Developing a Lawyer's Practical Thinking at Higher Education Institution Stage of the Professionalization

Abstract

The paper considers the particularities of development of a lawyer's practical thinking at the higher education institution stage of professionalization. In order to achieve the set goal, the block of psychological techniques was used, in particular, several scales of R. Cattell's 16-factor personality questionnaire, a questionnaire for diagnosing the practical orientation of thinking, a questionnaire of creative personal capacities etc. The research was conducted with a sample of 282 students of the faculty of law of P.G. Demidov YarSU, with 143 students of the faculty of economics of P.G. Demidov YarSU as the control group (425 people in total). The study performed has shown that the development of qualities of thinking in lawyers at the higher education institution stage of professionalization is distinguished by essential heterochrony. In particular, a significant reduction of most professionally important indices has been found in year 3 of studying at the faculty of law. These indices are restored in years 4 and 5 either in full (intellect) or in part (practical orientation of thinking, development of creative personal capacities). This allows speaking about a crisis in the development of professional thinking of law students in year 3. The consequences of this crisis turn to not be overcome completely by year 5. In the paper, it is supposed that finally the consequences of the crisis found are eliminated as late as during the graduate's direct performing of the professional activity.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s5p319