This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.
Next stop: Milena De Avila, 2L (2028), Taft Law Firm, Cleveland, OH
What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?
Receiving new assignments from partners in different practice areas, sitting in on client calls, hearing oral arguments, and going out to lunch!
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I have enjoyed my labor and employment projects
What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?
Being from Ohio, I gravitated towards Taft’s reputation in the Midwest. I also was interested in seeing what a big firm was like..
How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?
Syracuse Law provided me with professors who helped me navigate the summer associate recruitment process. Additionally, Civil Procedure helped prepare me for working in litigation this summer!
This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.
Next stop: Abigael Gress, 3L (2027), Take Two Interactive Software, New York, NY
What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?
A typical day for me at T2, consists of projects centered around contractual agreements with companies, artists, manufacturers, brands, and athletes. On a typical day, I work on projects that involve tasks like redlining contracts, NDAs, talent and service agreements, researching for lawyers, meeting with department teams to discuss what they have been working on and understanding how certain agreements work in law and business. I work with teams within 2K, Rockstar, and Zynga on a daily basis. Some of the most exciting have been: entertainment contracts with Rockstar for the upcoming GTA launch, contracts with 2K and their athletes, and working on goals for Zynga’s new game productions. It has been so interesting, yet exciting all at the same time. I think what has surprised me is the excitement of the environment! GTA-VI is coming out in November and it’s been over a decade since the last launch. Everyone is working so hard to get this game out and it has been such an amazing experience to be at the heart of it all and being able to participate and help out where I can. In addition, I am surrounded by such
amazing people, including my fellow interns and the amazing lawyers and legal assistants who have gone out of their way to make connections with us.
What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?
I want to work within Sports and Entertainment, specifically for a company that I am passionate about and align with the work they produce. In addition, I am extremely interested in Intellectual property and there is absolutely NO better place than T2 to experience the power of IP and how it interacts with entertainment and sports. It is the most successful, innovative, and powerful video game company in the world, there is no better place that I could have chosen to be this summer. In addition to pursuing my MBA, my internship sits within the business affairs department at T2. This provides me with a front row seat to the intersection of law and business. This experience has illuminated just how vital this synergy is, and how essential skilled lawyers are to its success.
What’s one project or task you’ve worked on that you’re proud of, and what did you learn from it?
(I unfortunately cannot answer this one in detail or in depth due to NDA and confidential information.) However, I am very proud of myself for learning every day and adapting quickly to new information and new tasks. I have never said no to a project, even if that means learning along the way (at home or in the office). I have completed projects that have taught me necessary skills, tools, and information that will be extremely useful for working in big firms. I have also learned that Entertainment and Sports and Intellectual property is exactly what I want to pursue. By the end of this summer, I will research and prepare a presentation for senior lawyers on a topic that I find could better the company and the work they do. We have not finalized a topic yet but I am excited to work on that with my fellow legal intern!
Do you see yourself practicing in this area of law after graduation? What’s drawing you toward this field?
Absolutely I see myself practicing here! I would love to even work at T2. They treat their employees so well and they are all so valued. I 100% know I want to work in-house eventually, but valuable work experience is required beforehand!
How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?
Syracuse has helped me tremendously! I use my education and knowledge of Contract law, Intellectual Property law, litigation, Constitutional law, and more every day. Further, the advisors helped me tremendously to get here. They edited and approved my cover letter, resume, and provided me with interview preparation and materials. I truly relied on their help to get here!
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.
Melissa Palzewicz L’26 along with two classmates at their JDinteractive Residency at the European Union Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
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.”
2L Mira Lan Gaitanis recently attended the 17th Annual International Disability Law Summer School held by the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the University of Galway. The theme was “The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) Twenty Years On: New Horizons and Emerging Challenges.”
The three-day conference covered the Convention’s drafting history through the gaps and emerging challenges now testing it, to its future and a participatory exercise imagining a revised treaty.
Gaitanis, a research assistant at the Burton Blatt Institute, noted that the Conference provided “an honest reckoning with what the UNCRPD has and has not changed in disabled people’s lives; a reframing of the Convention as one tool among many rather than the endpoint, with ableism understood alongside capitalism and colonialism; and a clear sense that the next wave of leadership will come from the minds of young disabled people, working in collaboration with earlier generations who are living testaments to disability history and the current movement.”
She also presented a poster, Presence Is Practice: Music, Independent Living and the Law as a Form of Advocacy. The poster argued that advocacy does not only happen in courtrooms and legislatures. It happens every time a disabled person walks into a room that was not built for them and stays. It showed the multi-dimensional aspects of advocacy through her music, as a member of the Recording Artists and Musicians with Disabilities who has released three albums with the band Flat Moon Theory, with songs such as “See Me As I Am” and “Sparrow,” each illustrating her journey as a micropreemie with low vision and chronic pain. It also traced her advocacy journey from her first IEP meeting in fifth grade, her participation in the Florida Youth Leadership Forum, her involvement with Disability Rights Florida, and her internships with AAPD and The Harkin Institute. It then illustrates her journey to Galway for the conference and her goal of serving as U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants were challenged with drafting new articles for the UNCRPD. Gaitanis served as her group’s envoy, coordinating with the other groups’ envoys in the exercise’s private Discord channel so that, where ideas overlapped, each group could carry forward a distinct proposal. The group proposed adding intersectionality as a general principle and amending Article 34 to seat a youth representative and create a youth subcommittee.
As part of the Craftivism portion of the conference, Gaitanis created a zine titled Reflections and Musings, with the cover titled Nothing About Us Without Us, that combined collage, printmaking, and handwritten notes from the week.
“There were so many incredible speakers, and my favorite part was the participatory exercise that let us imagine the improvements we would make to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” said Gaitanis. “My idea was to add a youth representative to the main board and create a subcommittee dedicated to youth and disability. I also deeply valued the panel The Road Ahead: Bringing the UNCRPD into a New Era. We are at a turning point in disability rights history, and youth are the ones who can bring in the next wave through activism, community, and collective action.”
Professor of Law Katherine Macfarlane, Director of the Disability Law and Policy Program at Syracuse Law, has posted a draft of her forthcoming Ohio State Law Journal essay Debating Accommodations.
The essay describes the legal standards that control the decision to grant or deny a postsecondary reasonable accommodation request, and how the development of law that prohibits disability discrimination may have led to an increase in the number of accommodated students with disabilities. It also confronts the concerns articulated by recent articles and scholarship, including The Atlantic piece “Accommodation Nation,” describing the increased volume of accommodations. It considers the accuracy of the pieces’ legal arguments, as well as conclusions regarding misdiagnoses and malingering. Finally, it proposes a framework for debating the validity of reasonable accommodations that applies relevant legal standards and considers both the lived experience of disability and the current civil rights retrenchment.
Macfarlane concludes, “At a minimum, if the accommodations debate persists, it must focus on what the law actually requires and cannot continue to demonize the students that accommodations serve. It is fair to debate accommodations, but it is harmful to debate the increased presence of students with disabilities themselves.”
Crandall Melivn Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh spoke with several news outlets on the State AG’s lawsuit to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. takeover.
At Variety, Ghosh said, “I’m not 100% sure this will be successful.” Generally, he said, courts have been deferential in allowing mergers across the board to proceed. In addition, a judge might find that the AGs’ case too narrowly defines the markets in question. A court’s analysis might consider factors like streaming and AI, and how they play into the competitive dynamics in the industry. Distribution of entertainment content “isn’t limited to just movie theaters or basic cable.” Ghosh said it’s also on YouTube and other streaming platforms. “The courts could push back and say there’s still competition from that.”
At the LA Times, Ghosh spoke to the state’s case that it bypasses streaming in its market definition. “It’s not uncommon to try to define the market as narrowly as possible,” said Ghosh. “But courts have been a bit more sensitive to this issue, and sometimes judges question whether [plaintiffs] have the right definition of the market,” Ghosh said.
Speaking with The National News, Ghosh noted that, “It all depends upon how well Paramount and Warner make their case for how the market is functioning. I do think there are other platforms other than theatre [and] theatrical distribution.”
This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.
Next stop: Rachel Jung, 3L (2027), JDR Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York, NY
What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?
Every day is a little different depending on how many assignments I have going on. On busy days, I’m at my desk the whole day reviewing documents, conducting legal research, and attending Zoom meetings. On lighter days, I have the chance to grab coffee or lunch with my colleagues. One thing that surprised me most was how accessible the attorneys here are; they are always willing to teach and answer questions.
What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?
As a mid-sized firm in Manhattan with a robust corporate practice, Sullivan & Worcester felt like the perfect place for me to gain hands-on experience in the M&A practice area.
What’s one project or task you’ve worked on that you’re proud of, and what did you learn from it?
I helped a client get their unemployment benefits as part of a pro bono project. It taught me that even small contributions can have a meaningful impact on someone’s life.
Do you see yourself practicing in this area of law after graduation? What’s drawing you toward this field?
For sure. I’m interested in corporate law, particularly mergers and acquisitions because I like the collaborative, problem-solving nature of corporate transactions.
How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?
Working as a research associate at the Innovation Law Center and serving as a student attorney in the Housing Clinic gave me valuable experience with legal research, writing, and client counseling. Those programs helped me feel more confident stepping into a professional legal environment.
This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.
Next stop: Matthew Duke, 2L (2028), Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, Arizona
What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?
No two days have been the same since I started. Working in the Homicide Bureau in the 3rd largest prosecutor’s office in the nation, there’s always plenty to do and new opportunities to learn. Some mornings I am in court observing trials or other proceedings, and other days I am assisting my supervising attorney with legal research, case preparation, and trial prep. When I am not in court, I usually split my time between researching legal issues and reviewing evidence as part of preparing cases for trial.
One of the best parts of the internship is that Arizona allows law students to obtain certified limited practice status, so I have had the opportunity to appear in court on behalf of the State and participate in proceedings. I recently made my first court appearance, which was an incredible milestone. Additionally, this internship has afforded me some amazing training opportunities, including touring the crime lab, jail, and even participating in a virtual police shooting simulator. The entire internship has been a fantastic experience so far, but the one thing that I’ve been most pleasantly surprised by is the number of dogs I get to see in the office.
What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?
The opportunity to serve my local community while doing really meaningful work was very appealing. Additionally, the chance to get actual courtroom experience and learn from some of the most experienced trial attorneys in the Nation. As someone who lives in Phoenix and plans to build my legal career here, the opportunity to work in public service in my own community was especially important to me.
What’s one project or task you’ve worked on that you’re proud of, and what did you learn from it?
I recently had the opportunity to make my first court appearance, which was definitely one of the highlights of my internship so far. I can’t share too many details, but in my mind, it was basically my A Few Good Men moment. Of course, there was no dramatic “You can’t handle the truth!” scene, and I did not get to pace around the courtroom like Tom Cruise. But it was still an incredible experience to stand up in court, appear on behalf of the State, and take part in an actual proceeding.
How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?
It has been encouraging to see how the foundational skills I learned at Syracuse Law apply in real-world settings. The research and writing assignments I completed for my professors have been very similar to the assignments I have received during my internship, which has given me a lot of confidence in my ability to contribute. I may not know how to do everything right away, but Syracuse has taught me how to find the answers, work through unfamiliar issues, and figure things out. I also know that if I need additional guidance, I have the support of Syracuse Law behind me.
This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.
Next stop: Džana Borović, 3L (2027), Judicial Intern for Judge Brindisi in the Northern District of New York
What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?
A typical day at the office starts at 9am where I am greeted by our amazing security at the front entrance of the federal courthouse. From there I head into the office where I begin working on assignments from the Term Clerks or Career Clerk. These projects typically consist of performing legal research, writing, and editing. If I ever have any questions the Clerks are very welcoming to answering them. After a long day of hard work, I head out of the office at 5pm.
What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?
Choosing this internship was a natural decision for me given my familiarity with Judge Brindisi’s career having grown up in the Utica area. Throughout my life I have watched Judge Brindisi’s career progress from a lawyer to a Congressman and finally to the federal bench. I have always respected his deep commitment to public service. When this opportunity presented itself, it was the perfect way to learn from someone whose values are grounded in the community that I am dedicated to serving.
What’s one project or task you’ve worked on that you’re proud of, and what did you learn from it?
My proudest moment during my internship was attending the naturalization ceremony held at our federal court. As a child of immigrants, I understand firsthand how difficult and lengthy the path to citizenship can be. Watching that ceremony was incredibly heartwarming, it felt like a full circle moment that reminded me why I chose this path.
Do you see yourself practicing in this area of law after graduation? What’s drawing you toward this field?
When I first came to law school, clerking was not on my career radar. I simply did not know enough about the profession to consider it. However, this internship changed everything and showed me the vital role that clerks play in our judiciary system. Now I am seriously considering starting my career as a Term Clerk. As someone with a naturally curious personality, this environment allows me to learn something new everyday and explore all types of areas of law.
How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?
Professor Dolak’s class gave me a strong foundation of civil procedure which has been very helpful in understanding the legal standards for court proceedings. While my Legal Research and Writing classes were equally impactful because I went from having zero legal writing knowledge to having the skillsets necessary to excel at my internship. A huge credit to that goes to Professor Wallach who brought his 15 year expertise as a Career Clerk to the classroom!
This summer, Syracuse Law students are gaining hands-on experience at firms, courts, and organizations across the country. Over the coming weeks, we’re spotlighting where a few students are spending their summer, and how their Syracuse Law coursework prepared them for the work.
Next stop: Rebecca Lee, 3L (2027), Department of Transportation Summer Internship at the Federal Aviation Administration, Employment and Labor Law Division in Washington, D.C.
What does a typical day look like for you, and what’s one thing that surprised you about it?
A typical day looks like commuting via Metro to Independence Ave., greeting the Employment and Labor Law attorneys, and getting to work on cases. So far, I’ve worked Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Merit Service Protection Board cases, drafting motions, assisting in prehearing submissions and case development, creating agency files, and performing research tasks from both Employment and Labor Law teams. One thing that surprised me about this work is how many claimants in both forums are pro se litigants.
What made you choose this organization for your internship or externship?
I chose this organization for my summer internship because I wanted to experience litigation within an Agency. I enjoyed taking Administrative Law and Regulatory Law during law school and wanted to see the practice in real life and in a field of the law that I was unfamiliar with. While I knew that it was going to be challenging working with doctrine that I was not accustomed to, the attorneys I interviewed with from the Division did not take my lack of knowledge and experience as a disadvantage. It was clear to me from the interview that they were interested in letting me observe and learn from them as much as possible.
What’s one project or task you’ve worked on that you’re proud of, and what did you learn from it?
One case that I’ve worked on is an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claim regarding discrimination and harassment/hostile work environment on the basis of race, color, and sex over non-promotion/selection in 2000. This case was unique in that it became complex due to a class action that led to the EEOC claim to be held in abeyance until the class’s dissolution nearly 20-years after filing. I was tasked with drafting the Motion for Summary Judgment with the help from their class actions attorney. I learned that seemingly simple claims may quickly turn complex due to various different factors, like in this case, having to search for relevant documents in a CD that was created in 1999.
Do you see yourself practicing in this area of law after graduation? What’s drawing you toward this field?
I do see myself practicing in this area of the law post-graduation. While my current path requires me to serve active-duty Army after graduation, I can see myself returning to D.C. to work in an Employment Law capacity. I am drawn to this field because it has a little bit of everything. I would be able to advise on matters directly related to employees’ work experiences and their fundamental rights but also litigate on behalf of the government.
How has Syracuse Law prepared you for this experience?
Syracuse Law prepared me for this experience in numerous ways. Having an interest in working for the federal government, I was able to take courses that allowed me to explore and understand the interworking of administrative agencies generally, like Administrative Law and Regulatory Law. Through those courses, I was able to develop a relationship with professors who are highly knowledgeable about administrative agencies and were able to engage in open dialogue with me to further develop my understanding before going to work for my second administrative agency. Syracuse Law also helped to prepare me for this experience in connecting me to alumni who either worked for the FAA themselves or are currently employed by the FAA.
