Abigail Bradley

Majors:Law and Society; Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies

Legal Intern, 30th Judicial Circuit Court 

1.) How did you learn about this internship opportunity? 

Judge Aquilina has always been someone who I have greatly admired and inspired to be like. When I noticed that someone I knew was interning for Judge Aquilina, I reached out and asked if she knew of any other internship opportunities at the courthouse or with Judge Aquilina. She gave me an email to reach out to for further information, and I applied for the internship from there. 

2.) How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals?  

My internship has provided me with the opportunity to observe court daily, conduct legal research, and draft various legal documents, such as bench memorandums and standing orders. I have been able to observe and learn about trials, sentencings, pretrial conferences, arraignments, and numerous other hearings. Experiencing the daily routine in Judge Aquilina’s Courtroom has been highly inspirational and provided me with a wide range of knowledge that will be very beneficial to me both in law school and as a future attorney.

3.) How do you apply your Liberal Arts skills to your internship?  

My Liberal Arts education at Purdue has improved my critical thinking and communication skills, as well as taught me to be more analytical, inquisitive, and open-minded. When thinking like a judge, it is important to examine all sides of the evidence objectively, withing allowing emotions or biases to impact the judgment. My Liberal Arts skills have helped me do this by teaching me to question the why and how behind seemingly normal, everyday things before forming an opinion or making a decision. Additionally, I have learned a great deal about social problems, social responsibility, and the world, people, and cultures surrounding me. This knowledge has provided me with the ability to better see and evaluate both sides of an issue in depth, so I can make a more informed judgment. 

4.) What is a piece of advice you would give someone looking for an internship?   

One piece of advice I would like to offer is to not sit back and wait for an opportunity to find you. If you know what you are passionate about and what you want to do, there is no harm in reaching out to find amazing opportunities and doing your best to make it happen.