REFORM OF HIGHER LEGAL EDUCATION IN UKRAINE: STAGES, INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES, AND CONTEMPORARY TRENDS

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive scholarly analysis of the reform of higher legal education in Ukraine in the context of European integration and contemporary security challenges. The relevance of the study is determined by the need for strategic synchronization of the national system of legal education with the EU legal acquis and the requirements of the Bologna Process. Based on systemic, historical-legal, and comparative-legal analysis, four key stages of development are identified: the formation of a national model (1991–2004), the European integration stage (2005–2013), the normative and structural stage of legislative renewal (2014–2021), and the contemporary stage emerging under the conditions of wartime and the digitalization of the educational space (since 2022). Particular attention is paid to the transition from a knowledge-oriented paradigm to a competency-based model of training Bachelor of Law students, in which graduates are expected to possess not only fundamental knowledge of national law but also practical skills for analyzing legal phenomena and the ability to function effectively within a globalized legal environment. Institutional changes associated with the implementation of the standards of specialty 081 “Law,” the development of internal quality assurance systems, and the application of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) to ensure the comparability of qualifications are analyzed. The article highlights contemporary trends in the reform of higher legal education in Ukraine, including the strengthening of practice-oriented learning (legal clinics and simulation-based models), the introduction of digital technologies into the educational process, and the development of interdisciplinary approaches. It is demonstrated that the effective implementation of reforms requires bridging the gap between academic theory and the practical demands of the legal profession, as well as active partnerships between universities, professional institutions, and international educational organizations. The study concludes that further modernization of legal education should be based on the adaptability and practical orientation of educational programs, which is essential for preparing competitive professionals capable of contributing to Ukraine’s post-war recovery and democratic development.