An Interview with Yuechao Nie, Foreign Law Intern

Today’s interview is with Yuechao Nie, a foreign law intern working in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress.

Describe your background

I was born in Beijing, China, and have resided there for the majority of my time. My parents are both professors of philosophy, which explains my deep interest in academia and my persistent pursuit of ideals. Living in a modern environment, I am deeply interested in traditional Chinese culture and am determined to dedicate my life to its preservation, restoration, and adaptation to the modern world. I am also influenced by classical liberalism.

What is your academic/professional history?

I earned a bachelor’s degree in law from Beijing Jiaotong University Law School in 2022. During the fourth year of my undergraduate study, I interned at a big law firm in Beijing. Afterward, without a gap, I attended Cornell Law School’s LL.M. (Master of Laws) program and graduated in 2023. Now, I am here at the Law Library of Congress doing comparative research. I have two legal articles in print in Chinese, and a new one is going to be published by the Social Sciences Literature Press of China in 2023.

How would you describe your job to other people?

Currently, under the supervision of foreign law specialist Laney Zhang, I contribute to the Law Library’s Global Legal Monitor database by writing articles on legal developments in China. My job enables the U.S. Congress and other Law Library patrons to get authoritative and accurate updates on, inter alia, the latest legislation, other rules, and judicial opinions within that jurisdiction. I am also excited to extend my research to other Chinese-speaking jurisdictions such as Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Singapore.

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

Most importantly, the Library is such a prestigious and rich place. As America’s oldest federal cultural institution, it has a history nearly as long as the United States. It is one of the largest libraries in the world, housing hundreds of millions of materials old and new, domestic and foreign of all stripes; a true paradise for anyone interested in any kind of academic work. In addition, I can gain experience working in government institutions here.

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

The Library has an Asian Division that houses about 5,300 titles of Chinese rare books (books and manuscripts produced before 1796). Also, the Librarian of Congress is appointed by the U.S. president with the advice and consent of the Senate, just like many other high-ranking government officials.

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

I can do Chinese calligraphy. I have done quite a bit of research on Confucianism. And, I am preparing to apply to a J.D. program in the U.S.

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