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Having difficulty obtaining
employment? Well now all you have to do
is look to the skies! That’s right! The new wave (but not really that new) is in
a special niche area of the law called air and space law.
As countries are gearing up to mine
asteroids, we are going to find similar disputes arising as we did for oil and
mineral rights on Earth. Meagan Clark
raises several legal issues in her article Outer Space May Rescue US Lawyers From A Saturated Job Market, which discussed the
need to fill this practice area. How can
an asteroid be retained as property? Where
would the “deed” be filed? If a piece of
an asteroid chips off during mining and damages a satellite, is there a
claim? And if so, what court will have
jurisdiction? Not to mention, with the
future attempt to colonize on Mars, who’s laws and
government will the colonists adopt and how will issues be adjudicated?
If this is an area of the law you might
be interested in specializing or just getting familiar with, there are several
schools who have been quite successful.
For instance, the University of Mississippi Law School created a space
law journal in 1973 and has offered courses in space law since the early
2000s. J.D. students at this school are
able to obtain an air and space law certificate. The University of Nebraska in Lincoln offers
space law courses as well as an LL.M in space, cyber and telecommunications
law. Further, there are international
moot court and mock trial competitions focusing on space law specifically.
If the force is not with you to practice
space law, just use this growing area as an example. Look to up-and-coming trends in technology,
government, and any other growing area where legal issues might arise. If there are classes, take them. If there is a certificate, get it (especially
if it won’t cost you any extra in tuition).
Although employers fault law students for not having any practical
experience, becoming an expert in a new, growing field is extremely valuable –
especially during a recession.
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