Digital Law and Problems of Gradual Transformation of the Russian Legal System

Abstract

The relevance of the topic of the balance between the system of law and processes of digitalization of legal regulation is preconditioned by fundamental changes that are taking place in the legal system of Russia due to current technological challenges. The author qualifies changes under consideration as the processes of gradual transformation of law and its system. The article explores the dynamics of evolution of the legal understanding of the world due to technical progress. The author concludes that the new technological lifestyle pattern changes not only the usual lifestyle of people, but also the nature of legal regulation. The problem of consistent legal interpretation of the technological revolution is presented. It is concluded that the preservation of the systemic unity of the legal form is possible on the basis of the step-by-step revision of foundations of macroorganization of law. The paper demonstrates the difference between the current period of development of law and the classical epoch that proves the fact that the legal culture is about to include the virtual world into its subject matter. A sectoral approach based on monodimensional or complex subjects and methods of legal regulation can no longer provide for the comprehensive understanding of the nature of law. The paper depicts the evolution of notions of the norm and institute of law on the basis of symbiosis of deontic and behavioral elements that characterize the concept of legal technology. The conclusion about normativity of technological processes is made. The article substantiates the place and role of digital law in the process of gradual transformation of the legal system. The article justifies the provision that digital law performs the function of restructuring the legal system. The article reveals the subjects and methods of digital law as a source of law having impact on social relations. The author suggests the concepts of digital environment that creates a new type of lawyerism, namely: digital and analog law, and describes the correlation between them. The author puts forward the hypothesis of fundamental and applied law, describes their subject areas. On the basis of the analysis of the structural evolution of the legal system in the context of technological changes, the author provides for the forecast of parameters of the future legal order. It is concluded that conflicts of virtual and classical legal orders can be resolved under norms of digital law that eliminate the contrasting sides of legal permits and prohibitions. The author poses the issues regarding subjects of digital legal culture development, the new legal language, the role of analog law in restructuring the legal system, the balance between digital law and national legal tradition. The hypothesis of national models of digitalization of legal culture is put forward.