Events

The Notre Dame Space Law Society hosts generally host events surrounding one or more of three topics or themes: Introduction to Space Law (events describing what space law is, explaining different treaties, etc.), Careers (events focused on the speaker’s or panel’s career path in the field, and opportunities for students), and Ethics/Policy (events focused on bringing together students, faculty and members o the campus community who are interested in space to discuss different issues of ethics or policy. If you have an event/speaker idea or suggestion, please contact us.

Upcoming Events:

Previous events have included:

  • “Cosmic Rules of Engagement: Space, Law and the U.S. Military”
    • April 4, 2019
    • Co-sponsored with the Military and Veteran Law Society
    • Guest Speaker: Major Susan Trepczynski, USAF
      • Currently serves as Staff Judge Advocate at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center.
    • She discussed her involvement in the area of space law, the types of issues that she focuses and advises on, some of the big issues in space law facing the military right now, and the opportunities available in the military for lawyers who want to work on these types of issues.
  • “Space Law: Its Cold War Origins and Challenges in the Era of Globalization”
    • March 18, 2019
    • Guest Speaker: Professor Joanne Gabrynowicz
      • Currently serves as the Director of the International Institute of Space Law and is the chair of its Publications Committee as well as its official observer to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Legal Subcommittee
      • Currently is a member of the International Law Association Space Law Committee
      • Journal of Space Law, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
      • Formerly served as the Director  of the National Center for Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law of the University of Mississippi School of Law
      • Formerly served as Professor of Space Studies and Director of Graduate Studies at the Space Studies Department of the University of North Dakota
      • She has briefed and advised numerous government officials and served as an expert in countless groups on issues related to space
    • She discussed the history of space law and policy both nationally and internationally
    • She also gave a lecture to the joint 1L Property Law classes titled “Property Rights in Space: Introduction and Issues”
  • “Counseling SpaceX“
    • September 25, 2018
    • Co-sponsored with the Career Development Office
    • Guest Speaker: Rachel Lovejoy, ND’91, B.A. in Government
      • Senior Counsel for SpaceX
      • Discussed her career path leading up to SpaceX, the types of issues lawyers in the private space industry focus and advise on, and the opportunities available for future lawyers.
  • “A Different Kind of Lawyer? Space Lawyer!”
    • April 16, 2018
    • Co-sponsored with the Military and Veterans Law Society and the Future Prosecuting Attorney’s Council
    • Guest Speaker: Shawn Gallagher, ND Law’81
      • Served as Attorney-Advisor and Deputy Chief Counsel at NASA Langley Research Center’s Office of Chief Counsel handling business law issues
      • Previously served as an Army Judge Advocate General
      • Discussed his 36 year career as an attorney in the Army and NASA, what kind of legal preparation can assist in getting a position with NASA’s legal team, and insight into what NASA attorneys do on a routine basis.
  • “A Conversation With a Space Lawyer”
    • March 26, 2018
    • Guest Speaker: Professor Laura Montgomery
      • Currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Space Law at Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law with an emphasis on commercial space matters, also serves as the Proprietor of Ground Based Space Matters which provides legal services on space law focusing primarily on regulatory and treaty issues, and is also an author of several works of science fiction
      • Formerly served as a senior attorney for the Office of Commercial Space Transportation in the FAA, and as Manager of the Space Law Branch of the FAA
      • Discussed the Commercial Space Launch Act; her experiences as space lawyer, both in government and in private practice; and opportunities for law students to get involved in the field.
  • “To the Moon and Back”
    • February 14, 2018
    • Guest Speaker: Notre Dame Professor Clive Neal
      • University of Notre Dame College of Engineering, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science; Member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; Chair of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group
      • Discussed the potential of future human exploration of the moon, his work with the LEAG, and the formulation of a comprehensive lunar exploration roadmap along with the development of a permanent legal and regulatory framework.
  • “Human Space Exploration and the Law”
    • November 17, 2017
    • Guest Speaker: Mike Hawes, ND’78, B.S. in Aerospace Engineering
      • Currently serves as Lockheed Martin’s Vice President of Human Space Exploration and Orion Program Manager. Previously served as an associate administrator at NASA
      • Discussed his work, the future of space law, and the Outer Space Treaty
  • “The Development of Commercial Space Transportation and the Legal Field”
    • November 2, 2017
    • Guest Speaker: Dan Murray, ND’96, B.S. in Aerospace Engineering
      • Currently serves as Manager of the Space Transportation Development Division of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation of the Federal Aviation Administration