THE RULE OF LAW AND LEGAL EDUCATION OF THE POPULATION: THE NECESSITY AND IMPORTANCE OF CORRELATION

Abstract

This paper analyses the interdependence between the implementation of the rule of law and legal education for the public. The analysis is based on the generally accepted premise that the rule of law encompasses a harmonious combination of principles and norms aimed at fully safeguarding human rights and freedoms. The modern era, however, is characterized by an integrated understanding of the rule of law as a complex yet effective legal phenomenon, which forms the basis of the doctrine of constitutionalism and the rule of law, and must therefore be regarded as an indispensable factor in democratic governance. The full affirmation and implementation of the principle of the rule of law is a hallmark of the civilized progress of the state and society. It is noted that the concept of the rule of law has traditionally been the subject of academic research. For the subject of our study, however, emphasis should be placed on aligning the criteria of the rule of law with legal education for the public (or ‘civic legal education’).

The existing assumption regarding a clear correlation between the phenomena of the rule of law and the legal education of the population has been confirmed. Indeed, in this case, it is not merely a matter of adhering to the standards of the rule of law and complying with the provisions of legislative acts, but also of citizens making a conscious choice regarding their own lawful conduct. There can be no dispute that it is precisely legal education that must provide a solid foundation for both legal upbringing and legal culture, as well as an appropriate level of legal awareness among citizens.

It has been demonstrated that there are significant obstacles to the implementation of the principle of the rule of law, including the population’s insufficient legal literacy. Moreover, these difficulties and obstacles are characteristic of both ‘young democracies’ and countries with established traditions of democratic governance. Consequently, the improvement of the fundamental principles of the rule of law and the development of civic legal education must be interlinked and mutually coordinated, sharing a single objective – the formation of a democratic, legal and social state in which human rights and freedoms are recognized as the highest social value!