In 2020, when I decided that I no longer wanted to teach, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. Once I had made that decision, I started wondering what I could do with a law degree. So, I went to the bastion of all knowledge (figuring they would have lots of different lawyer positions), Amazon Jobs. I searched for Lawyer. Out of the hundreds of open positions, one job stood out: Space Lawyer. Naturally, I clicked on it.

The first line: “Must be willing to relocate to Alexandria, Virginia, Earth.” “EARTH!?!” I thought, “Who puts Earth in their job description?” The next line: “No space travel required at this time.” My immediate reaction: “I’m in!”

When I went to law school, space law was a joke that I would bring out in class discussions. For example, in property, I argued that the laws of conquest and discovery were still relevant, just unapplied for the past couple hundred years but with a future in the stars. As law school progressed it became less of a joke and more of a tentative possibility, and now it is reality. I know that I will never be able to travel in space the way that I can travel to and around Europe; it just isn’t financially feasible. My kids possibly, and my grandkids, more likely, will have that chance. But only if we take care of space.

Space debris is becoming a problem. Technology will definitely allow my descendants to “Star Trek Space” as I call it, but only if we keep space clean enough that they have the opportunity to do so. I want to help the space industry such that future generations can enjoy what I can only dream of. I do space law, not for me, but for all humankind.

So, what exactly do I want to do? Anything space law related. I have adopted a policy that I call “falling forward.” Falling forward is all we do when we walk and run. We have balanced falling forward with moving our feet to prevent ourselves from falling on our faces. Over the past couple of years every opportunity that has presented itself to me, I have at least tried to interact with. This has led me to make some great friendships and experience some great things. It has allowed me to travel to Africa to intern with the Ugandan Supreme Court, give a Legal presentation on Cryonics at a Space Conference in Turin, Italy, and win Best Oralist at the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition. It helped me earn my Commercial Space Regulatory Credential, and most recently got me an internship with Astroscale (probably the coolest space company in the world). Where will it take me next? I have no idea, the sky is the limit and even then I hope not.