To provide better access to justice, Melissa Palzewicz L’25 overcomes big challenges to earn law degree
Every law student stresses about passing the bar exam. Melissa Palzewicz L’25 was no exception when she sat for the Maine bar exam earlier this year. But she needn’t have worried. Not only did Palzewicz pass, but she also received the Kenneth R. Clegg Award for Excellence from the Maine Board of Bar Examiners for achieving the highest combined score on the February 2026 exam.
“I know how much effort everyone puts into the bar exam, so to get the highest score in Maine is surprising and humbling,” she says, giving credit to the preparation she received through the Syracuse University College of Law’s JDinteractive (JDi) program.
Helping Those in Need Get Better Access to Justice
Palzewicz had always considered going to law school, but, for years, her life took a different path. Living with her family in Bangor, Maine, she built a successful career in the tech field as a senior software development manager at IDEXX, a leader in pet healthcare innovation. However, in 2021, she decided the time was right to pursue a law degree. Doing so was not intended to replace her current career, but to add another dimension to her life, one that would put her in a position to help others “get better access to justice.”
According to Palzewicz, Maine does not have a strong public defender system, so legal assistance is handled primarily by court-appointed attorneys or through nonprofit legal aid organizations.
“Rural Maine is especially underserved in many ways, including access to legal assistance,” she explains. “I knew a law degree would allow me to help others in my community.”
While Palzewicz was accepted into a residential law program in Maine, she couldn’t make the in-person course requirements work around her job and family. Fortunately, she discovered Syracuse Law’s JDi program and thought the rigorous online course work, highly regarded faculty, and in-person residencies built around specific topics and skills would be a great fit.
Family Encouraged Her to Keep Going Through Tragedy
Unfortunately, attending law school did not turn out to be her biggest challenge. Just months before she was set to begin at Syracuse Law, her husband died suddenly. This tragic turn of events made her question whether she should go through with her plans.
“The idea of starting law school was an extra level of stress as I was processing my grief, but it was my kids who encouraged me to make it happen,” says Palzewicz. “It ended up that all four of my kids were in college while I was in law school, so we all rallied around each other. We’re very close because of what we’ve been through together.”
Palzewicz credits having a regimented schedule for her ability to juggle career, family, and law school demands. “Every minute of each day was essentially blocked out for something I had to do,” she says.
Her methods helped her thrive in the JDi program. She was not only able to succeed in her course work but also participate in various activities offered by Syracuse Law, including serving as a class senator and being president of the Women’s Law Student Association. Palzewicz also was an executive on the Virtual Advocacy Division of the Advocacy Honor Society, participated on trial teams, and took on an externship with the Volunteer Lawyers Project in Maine.
Surprised, Humbled, and Grateful for Support in Rewriting Her Life
Palzewicz completed her law degree in December 2025. True to her nature, she started studying for the bar exam early in the process and credits Syracuse Law’s faculty and the robust legal education for helping her prepare. After graduating, she stuck to a strict four-nights-on, one-night-off study schedule, but, with only two weeks to go, she took a much needed break knowing she had prepared the best she could.
“Until the results come in, you’re never certain how you did,” says Palzewicz of taking the bar exam last February. In April, she learned she had passed. But two months later, she was “surprised and humbled” to be notified that she had received the highest score in the state.
“I started law school at 46 and passed the bar at 51,” she says of her accomplishments. “The people I met and the lifelong friends I made through the JDi program kept me from burning out in my grief as I was rewriting my life. The experience made it possible for me to achieve my goal, and achieving the highest score on the Maine bar exam was an added bonus. I’m very grateful for all of it and excited to see what’s next.”