STAGES OF OFFICERS’ LEGAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER MILITARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF UKRAINE (MID-XX – THE BEGINNING OF XXI CENTURY)

The article analyzes the views of leading scholars on the periodization of the development of pedagogical phenomena. The author has revealed that its correct implementation depends on the adequate use of relevant terms and concepts. To solve a problem, it must be coherent and scientifically verified. Researchers use cultural-anthropological, civilizational, institutional, and criterion-complex approaches as a methodological basis for identifying certain stages of certain educational phenomena formation. The study of the strengths and weaknesses of the educational theory and practice of the past makes it possible to determine the way of reforming the vocational training of officers for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Legal education is an essential component of the training of personnel whose tasks include the protection of the sovereignty of the state. The latter is a purposeful, orderly, and standardized process, as well as the result of mastering systematic knowledge of those who learn, the formation of skills and abilities of adequate legally significant behavior, and instilling a high legal culture and legal awareness. The formation of scientific ideas about the subject of research requires substantiation of the main stages of development of legal education of officers in higher military educational institutions of Ukraine (mid XX – early XXI century) and their essential characteristics. Taking into account the influence of ideological, political, legal, and geopolitical factors, based on the dates of adoption of regulations determining the activities of universities and their legal education in the study period, as well as content and operational (forms, methods) components of the pedagogical process, three main stages its development. The first stage (1943–1975) included the formation of Soviet legal education in the higher military school of Ukraine. The second stage (1975–1991) took in the establishment of Soviet legal education in the domestic higher military school. The third stage (1991-2015) was marked by the development of legal education in the higher military school of Ukraine, in terms of its reform and integration into the national education system. It is determined that the first stage is characterized by the lack of specific disciplines for cadets to acquire legal competencies; its implementation within political classes and advocacy activities; focuses on clarifying the rules for violation of which there is legal liability, as well as crime prevention and maintenance of discipline; the predominance of verbal and visual methods in teaching. The second stage shows the active development of pedagogical theory and practice of legal education in the Soviet higher military school. It also stands out with strengthening the legal training of future officers, which was carried out within a specific subject in traditional forms - training sessions (lectures, practical), independent work; expanding the use of practical teaching methods; streamlining and updating the content of legal education. The third stage departs with the simultaneous formation of the legal basis for reforming the key structures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the integration of Ukrainian universities into the national education system. There also was updating the content of legal education in accordance with the development of national legislation and international relations, using information technology, and the growing importance of research methods and independent work.