UCF Legal Studies Student’s Internship with Local Judge Helped Shape Her Future in Law

Highlights

• Madison Young logged more than 200 hours observing family law cases through a judicial internship with Judge and UCF Adjunct Instructor Christopher Sprysenski.

• The experience helped confirm her passion for family law, alternative dispute resolution and a future career as an attorney.

• Before graduating with a bachelor's 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't know was where that path would lead.

That became clearer during the Spring 2026 semester when the Department of Legal Studies 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's meant to be here.

The opportunity began after Young took Sprysenski's 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't just observing cases - it was understanding the reasoning behind them.

Madison Young (left) says her internship with Judge Christopher Sprysenski (right), a UCF adjunct instructor, opened her eyes to a different side of the legal system and provided an invaluable learning experience.

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.

"That was definitely a big difference between doing an internship at the courthouse versus at a law firm," she says. "I 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."

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's also pursuing volunteer opportunities with the Central Florida Collaborative Divorce group thanks to these connections.

"Now, I've grown a community," she says. "I got to meet some cool people working in the field I want to go into, and it's been really inspiring."

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 Christy Foley'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." - Christopher Sprysenski, UCF adjunct instructor

Her work ethic alone speaks for itself - 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.

"I have to say she was one of the most dedicated students I have had the pleasure of working with," Sprysenski says. "On 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."

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." - Madison Young, legal studies student

UCF's legal studies faculty - many of whom are practicing attorneys, judges and mediators - provided valuable mentorship and connections in the profession, but it was Young's initiative to build relationships, seek opportunities and step outside the classroom that transformed those opportunities into a career.

"I don't think I would have realized I wanted to do family law and be a lawyer if I didn't make those connections," she says. "The 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't] engaged [with] and connected through them."

More Topics

College of Community Innovation and Education Legal Studies Department of Legal Studies Christopher Sprysenski Christy Foley