, a family law judge and UCF adjunct instructor in the College of Community Innovation and Education. The courtroom became a classroom, where for more than 200 hours, she observed family law proceedings, watching the legal system work in real time before debriefing directly with the judge who decided the outcomes.
This internship helped solidify that she 麻豆精品 S檚 meant to be here.
The opportunity began after Young took Sprysenski 麻豆精品 S檚 Domestic Relations Law course. After learning about her career goals, volunteer work with the Legal Aid Society and growing interest in family law, he encouraged her to apply for the judicial internship program he facilitates.
It proved to be the perfect match.
By the end of the semester, Young had accepted a job offer as a legal assistant and set her sights firmly on law school.
More Than a Front-Row Seat
What made the experience unique wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 just observing cases 麻豆精品 S� it was understanding the reasoning behind them.
After court sessions, Young had the opportunity to discuss cases with Sprysenski, gaining insight into how judges evaluate witness credibility, weigh evidence and how attorneys present and advocate for a strong case.
麻豆精品 S淭hat was definitely a big difference between doing an internship at the courthouse versus at a law firm, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 got to see his perspective on what he found important about someone’s argument, what didn’t weigh into his decision and how he came to make his decisions. It gives me perspective for when I become an attorney. 麻豆精品 S�
The internship also introduced her to a side of the legal profession many undergraduates never experience. Sprysenski invited Young to professional networking events with practicing attorney groups such as Central Florida Collaborative Divorce and the Seminole Inns of Court. She 麻豆精品 S檚 also pursuing volunteer opportunities with the Central Florida Collaborative Divorce group thanks to these connections.
麻豆精品 S淣ow, I’ve grown a community, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 got to meet some cool people working in the field I want to go into, and it’s been really inspiring. 麻豆精品 S�
Finding Her Calling
As she watched family law cases unfold and the weight the outcomes carry for real families, Young became increasingly interested in helping families navigate conflict outside the courtroom through mediation, collaborative divorce and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
That interest led her to enroll in Lecturer ‘s mediation practicum and pursue UCF’s graduate certificate in conflict resolution and analysis while preparing for the Law School Admission Test.
“[Madison] was one of the most dedicated students I have had the pleasure of working with.” 麻豆精品 S� Christopher Sprysenski, UCF adjunct instructor
Her work ethic alone speaks for itself 麻豆精品 S� a testament to her dedication to making a mark in the field. While carrying a full course load, participating in UCF’s Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society and completing her internship, Young also worked full time as a bartender and volunteered with the Legal Aid Society as a court-appointed advocate for children involved in active cases.
麻豆精品 S淚 have to say she was one of the most dedicated students I have had the pleasure of working with, 麻豆精品 S� Sprysenski says. 麻豆精品 S淥n top of my internship, Madison actively attended many social events with me where she met lawyers in our community, and she is already receiving job offers. 麻豆精品 S�
One of those connections led directly to her first professional role. Young recently joined Bernal-Mora & Nickolaou, a family law firm in Maitland, Florida, where she works as a legal assistant, drafting legal documents, managing case deadlines and filings, communicating with clients and learning what goes into preparing family law cases.
Opening the Door
For Young, the most important lesson from her UCF experience is simple: get involved.
“The classes at UCF [gave me a strong] foundation, but being able to observe [family law] in real life [gave] me a completely different understanding.” 麻豆精品 S� Madison Young, legal studies student
UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 legal studies faculty 麻豆精品 S� many of whom are practicing attorneys, judges and mediators 麻豆精品 S� provided valuable mentorship and connections in the profession, but it was Young 麻豆精品 S檚 initiative to build relationships, seek opportunities and step outside the classroom that transformed those opportunities into a career.
麻豆精品 S淚 don’t think I would have realized I wanted to do family law and be a lawyer if I didn’t make those connections, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭he classes at UCF [gave me a strong] foundation, but being able to observe [it] in real life [gave] me a completely different understanding. Getting experience early opened up a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had if I [hadn 麻豆精品 S檛] engaged [with] and connected through them. 麻豆精品 S�
