2026 Winner Of The Veronica Idzik Memorial Paralegal Scholarship

Shelly Lee

Shelly is the recipient of the 2026 scholarship award. She completed her Paralegal Certificate in August, expects to earn her associate degree this winter, and will start her undergraduate studies in 2027 at Dominican College. As a first-generation college student and a mom of two, we are honored to help support the academic journey of this exceptional student!

Read Their Essay Here:

My career goals extend far beyond obtaining a paralegal credential; I have always believed that if your dreams don’t scare you and keep you awake at night, you’re not dreaming big enough. Becoming a paralegal is an important step in a much larger journey toward becoming a criminal defense attorney. I completed my Paralegal Certificate in August 2026 and am currently completing my Legal Studies A.A.S. degree at McHenry County College, with an anticipated graduation date of December 2026. After completing my associate degree, I plan to continue my education at Dominican University, where I have already been accepted into the Social Justice and Legal Studies bachelor’s degree program and I plan to start there in the spring of 2027. After earning my bachelor’s degree, my ultimate goal is to attend law school and become a criminal defense attorney and then pursue becoming a judge.

The area of law I am most passionate about is criminal defense because I believe every person deserves to be heard, treated fairly, and afforded the protections guaranteed by the law, regardless of the allegations against them. My interest in criminal defense is also shaped by my professional experience in law enforcement and corrections. Working in those environments gave me a front row seat and a level of exposure to the criminal justice system that most people will not have while entering this career field. My past job experiences allowed me to see how complex the system can be for both individuals and their families and how detrimental it is not to have the proper legal representation. Those experiences strengthened my desire to understand the law from another perspective and ultimately advocate for individuals navigating the criminal justice system.

As a future criminal defense attorney, I want to be the person who carefully examines the facts, challenges weaknesses in a case, protects constitutional rights of my clients, and ensures that my clients receive meaningful representation. Someone who is dedicated to making sure that the integrity of judicial law is upheld to all people. I understand that criminal defense requires strong research, writing, analytical, communication, and advocacy skills, which are skills I have already acquired, but I will forever be a student committed to pursuing further training to develop into a well-rounded attorney through my education and legal training. To be an effective leader you must be willing to learn and accept constructive criticism and apply it until you get it right because the clients you will represent deserve that kind of representation and dedication from you. It is always about how you show up for others that will define your character and what kind of lawyer you will be. My career path is intentional. Completing my paralegal certificate, earning my Legal Studies degree, pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Social Justice and Legal Studies, and ultimately attending law school are all building blocks toward my long-term goal of becoming a criminal defense attorney and then a judge. I do not simply want a career in the legal field, I want to use my education and experiences to become a dedicated advocate and, ultimately, a criminal defense attorney who makes a meaningful difference in the lives of the people I represent. Earning a scholarship from your firm will help me be successful in my journey, you are sowing into a person who is dedicated, has perseverance, grit and someone who just won’t quit.

I am a first-generation college student taking on a journey and path that no one in my family or bloodline has. The level of responsibility that comes with is great. The level of hardship and adversity that I have endured could have caused me to give up. I didn’t I continue to show up no matter what because There is no road map or a blueprint for me to follow, I had to make a way out of no way. I made a promise to my two little boys and to God that I wouldn’t let nothing stop me from getting to the finish line, not even me. I don’t have support when it comes to the financial side, I must find a way to make a way to cover the costs of my education. The one thing I do have is faith so I prayed and I asked God to cover me and lead me during this journey to the finish line. Nothing in this life is easy or promised to us, I believe that I am chosen and destined for greatness. I am going to be apart of the change that this judicial system needs.