Legal Argumentation in the Process of Studying Disciplines of Legal History: Innovative Approaches in the Training of Future Lawyers in the Context of Legal Education Reform

The article states the need for fundamental changes in the national judicial system in the context of Ukraine’s European and North Atlantic integration. The reform of legal education plays a key role in the transformation of judicial institutions and bringing them in line with the requirements of the European Commission. The project of the Concept of Legal Education Reform points to the inconsistency of the content and quality of legal education with the modern requirements and challenges of a democratic society. The document outlines the scale of the problem, its factors, the purpose and strategic objectives of the reform. The author proposes to include educational components of legal history, which based on the values of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the project of the Concept of Legal Education Reform. The article reviews the specifics of teaching argumentation in the course of mastering the disciplines of legal history in higher education institutions which prepare future lawyers, with due regard for the reform of legal education. The author proposes to integrate the civilizational approach, modern teaching methods and innovative forms and methods of teaching to form general and special competencies in higher education students and achieve the relevant learning results. The importance of historical and legal knowledge for the formation of legal argumentation, critical thinking and effective legal analysis is substantiated. The article examines modern methods of professional preparation of future lawyers, with a particular emphasis on problem-based learning, including multimedia and interactive lectures, small group workshops, laboratory work, independent work of students and consultations with teachers. The training of lawyers is carried out in the context of active implementation of digital technologies, which necessitates the use of innovative educational tools, including distance learning courses, video platforms and other digital resources to create accessible and high-quality content. A particular attention is paid to active methods of teaching disciplines of legal history, including analysis of specific legal situations, brainstorming, case method, situational simulation and immersion method. The author emphasizes the importance of situational role-playing and intellectual games that contribute to the development of students’ professional competencies, such as argumentation, critical thinking and legal analysis. The use of interactive approaches ensures the involvement of students in active cognitive activities and contributes to the formation of competitive legal specialists. Keywords: competence approach, competence, lawyer, legal education, civilization approach, legal argumentation, multiculturalism, legal history, reform.