Structure of legal interest: theoretic and legal aspect

The article analyzes in detail the problems of the structure of legal interest. On the basis of the system approach, the author reveals the position of the legal interest in the structure of the legal relationship and the mechanism of legal regulation as a whole, distinguishes such related legal concepts as legal, legal interests, legitimate interests, protected by law and legally significant interests, analyzes various points of view on this issue expressed in the scientific legal literature. The conclusion is made about the correlation of legal and legitimate interests with subjective rights and legal obligations. The author analyzes elements of legitimate interest and legal interest, justifies the point of view according to which legal interest can be regarded as a special kind of legal relationship. Consequently, the author comes to the conclusion that the legal interest has the same structure as the legal relationship: subject, object and content. The subject in this case (interest) is a natural or legal person who is the bearer of interest. The object of interest is the legal value. The content of legal interest includes subjective rights and legal obligations that ensure its implementation in the process of legal regulation.