Today’s interview is with CH Seng Myaw, a foreign law intern working with Foreign Law Specialist Sayuri Umeda in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress.
Describe your background.
I grew up in a small town in Shan State, Myanmar, and I am from the Kachin ethnic group, one of the many ethnic groups in the country. I speak the Burmese, Jingpo, Lhaovo, and Zaiwa languages.
What is your academic/ professional history?
I am a lawyer in Myanmar (Burma) specializing in human rights advocacy and legal reform. I have provided technical support to civil society organizations and government institutions and conducted research in collaboration with legal scholars/academics and media professionals to address social justice issues.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies from the liberal arts program of the Myanmar Institute of Theology and a Bachelor of Laws from the Yangon University of Distance Education. In 2023, I had the honor of being a Lincoln Scholar of the USAID Lincoln Scholarship Program. I recently completed a Master of Laws program in international human rights and humanitarian law at the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. During my studies, I also served as a Dean’s Fellow at the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.
How would you describe your job to other people?
As a legal research assistant and foreign law intern at the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress, I work with Sayuri Umeda, a foreign law specialist. My responsibilities include conducting legal research and providing information in response to inquiries about laws and regulations in Myanmar. Additionally, I prepare articles for the Global Legal Monitor, focusing on legal developments in Southeast Asia, particularly regarding Myanmar (Burma).
Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?
I consider working at the Library of Congress a learning opportunity to enhance my legal research and writing skills while also contributing to the community. I am very grateful for the chance to work at the Law Library of Congress. During my time here, I have experienced a professional workplace environment in the United States and participated in various professional development activities. Additionally, I had the privilege of meeting and working together with legal experts, foreign law interns, and scholars from different countries.
What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?
I am amazed that the library has items in various formats and forms. I have gained much more experience by exploring the incredible collections of books, maps, drawings, pictures, rare items, and other materials.
What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?
I usually walk around the buildings during my breaks just to see the pictures, paintings, and posters hanging on the walls.
Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.