LEGAL CULTURE AS A PLEDGE OF YOUTH’S LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FORMATION

Abstract

The article highlights the influence of legal culture on the young citizens’ legal responsibility formation of Ukraine. The essence of legal culture as a component of the general culture of society and personality has been revealed. It has been found out that legal culture is a concept that characterizes the quality of the society legal life, the degree of human rights and freedoms guaranteed by the state and society, as well as the development of the individual’s legal consciousness (knowledge, understanding and observance of the right of each individual member of society). It has been noted that such characteristics as possession of legal knowledge and ability to apply it, awareness of legal values, meanings and attitudes, existence of moral convictions and responsibility of a person for their own behavior, observance of rules of behavior are common in the content of all definitions of the category “legal culture”. The elements of legal culture have been analyzed. Emphasis is placed on respect for the right (law) as recognition of its social value. It is proved that the scientific level of legal thinking and legal awareness provides for the formation of the ideal of legal personality, characterized by legal responsibility. The importance of fostering legal culture of society has been emphasized. It is stated that the legal culture formation is an integral part of the individual’s socialization. The stages (purposeful formation of legal knowledge and concepts; development of legal beliefs; formation of ethical and legal installations; education of legal feelings; formation of experience of responsible, law-abiding behavior; formation of active socio-legal position) and main directions (cognitive, emotional-value), are defined formation of student youth’s legal culture. It has been emphasized that the formation of future specialists’ legal competence is possible under the condition of having an educational (legal) environment in the institution of education, realization of students’ legal education during the whole period of their education.