Contemporary information society and higher legal education: Formation of a professional and a personality of prospective lawyer

Abstract

The paper is concerned with the interpretation of problems in higher legal education, as well as organization of educational process and management process, arising from the unprecedented, mass switch to the distance education form in higher education institutions of the country. Design/methodology/approach: The authors analyze several gaps and shortcomings related to the growing digitalization, examine the problems arising from crisis phenomena, pandemic, and the prospects for further improvement of legal education. The aspects of the relationship between the student, higher education institution, educational management authorities and public authorities are discussed separately. Findings: The paper substantiates the algorithm to determine the basic tasks and importance of mentoring and educating prospective lawyers, taking into account current problem situations and future perspectives; a fresh approach to the role of a student of a higher education institution-prospective specialist and his or her responsibility for the process of education-is put forward. The authors of the paper express their opinion on the problem of improvement and scientific substantiation of the list of educational subjects and their structure in order to determine their place in a particular curriculum. Originality/value: The authors substantiate the idea of the need to introduce curricular and extra-curricular activities in a number of training programs, of the development of forms and technologies of various creative and written works of students which will be tied to their specialization or training program. They put forward the idea according to which all changes must be aimed at improving the efficiency of professional competence of a student to enable him or her practice law even 5 and 10 years after completion of the course in a higher education institution, having become a professional lawyer in any field of activity.