Abstract
<jats:p>The relevance of the research lies in the fact that the definition of legal awareness as a subjective factor determining the actions of individuals in the public law sphere provides the basis for understanding the nature of these social relations, which leads to a constant interest in the topic under study. The article examines the problems of understanding the essence of the legal consciousness and legal culture of citizens in the context of the opinions expressed by various legal scholars in the field of the theory of state and law. In addition, the author analyzes the main causes and conditions that contribute to the emergence of legal nihilism among citizens. As a result of the study, it is concluded that the legal self-awareness of an individual and the legal culture of society as a whole have a significant impact on the legal regulation of public relations. In this regard, the state has been tasked with contributing in all possible ways to a gradual increase in the level of legal awareness through the introduction of organized knowledge of law, as well as improving the general legal culture of the population.</jats:p>