LEGAL STUDIES AS A TOOL FOR SHAPING THE LEGAL CULTURE OF YOUTH IN THE CONTEXT OF UKRAINE'S EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Abstract

Introduction. In the context of Ukraine's European integration, the transformation of the national legal system, and the modernization of the educational process, fostering a high level of legal culture among young people has become an essential prerequisite for the development of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Legal studies play a pivotal role in shaping legal awareness, promoting respect for the principle of the rule of law, strengthening active citizenship, and developing young people's ability to exercise and protect their rights through lawful means. The relevance of this study is determined by the need to improve legal education in accordance with European standards, identify effective mechanisms for fostering the legal culture of the younger generation, and ensure an appropriate level of legal competence in the face of contemporary social challenges.

Purpose. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive legal analysis of the role of legal studies as a tool for fostering the legal culture of young people, to examine the current state of the regulatory framework governing legal education in Ukraine, to assess the impact of European integration on the development of the legal culture of the younger generation, and to identify the main directions for improving legal education and civic upbringing mechanisms based on European experience.

Materials and Methods. The research is based on the analysis of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Laws of Ukraine On Education, On Complete General Secondary Education, and On Higher Education, regulatory legal acts of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the National Human Rights Strategy, documents of the Council of Europe, the European Union, and other international legal instruments establishing the principles of legal education, civic education, and the development of legal culture. The theoretical basis of the study comprises contemporary scientific works by Ukrainian and foreign scholars devoted to issues of legal culture, legal awareness, legal education, and the development of legal studies within the context of European integration. The research employs formal legal, comparative legal, systemic-structural, hermeneutic, logical-legal, and analytical methods of scientific inquiry.

Results. It is substantiated that, in the context of European integration, legal studies constitute one of the key instruments for fostering the legal culture of young people, developing legal awareness, and strengthening respect for the rule of law. The study identifies the principal factors hindering the effectiveness of legal education, including the fragmented nature of legal education, the insufficient practical orientation of educational programmes, the inadequate integration of European legal standards into educational curricula, and the limited use of modern interactive teaching methods. It is demonstrated that the current regulatory framework provides the necessary legal basis for the development of young people's legal culture; however, it requires further improvement through the comprehensive modernization of legal education curricula, the enhancement of practice-oriented learning, and the implementation of European approaches to the formation of legal competence. It is concluded that the effective development of legal culture is possible only through the combination of high-quality legal education, effective legal upbringing, the promotion of active civic engagement among young people, and the systematic integration of European democratic values into the national educational environment.

Prospects. Promising directions for further research include improving the legal and organizational mechanisms for fostering the legal culture of young people, developing modern models of legal education focused on the practical application of legal knowledge, examining the effectiveness of integrating European legal standards into the national education system, and studying foreign experience in the development of legal culture, civic competence, and legal awareness among the younger generation in the context of European integration and the digital transformation of society.