Career guide

How to Become a Space Lawyer: Space Law Careers Explained

As more companies launch satellites and plan missions to the Moon, someone has to answer the legal questions: who is responsible, who owns what, and who gives permission. That is the job of space law.

Start learning with Skyta Browse courses

What a space lawyer does

Space lawyers advise companies and governments on launch and satellite licensing, international treaties, contracts, insurance and liability when something goes wrong. Many also work on newer questions like space debris, lunar resources and the use of radio frequencies.

The treaties at the heart of space law

The Outer Space Treaty (1967): space is free for all nations to explore, no one can claim the Moon or planets, and countries are responsible for their national activities in space, including by companies.
The Rescue Agreement (1968): countries help astronauts in distress and return objects that land on their territory.
The Liability Convention (1972): who pays when a space object causes damage.
The Registration Convention (1975): countries register the objects they launch.
The Moon Agreement (1979): rules for the Moon and its resources, joined by only a small number of countries.

Who regulates space in the United States

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration licenses commercial launches and re-entries, the Federal Communications Commission licenses satellite communications, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration licenses commercial Earth imaging satellites. Other countries have their own space agencies and laws.

The education path

Learn the foundations of space law and how the space industry works, so you know which area you want to focus on.
To practice as a lawyer in the United States you need a law degree (JD) and admission to a state bar. Other countries have their own routes.
Some universities offer space law courses and advanced degrees, such as an LLM, for lawyers who want to specialize.
Students can join space law moot court competitions, such as the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition, to build experience.

Space law roles without a law degree

Not every space law job needs a lawyer. Policy analysts, compliance and licensing specialists, contracts managers and government affairs staff all work with space law every day. A strong grounding in the treaties and regulators is the starting point for each of them.