PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIOENGLISH BACKGROUND / LEGAL FUTURE
The Xiyu Portfolio
Zhang Xiyu / An introduction

Finding my voice.
Building my
place in law.

An English graduate now studying for a master’s degree in Law, preparing to bring careful reading, clear communication, and a wider perspective to legal support.

Read my story ↓
LANGUAGE · LAW · PERSPECTIVE
“The meaning of a sentence can change a conversation — or a contract.”
My professional focus
International business legal support
Undergraduate educationEnglish · Graduated in 2016
Current studyMaster’s degree in Law · In progress
Career directionInternational Business Legal Assistant
01 / My story

From studying language
to studying law.

My name is Zhang Xiyu. I graduated from Zhixing College of Northwest Normal University in 2016. My major was English. I am currently studying for a master’s degree in Law at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

I want to work in the legal field, particularly in a role that connects legal knowledge with communication across languages and cultures. Legal support in a company with international business interests is one direction I would like to explore.

My English background makes me attentive to how ideas are expressed. My legal studies are teaching me to look more closely at the rights, duties, and questions behind those words. I want to develop both perspectives through practical experience.

My education
Current / Postgraduate study

Al-Farabi Kazakh
National University

Master’s degree in Law — currently studying.

My present focus is developing legal knowledge, research habits, and structured analysis.

2016 / Undergraduate graduation

Zhixing College of Northwest Normal University

Major: English.

A foundation for continued development in reading, writing, and cross-cultural communication.

This portfolio describes my education and intended professional approach. It does not assume previous legal employment or professional qualification.

02 / The opportunity

What would a company expect?

Illustrative target:
Junior International Business Legal Assistant.

A company working across borders needs clear documents, reliable information, and effective communication between its business and legal teams.

At assistant level, my role would be to prepare, organise, and flag issues for a supervisor, while learning the company’s procedures.

This is an illustrative analysis of a role, rather than a specific employer’s vacancy. Language standards, qualifications, and duties must be checked against each advertisement.

01

Legal knowledge and research

Identify the legal question, locate suitable sources, and check the jurisdiction, authority, and date of the material.

02

English reading and writing

Understand business correspondence and English documents; prepare clear drafts for review. Required proficiency depends on the position.

03

Document accuracy

Check names, dates, definitions, attachments, and versions. Record differences without making unsupported assumptions.

04

Cross-cultural communication

Ask precise questions and confirm meaning when colleagues use different languages or business practices.

05

Confidentiality and reliability

Handle information responsibly, track deadlines, and seek guidance when a question exceeds the assistant’s responsibilities.

03 / My developing skills

Two areas of study.
One professional direction.

Language

Reading for meaning.

My English studies give me an academic foundation for working with written language. I want to apply this to careful reading and concise summaries of business documents.

Development priority: legal terminology and assessed professional English practice.

Law

Asking structured questions.

Through my current legal studies, I am developing a method for separating facts, issues, relevant rules, and possible conclusions.

Development priority: research notes and case analysis supported by verified sources.

Professional practice

Making details visible.

I value clear records and focused questions. When two documents differ, I would identify the exact wording and ask a supervisor to confirm the intended meaning.

Development priority: supervised document review, version control, and workplace communication.

04 / Applied thinking

When two versions tell different stories.

Illustrative exercise / Not client work

A bilingual agreement review note.

Scenario: A company supplies an English draft and a Chinese draft of a service agreement. Before legal review, an assistant is asked to record visible differences and missing details.

Review pointIllustrative observationQuestion for the supervisor
Payment deadlineThe English draft states 30 days; the Chinese draft states 15 days.Which period reflects the intended agreement?
Party detailsOne version uses a shortened company name.What is the correct legal entity name in each version?
AttachmentsThe text refers to a service schedule that has not been supplied.Can the complete schedule be provided for review?
Language and jurisdictionThe intended controlling language and applicable jurisdiction are unconfirmed.Which provisions should the legal team consider before approval?

My method: preserve both drafts, create a comparison table, distinguish observations from legal conclusions, and refer unresolved points to the supervisor.

This proposed exercise demonstrates my approach. It does not establish translation accuracy, enforceability, professional qualification, or completed work experience.

05 / Career match

My background against the role.

My strongest connection is the combination of an English academic background and current postgraduate legal study. I am seeking a beginning role where I can turn that foundation into practical evidence.

Company requirementMy current connectionWhat I still need to demonstrate
Legal educationCurrently studying for a master’s degree in Law.Apply coursework to practical research tasks and complete degree requirements.
English communicationEnglish major; graduated in 2016.Current professional proficiency through writing samples and employer assessments.
Document comparisonThe sample exercise shows how I would identify inconsistencies.Accuracy and efficiency during supervised document work.
International perspectiveStudying law in Kazakhstan provides a setting for encountering different perspectives.Clear communication and reliable collaboration in a real workplace.
Professional responsibilityI recognise the importance of confidentiality, careful records, and supervision.Consistent performance within the employer’s procedures.
My education opens a direction. Practical evidence will show how well I can contribute.
06 / My next chapter

Building a place in the profession.

Learn

Strengthen the foundation.

Continue my law master’s studies and develop legal English through focused reading and short writing exercises.

Practise

Create useful evidence.

Prepare non-confidential research notes and document comparison exercises. Seek feedback and suitable supervised experience.

Contribute

Become a reliable assistant.

Support a team through accurate preparation, clear communication, and responsible handling of information.

I want to begin with tasks I can perform carefully, learn from corrections, and gradually take on more responsibility. My long-term direction is legal work that benefits from both language awareness and legal understanding.