IMPLEMENTATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING IN THE COURSE OF TRAINING EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF LAW: ADVANTAGES AND RISKS

Abstract

The author of the article has analyzed the issue of implementing distance learning in the course of training the experts in the field of law. It has been identified that the current challenges related to the prevention of emergence, spread and dissemination of epidemics and pandemics of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have demonstrated that the implementation of distance learning in the educational process of training experts in the field of law is the necessity. It has been determined that the advantages of distance learning namely include: 1) flexibility and mobility, which creates the opportunity to acquire knowledge without being in an educational institution and prevents the spread of disease among the participants in the educational process; 2) advantages for extramural form of study for experts in the field of law in terms of obtaining information and conducting current control of knowledge, taking into account the Bologna system of assessment; 3) cost cutout of higher educational institutions to ensure the educational process; 4) development of IT used in the process of distance learning. It has been proved that the risks of distance learning, in particular, include: 1) the absence or reduction of social relationships of participants in the educational process; 2) reduction of the students’ motivation for personal professional development; 3) distrust regarding the quality of educational services; 4) increase of the students’ self-directed learning; 5) insufficient or poor quality of financial support of distance learning; 6) non-transparency of assessment criteria; 7) the lack of established rules of ethical behavior of the participants in the educational process. It has been offered to introduce the elements of distance learning rather than remote acting mode of higher legal education, mostly into extramural form of study, and some elements of distance learning into intramural form of study of the experts in the field of law.