Legal Clinic as a Cybercrime Prevention Entity

Abstract

The rapid digitalization of society, significantly accelerated by the conditions of the ongoing martial law in Ukraine, has led to a proportional increase in the scale and complexity of cybercrime. Under these unprecedented circumstances, the state must utilize all available institutional mechanisms to protect citizens in cyberspace. This article thoroughly examines the role and place of legal clinics operating within higher education institutions with specific learning conditions–particularly the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs (KhNUIA) – within the comprehensive system of cybercrime prevention entities. The author provides a detailed analysis of the victimological aspect of cyber fraud committed during martial law. It is emphasized that the population’s vulnerability has drastically increased due to psychological stress, internal displacement, and a general lack of digital literacy, making citizens highly susceptible to phishing attacks, fake volunteer fundraisers, and financial scams.
Consequently, the study highlights the immense potential of clinical legal education as an effective, community-oriented tool for special criminological prevention. Particular attention is focused on the practical integration of the specialized knowledge of future cyberpolice officers into the legal awareness and advisory activities of the legal clinic. Engaging specialized cadets in direct consultations fulfills a vital dual function: providing accessible legal assistance to victims of cyber offenses while simultaneously reinforcing the practical competencies of future law enforcement personnel. Furthermore, the article proposes a series of innovative forms of interaction between clinicians and the most vulnerable segments of the population. These initiatives include targeted digital hygiene workshops, step-by-step algorithms for identifying cyber threats, and interactive legal education campaigns. The systematic application of these measures aims to significantly reduce the level of digital victimization, foster public trust in the police, and enhance national cybersecurity resilience.