First Space Lawyer Graduates

PHPNerd writes "Over at space.com is an interesting article about the first space lawyer. He graduated from the University of Mississippi. 'Any future space lawyer might have to deal with issues ranging from the fallout over satellite shoot-downs to legal disputes between astronauts onboard the International Space Station. The expanding privatization of the space sector may also pose new legal challenges [...] "We are particularly proud to be offering these space law certificates for the first time, since ours is the only program of its kind in the U.S. and only one of two in North America," said Samuel Davis, law dean at the University of Mississippi.'"

just what we need

a new breed of lawyers

Isn't maritime law enough?

It seems that maritime law is very similar if we can discount aliens.

Disputes between citizens of different countries are already resolved on the high seas by maritime law. Dumping too.

Space law just sounds like a degree cooked up by one of those internet universities that send you a pdf degree.

Re:Isn't maritime law enough?

Maritime Law does cover aliens if you treat them as "natives" like the colonials did.

Trade with them, enslave them, and/or slaughter them.

No, martime law is not enough

Don't critique that which you do not know.

The University of Mississippi School of Law [olemiss.edu] "offers the only dedicated aerospace law curriculum in the nation from an American Bar Association-accredited law school, and requires courses on U.S. space and aviation law, international space and aviation law, and remote sensing; participation in the publication of the Journal of Space Law; and independent research. The National Center for Remote Sensing, Air and Space Law was founding in 1999."

The faculty and staff look very well experienced [olemiss.edu]: international treaties, UN, regulatory exp.; aerospace, aviation, & remote sensing legal work; governmental, public policy groups and private sector.

Curriculum [olemiss.edu] from the National Center for Remote Sensing, Air and Space Law [olemiss.edu] :

Remote Sensing Law: "Remote sensing is a valuable technology in science, foreign policy, national security, and commerce. This course provides an overview of international and domestic remote sensing law and identifies issues in the United States and the international community."

U.S. Domestic Space Law: "This course covers the most developed body of domestic space law in the world: that of the United States. It addresses the nation's civil and military programs and offers a wide variety of commercial activites: launches, remote sensing, and satellite communications, among others."

International Space Law: "This course provides an overview of current international space law in U.N. resolutions and treaties and customary law. It identifies legal theory and principles used in the advancement of civil, military, and commercial space activities."

Journal of Space Law (practical): "The Journal of Space Law is an academic review of national and international scope, focusing on the many aspects of space, remote sensing, and aerospace law. Research, writing, and editing assignments, and other duties necessary to the operation of the Journal of Space Law. One hour credited for each term of participation to maximum of 4 hours. Limitation: credit not available if enrolled in the Mississippi Law Journal."

RTFA before uninformed commentary. HTH.

Re:Isn't maritime law enough?

I'm sure it's happened. They call it "running aground".

Re:just what we need

And here I was hoping space would be one place to someday finally have a lawyer-free haven.

Re:just what we need

Less talk and more reloading! Don't let any of them get away!!

Re:just what we need

Sure, we can eliminate lawyers and go back to settling disputes at arms. But then you still have a "lawyer" who is a knight fighting as your champion to butcher the other party's champion. But then it sucks when the RIAA hires Sir Lancelot every time and all you can afford is Ichabod Crane.

Most states don't recognize specialization...

In the states I've looked up, "specializing" as a lawyer means nothing. Every lawyer is on 100% equal footing with regard to the law. The "family law" lawyer has exactly the same legal standing as a "criminal defense attorney", wether the trial is a messy divorce or a murder trial.

While I suppose it's good to have specialized training in law for a specific field, this just seems silly. I mean, I'm sure there have been lawyers before (working for NASA, Lockheed, Boeing, etc,) that have "specialized" in space law. Who cares if the diploma lists "space law", really?

Nor do they with doctors . . .

Specialization has, for most professions, been a way for the industry to differentiate between its own members. It is not a government-recognized title. For example, a medical doctor can legally perform brain surgery without the 7 year neurosurgery residency. More than that, someone who has completed the 7-year training and *fails* the neurosurgery boards can legally perform brain surgery.

Many HMO clinics/etc, as a cost-cutting measure, will actually hire 'radiologists' and other specialists who have been unable to pass their boards. This is because, while they are legally allowed to practice whatever medicine they want (assuming they have their state license to practice medicine), they will work cheap 'cause anyone who checks their credentials will likely turn them away.

On another note, always check your physicians credentials :)

Re:Nor do they with doctors . . .

In the medical profession, some of the subspecialty boards are more of a money-grab by the professional societies rather than any indication of the abilities of the practitioners.

In the field of cardiology, there are a number of subspecialty board examinations. Some of them are necessary (ie: Interventional Cardiology, Electrophysiology), and some of them are simple money grabs (Echocardiography, Nuclear Medicine, Peripheral Vascular Disease).

Unfortunately, it all sounds impressive when you are a patient. :-(

Re:Nor do they with doctors . . .

Here's the best ways to check their credentials:

1. Ask to see their medical school diploma. Most will have it hanging in their office. As a general rule, you want a doctor who graduated from a United States medical school. There are a lot of med schools in the carribean for docs who can't hack the U.S. curriculum. There are also some good schools in England as well as a couple other places, so don't immediately discount them if they don't have a U.S. diploma -- but it is a possible warning flag that you need to research.

2. Ask to see their board certification (assuming you are talking to a specialist like an orthopedic surgeon, radiologist, ob/gyn, etc). If they don't have board certification, see if you can find a doctor in your health care's plan that is board certified. Board certification requires a doctor to take a rather grueling exam much akin to a lawyer's boards. If your doc did it, you know right off that they are likely higher-calibur.

3. Ask them if they have ever had their license involuntarily revoked in this or any other state. If so, find another doctor. **Caveat: Doctors have to pay dues to keep their license to practice in a state, so if they moved they might have it revoked for failure to pay dues. Obviously, that's not an issue.

Re:Most states don't recognize specialization...

Exceptions! Patent Attorneys and Maritime Attorneys. Attorneys are not allowed to use those prefixes in a description of their profession unless they have passed special Federal bars, which are seperate from state bars. Although many IP attorneys say they litigate patents, a Patent Attorney is the only one that can secure a patent from the patent office. Similarly a Maritime Attorney is the only type of attorney that can litigate in Maritime law tribunals. From the article it sounds like this is just a novelty concentration for law school and nothing more.

In space...

In space, no one can hear you sue.

I, for one . . .

[comment deleted due to space copyright]
-Space Lawyer

Puts a whole new perspective...

on Jedi mind tricks.....

I know I shouldn't be dissapointed.

I shouldn't be, but I am. I know that you refer to a lawyer by their specialty, i.e. a "patent lawyer" is a lawyer who specializes in patents, not a lawyer who themselves is patented or was created by a patent.

But is it really all that much to ask that the world's first "space lawyer" actually be from space? Or live there now? I don't care what they specialize in, they just have to have a law degree and either hail from or emigrate to outer space.

I'll be writing my congressman about this.

Quick...

... kill it now before it breeds! I say we take off & nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

A good start ...

but when are they going to send all the other lawyers in space?

Perhaps not what they meant the label to represent

I'm sorry, this just reminds me of Heinlein's use of the phrase "space lawyer" as the SF generalization of "latrine lawyer."

Actually, I think he will be in high demand...

because everyone who bought "property" on the moon will need to sue their real estate agent.

Hmmm...

How do you get a process server to the ISS?

But..

Weren't their fees already.. astronomical?

bzzt

Inaccurate. This is not the first "space lawyer." It is the first "space law certificate" from a law school to a graduating law student. There are a multitude of "space lawyers" already.

And just to be nitpicky, just because this person graduates from law school with this certificate doesn't make them a "space lawyer." Graduating from law school doesn't make you a lawyer. Passing the bar makes you a lawyer, and the certificate doesn't mean a damn.

Re:

Except that John C. Stennis, as in the John C. Stennis Space Center, is from there (I actually met him by chance at a nursing home in Madison near the end of his life). And Fred Haies on Apollo 13 was from Biloxi, Mississippi. So it's not _totally_ unpre