An Interview with Sarah Bandini, Foreign Law Intern

Today’s interview is with Sarah Bandini, a foreign law intern working with Foreign Law Specialist Jenny Gesley in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress. 

Describe your background.

I was born and raised in Ravenna, a small and picturesque town in Northern Italy that was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire; a fact I am particularly proud of. I grew up with my twin brother, engaging in never-ending discussions with him. These discussions made me realize that I had a talent for arguing and I started considering a career as a lawyer.

At the age of 19, I left my beloved Ravenna behind and moved to Bologna to pursue a law degree and then embark on my professional journey as an attorney and scholar.

What is your academic/professional history?

After graduating, I started my career as an attorney at a leading Italian law firm, specializing in the criminal defense of corporations that were part of some of the most important corporate crime cases that have occurred in Italy in the last two decades, such as Parmalat and Cirio.

While engaged in private practice, I concurrently pursued a Ph.D. at the University of Bologna with a concentration in financial crime and compliance. I conducted part of my research abroad, studying as a visiting scholar at Duke University School of Law and the University of London’s Institute for Advanced Legal Studies.

To hone my expertise in an international setting, I decided to enroll in an LL.M. program at NYU, where I was awarded the Hauser Global Scholarship, a full-tuition merit-based scholarship and living stipend.

After graduating, I joined the International Monetary Fund on a fellowship program with the Governance and Anticorruption Unit and the Financial Integrity Group. I am still collaborating with them to co-author a paper on corporate criminal liability.

How would you describe your job to other people?

At the Law Library, I carry out research for the Global Legal Research Directorate under the guidance of my supervisor, Jenny Gesley. My role consists of assisting in conducting comparative studies and researching the law of the European Union (EU) in response to requests from Congress, federal agencies, the courts, and private patrons. I write articles for the Global Legal Monitor on new regulations and the latest legislative proposals from the EU and EU member states. My contributions will hopefully enhance the knowledge of the members of Congress and the public in general.

Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?

I decided to apply for this position at the Law Library because I was motivated by a strong desire to venture into a new work environment. I was attracted by the distinctive blend of research and policy embedded in the Law Library’s mission, setting it apart from other institutions worldwide. The prospect of leveraging my skills to serve the U.S. Congress was equally appealing.

Having now immersed myself in the daily operations of the Law Library, I am even more convinced than before that this is a unique learning opportunity that offers me unparalleled experience in research and writing on international legal matters.

What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?

I recently came across an interesting tidbit that I would like to share. The Library of Congress does not just host millions of books, but it also finds itself as the focal point of a narrative in one. In Margaret Truman’s Murder at the Library of Congress, the Library transforms into a hub of mysteries and homicides that bury terrible secrets.

What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?

I love being surrounded by nature and interacting with animals. Back in Italy, I volunteered for a dog shelter for some time.

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