Launching Lawyers into Outer Space: An Analysis of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition
- Paper number
IAC-09.E1.2.10
- Author
Dr. Gérardine Meishan Goh, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Year
2009
- Abstract
The International Institute of Space Law (IISL) organises the annual Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition, an event with student participation from law faculties of universities around the world. Students prepare the written briefs and oral arguments of a hypothetical scenario brought before the International Court of Justice, taking the perspectives of both the applicant and respondent States. Winners of the Asia Pacific, Europe and North American regional rounds proceed to the World Finals, which is held together with the annual International Astronautical Congress and the IISL’s Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space. From its inception in 1992, participation in the competition has grown from two universities to more than fifty. In the process, law students with no initial inkling of or interest in outer space activities have been drawn into the fascinating world of international space law. This paper analyses the progressive development of the Competition, from the perspectives of a student and a faculty member. Advantages and disadvantages in this hands-on method of teaching international space law are considered. The interactive manner of promoting space law through the Competition is discussed, and a modest proposal is made to bring the Competition to a wider audience that includes science, engineering and technical students.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)