Formation of legal system of Lithuania: historical memory and integrational process

During the period of 1990–2009, in the legal system of the Republic of Lithuania, fundamental changes have occurred: exit from the USSR, the adoption of a new Constitution, the process of codification of the Lithuanian law, integration into the European Union. The Republic of Lithuania, of course, has its own characteristics. Formation of the legal system of the Republic of Lithuania in 1990–2009 has a lot of important events. For nineteen years of legal system of Lithuania were obvious achievements and some omissions. Thus, for a more comprehensive analysis of the legal system of the Republic of Lithuania is advisable to periodization to identify features at each stage. The author proposed the following periodization: from 1990 to 1996; from 1996 to 2004; from 2004 to 2009 biennium. The periodization is guided by the fundamental and significant events in the life of the Lithuanian State, significantly affecting the legal system. The independence of Lithuania as a political act has given rise to the need for changes in legislation, above all, constitutional. This in turn led to the transformation of law and legal practice and the subsequent impact on the changes in legal culture. This sequence shows a systematic change and the “intersectionality” of main elements (aspects of) the legal system of the Republic of Lithuania. Modern lawyers include legal culture of Lithuania to complex and transition in its structure. The author found that the legal culture of the modern Lithuanian society is based on four components: the legacy of Soviet Lithuania, the elements of legal culture of interwar years, the influence of the experience of foreign countries, and finally, national legislative practice of the Republic of Lithuania. In addition, the formation of legal culture has a significant role and the Catholic Church. Integration into the EU as one of kinds of globalization shows us the introduction of a new system of lawfulness and the rule of law. Keywords: Lithuania, legal system, integational la