how to be a space lawyer

by Demetris Donnelly 3 min read

Firstly, you will need a bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) in order to know the basics of the legal system. At this stage, you will learn many interesting things but you will not be trained as a ‘space lawyer’. Depending on your home country, you may need to be licensed as a lawyer in order to practice any kind of law before becoming a space lawyer.

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What does a space lawyer do?

Apr 04, 2017 · To qualify for entry to the J.S.D. Space Law program, you must already have a law degree or a Ph.D. in a related field. This academic degree …

Can you get a law degree in space law?

Because of the nature of space law, space lawyers engage in a great deal of policy making. They might spend the bulk of their time drafting proposals or advocating for certain policies. Space lawyers must also understand enough science to give their clients educated advice. Studying space law. Space law is a relatively new area for formal legal study.

Where can I study space law in the US?

So, You Want To Be A Space Lawyer… You really can get a certificate in space law from an accredited law school. By Kathryn Rubino What law school …

Who was the first space lawyer?

November 19, 2018 @ 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm. Join the Harvard Space Exploration & Admiralty Law Society (SEALS) for a lunch talk with Gabriel Swiney on working as a space lawyer. Gabriel Swiney is the lead international space lawyer for the U.S. Department of State. He advises the United States National Space Council as well as Department of State ...

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What do space lawyers do?

What do space lawyers do? Space lawyers draft international treaties and national laws. They advise lawmakers about good policy and whether to enter international agreements. Space lawyers may even help negotiate these agreements.

Are space lawyers in demand?

As outer space becomes more accessible, space lawyers will be in greater demand.Dec 1, 2021

Do lawyers work at NASA?

A: There are 130 lawyers who work for NASA.

Can a lawyer be an astronaut?

Donald Lee Holmquest (born April 7, 1939) is an American lawyer, physician, electrical engineer, and former NASA astronaut....Donald Holmquest.Donald L. HolmquestAlma materSouthern Methodist, B.S. 1962 Baylor, M.D. 1967, Ph.D. 1968 Houston, J.D. 1988OccupationEngineer, physician, lawyerSpace careerNASA Astronaut15 more rows

What is international space law?

Space law can be described as the body of law governing space-related activities. Space law, much like general international law, comprises a variety of international agreements, treaties, conventions, and United Nations General Assembly resolutions as well as rules and regulations of international organizations.

How much does a lawyer get paid in India?

In India, the range of salary that the law firms offers ranges all the way from Rs 25-30 lakh per annum to Rs 150-200 lakh. Even for lawyers who have just graduated from college, there is a wide potential range from between Rs 5-10 lakh per year to Rs 18-20 lakh per year.

What agencies are under NASA?

Ames Research Center. IT, fundamental aeronautics, bio and space science technologies. ... Armstrong Flight Research Center. Flight research. ... Glenn Research Center. Aeropropulsion and communications technologies. ... Goddard Space Flight Center. ... Headquarters. ... Jet Propulsion Laboratory. ... Johnson Space Center. ... Kennedy Space Center.More items...

Does NASA have a legal team?

As part of the legal functional management team, the General Law Practice Group provides leadership in the areas of ethics, fiscal law, environmental law, personnel and labor law, civil rights and equal employment law, information disclosure law, safety and security law, alien residence issues, memoranda of ...Nov 22, 2021

Who is Brian Dunbar NASA?

Brian Dunbar is an Internet Services Manager in the NASA Office of Communications.

What is Indian space law?

India signed the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies 1967 (the Outer Space Treaty) in 1967, although it was not ratified until 1982.Dec 9, 2021

Is there such a thing as space law?

Yes, space law is a thing. (And it doesn't involve real estate or aliens.) Space law is a collection of domestic and international agreements and guidelines that govern issues like space exploration, military and weapons use, and liability for damage.Aug 31, 2019

What issue can complicate the work of space lawyers?

What issue can complicate the work of space lawyers? It is still somewhat unclear where airspace ends and outer space begins. Which of the following is the only group in mission control that gets to communicate with the astronauts in space?

Why do we need space lawyers?

Because many countries in the world have an interest in space exploration, and because space is the final frontier, space law is part science and part politics. Space lawyers spend a lot of their time determining what international agreements should be and how private property and territory rights should work in regards to outer space. Once they answer these questions, they must work to gain international cooperation and agreement on these issues. Finally, space lawyers must work to implement international and domestic laws that relate to space activity and exploration.

What is space law?

Space law is the body of laws, agreements and treaties that govern outer space. Worldwide leaders must grapple with how to regulate activity in space. Space law covers issues like rules for exploration, weapons use, damage for liability, rescue efforts for astronauts in distress, environmental regulations and records of space activity.

Why is space law important?

As technologies and government priorities change, the laws and agreements that govern activity in space must also change. Space lawyers get to be a part of this important work.

When did the United Nations start discussing space?

The United Nations also debated the issues in 1958. In 1959, the United Nations formed the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). COPUOS is the main international group for discussing space activity and its related agreements.

Who was the attorney who helped start Aerojet?

In 1942, attorney Andrew G. Haley helped begin the Aerojet company. The company’s founders joked that it was up to Haley to help them behave in outer space. Haley went on to write the treatise Space Law and Government.

What are the five treaties that govern the exploration and use of outer space?

The first was the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies . The treaties cover topics like the rescue of astronauts, liability issues when space activities cause damage and registration of objects that public bodies and private entities launch into outer space. The agreements discuss appropriating resources. Generally, the treaties have supported the notion that no state should claim sovereignty of any celestial body including the moon. One treaty banned the use of nuclear weapons in space.

Who sets the policy for domestic space?

Domestic space policy is largely in the hands of the United States President. The President negotiates treaties. The President sets policy for domestic space activities pending legislative approval and funding. Space lawyers guide the President with policy recommendations and guidance.

What is the field about?

A legal system is generally created in order to regulate certain activities. In the case of ‘space law’ the aim is to agree on certain rules that apply to human activities in outer space. The field can be divided into: international space law and domestic and commercial space law.

What would I do every day?

A space lawyer is a lawyer first. This means supporting governmental or commercial space activities by attending meetings and negotiations, drafting and reviewing documents and basically thinking a lot on the law and the space activity in question.

How much and what do I need to study?

Firstly, you will need a bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) in order to know the basics of the legal system. At this stage, you will learn many interesting things but you will not be trained as a ‘space lawyer’. Depending on your home country, you may need to be licensed as a lawyer in order to practice any kind of law before becoming a space lawyer.

Where can I work?

You can work at a ministry or a space agency if you wish to work for the government. You can also work with the space industry in a commercial space company or at a law firm which specializes in space law. If you prefer academia, working at a university or a research institute is also a good option.

Learn more about a space lawyer's work by

This article is written by Dr. Neta Palkovitz, Space Lawyer at Innovative Solutions In Space B.V. (ISIS).

When was the outer space treaty signed?

View Larger. Image | United Nations. The Outer Space Treaty, signed in 1967. Erika says there are parallels to the laws that apply in Antarctica. “No country can own Antarctica,” she says. “It’s shared, it’s the heritage of humankind.

Who is Michelle Wheeler?

Michelle Wheeler. Freelance science journalist. So, you want to be a space lawyer ? Fifty-three years ago, the United States, Soviet Union and United Kingdom signed the Outer Space Treaty. Written during the Cold War, the treaty banned weapons of mass destruction in Earth’s orbit and the establishment of military bases on the Moon.

Can you edit an article?

You cannot edit the article. When republishing, you have to credit our authors, ideally in the byline. You have to credit Particle with a link back to the original publication on Particle. If you’re republishing online, you must use our pageview counter, link to us and include links from our story.

Is space a private company?

But today, space is increasingly the domain of private companies. “We have Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, SpaceX and entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk who are increasingly interested in space activities,” Erika says. “But we’ve also got small satellite companies and launching facilities in multiple countries.

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