Perspectives of Attorney-at-Law Trainees on the Core Principles of Preventive Law and Creative Problem Solving

Abstract

The article has a scientific-research character and examines the attitudes of trainee attorneys-at-law towards the key assumptions of Preventive Law (PL) and Creative Problem Solving (CPS) as strands of the Comprehensive Law Movement within the Polish legal system. The research problem focuses on whether future legal advisers perceive the preventive and creative orientation as a valuable complement to the traditional, litigation-based model of dispute resolution. The aim of the study was to determine the level of acceptance of PL and CPS assumptions and to identify variations in attitudes depending on the field of legal practice. The exploratory empirical research was conducted in 2022 among 88 trainees of the District Chamber of Attorneys-at-Law in Lublin, using a quantitative auditorium survey. The main theses of the article indicate that (1) trainees overwhelmingly support the relational and preventive aspects of legal practice, (2) they highly value creative, out-of-court methods of conflict resolution, but (3) their approach varies depending on the area of practice, particularly with respect to the consideration of clients’ emotional needs. The findings largely confirm the hypothesis of a high level of acceptance of PL and CPS among trainees, while simultaneously revealing internal divergences that require further in-depth research. The study constitutes one of the first attempts to examine PL and CPS using quantitative methods. Its cognitive and practical value lies in identifying directions for transforming legal education and professional training towards more preventive, creative, and humanistic legal practice.