Summer Experience: Malani Plancher ’28L This summer, Malani Plancher spent two months in Rome, Italy, working with the Community of Sant’Egidio.

Malani Plancher ’28L

Malani Plancher ‘28L is a second-year law student from Fort Myers, Florida. At W&L, she is actively involved in the law school community as a Junior Editor for the German Law Journal, Vice President of the Black Law Students Association, and Vice President of Academic Affairs for the Middle Eastern and South Asian Law Students Association. This summer, she had the opportunity to spend two months in Rome, Italy, working with the Community of Sant’Egidio, a Catholic association dedicated to social service. Following graduation, she hopes to build her legal career in the DMV area.

What did you do for work this summer?

I worked with a classmate on a research paper examining the evolution and rationale of the death penalty in Italy and internationally. Alongside our legal research, we also had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer with the Community of Sant’Egidio, including helping provide food to people experiencing poverty.

How did you find this position?

Thanks to Professor [Mark] Drumbl! He hosted an event for students who were interested in international law and shared the opportunity with us. I was fortunate to be selected to participate.

What surprised you about your work experience?

One thing that surprised me was how much of our work extended beyond traditional legal research. Connecting our research on the death penalty with Sant’Egidio’s work in the community gave me a broader perspective on the relationship between law, human rights, and the people affected by legal systems. Working directly with community members and engaging with letters and poems written by individuals on death row also brought a deeply personal dimension to our research. It reminded me that behind every legal issue are real people whose lives are directly affected by the law.

What were some skills you developed this summer?

I strengthened my legal research and writing skills, particularly when working with international and comparative legal sources. I also improved my ability to collaborate closely with another researcher, balancing different perspectives while developing and contributing my own ideas and staying focused on the goals of our research.

What was your favorite aspect of this summer work experience?

My favorite part was being able to combine my interest in international law with an experience that felt genuinely meaningful outside of the classroom. I loved getting to conduct research on an issue I care about while also experiencing Rome and becoming involved in the local community.

Has this experience helped you figure out post graduate plans, and if so, how?

For sure. My experience has reinforced my interest in the legal field and showed me that I genuinely enjoy legal research and collaborating with others. It also made me more interested in pursuing work that allows me to engage with legal issues across different jurisdictions.

How do you think this experience will shape the rest of your time at W&L Law?

My experience reminded me of the importance of stepping outside the law school setting and seeing firsthand how the law affects people in their everyday lives.

Plancher on the roof of her workplace in Rome.