THE PROBLEM OF THE DEFINITION OF LEGAL LIABILITY Stepanova Vera Vladimirovna. <...> E-mail: lawboxer@gmail.com Annotation: The article investigates the fundamental questions about the concept of legal responsibility in relation to the two forms of its realization - positive and negative. <...> The historiographic digression of formation and development of legal responsibility in Czarist Russia, and the revolutionary and post-revolutionary period. <...> We analyzed different points of view as the "pros" and "cons" of positive forms of implementation of legal liability. <...> The subject of research are the social and legal norms establishing the positive and negative legal responsibility. <...> The study used scientific methods and techniques, such as scientific abstraction, analysis and synthesis, methods of grouping, comparison, and historical and dialectical methods. <...> In conclusion, the author summarizes the importance and role of legal liability in modern law and gives the author's own definition of legal liability based on two forms of its realization. <...> Keywords: legal responsibility, social responsibility, positive legal responsibility, the negative legal responsibility, statutory legal responsibility, Russian Truth, the ancient right, Soviet law, legal relationship, lawful behavior. <...> Предметом исследования выступают социальные и юридические нормы, устанавливающие позитивную и негативную юридическую ответственность. <...> В процессе исследования использовались общенаучные методы и приемы, такие, как научная абстракция, анализ и синтез, методы группировки, сравнения, а также исторический и диалектический методы. <...> В заключение автор обобщает значение и роль в юридической ответственности в современном праве и дает собственное авторское определение юридической ответственности с учетом двух форм ее реализации! <...>