Chadron State College graduate Kevin Zhang, of Alliance, completed an internship with the United Nations this summer. Zhang, who is in his third year of law school at the University of Nebraska, was part of CSC’s inaugural Rural Law Opportunities Program (RLOP) cohort, and will conclude his full-time, remote internship by the end of September.
He is working in the General Legal Division in the Office of Legal Affairs, the in-house legal department for the United Nations that provides a wide spectrum of advice, services, and assistance about legal matters affecting operations and activities. He assists in drafting and reviewing contracts and conducts research on international law and internal legal opinions. In addition, he writes memos to answer legal questions and helps prepare legal documents.
Zhang said he uses email, chat, and virtual meetings to communicate with colleagues in many different time zones and 40 countries. Using various tools and being flexible were skills he said he developed during the internship.
“Usually, the legal officer sends me an email for assistance and provides background information and instructions via email or virtual meeting. After I complete my assignment, I attach my work product to email and return it to the legal officer for feedback,” Zhang said.
Zhang found his communication skills have grown during the internship.
“The telecommunication imposed a challenge for me to get hold of others since we are all scattered around the world because of the pandemic and the closure of UN Headquarters,” Zhang said. “Nonetheless, I quickly adapted myself to the diverse work environment and learned how to utilize tools that we have to communicate effectively.”
He has worked on a wide range of legal issues like supporting the peacekeeping operations of the UN, providing advice on human resources matters and policies, interpreting certain Articles of the Charter, General Assembly resolutions and UN regulations, assisting UN procurement activities and contracting requirements, and the resolution of related disputes, controversies and claims.
He said the internship has provided the opportunity for him to discover some new areas of law.
“Some projects I worked on invoked my interest in data privacy and I have enrolled in cyber law and privacy law courses in the fall semester,” Zhang said. “Additionally, the internship reinforces my passion in international law, which I plan to practice after graduation from law school.”